Abstract
Cognitive functions are critical to everyday life, and enhancing cognitive abilities has significant implications for both individual development and societal advancement. However, there remains no consensus on whether cognitive capacities can be systematically improved through behavioral interventions, commonly known as cognitive training. Recent advancements in large-scale neural recordings offer unprecedented insights into the brain's cognitive mechanisms, presenting new opportunities to rigorously assess the effectiveness of cognitive training. In this review, we examine the core neural substrates underlying cognitive processes and explore generalized mechanisms of neuroplasticity associated with cognitive training. Integrating findings from animal models and human research, we emphasize the role of emerging schematic neural representations as potential mediators of cognitive transfer. Finally, we discuss future directions that could shed light on the mechanistic foundations of transfer after training, aiming to bridge the gap between experimental findings and real-world cognitive enhancement.