The Science Behind Relatoria: Training Foundational Cognitive Processes

The Challenge of Cognitive Training

The cognitive training landscape is filled with bold claims and limited results. Most training programs fail to produce meaningful improvements that transfer beyond the specific task being trained. Why?

The answer lies in understanding near transfer and specificity. We improve in the tasks we train, in similar tasks, and in tasks requiring the same underlying abilities. This is the most substantiated finding in cognitive training research.

The Problem with Task-Specific Training

Training highly specific cognitive exercises—like the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test or even playing chess—doesn't seem to improve the general cognitive processes these tasks heavily utilize. Even though performance in such tasks correlates with general intelligence and relies on multiple cognitive processes, the brain often develops task-specific strategies instead of strengthening the underlying skills.

The key insight: Cognitive training tasks must be as general and abstract as possible, while being functionally similar to useful cognitive requirements.

Relatoria's Approach: Foundational Processes

Relatoria targets four foundational cognitive processes that underlie complex thought:

1. Relational Reasoning (Reason Module)

Relational reasoning is among the most fundamental thinking skills—understanding and traversing relational networks that form the basis of language, logic, and thought. The SMART (Strengthening Mental Abilities through Relational Training) protocol has been proven in multiple randomized controlled trials to increase IQ and school success.

SMART works because it combines three powerful principles:

• Mastery Learning: Benjamin Bloom found that mastery learning produces students who perform as well as the top 2% of traditionally taught students—a two standard deviation improvement. SMART demands true mastery (often 32+ consecutive correct answers) before progression.
• Multiple Exemplar Training: Exposure to many varied examples with immediate feedback after each attempt. This constant practice with immediate correction trains the skill through repetition and calibration.
• Abstract Stimuli: Using nonsense words and symbols forces learners to focus purely on logical relationships rather than relying on prior knowledge about specific content.

2. Working Memory (Remember Module)

Working memory is central to complex cognition. It's the foundation for long chains of thought and keeping track of goals during complex problem-solving. Our verbal working memory—particularly verbal span—is crucial because so much of human thought is verbal.

The Remember module includes 18+ specialized exercises targeting:

• Spatial memory
• Multi-object tracking
• Sequential recall and pattern recognition
• Auditory and visual working memory

3. Verbal Fluency (Fluent Module)

Verbal fluency is a cornerstone of complex cognition. It's central for maintaining long chains of thought and reflects the ease of lexical access—how quickly and efficiently we can retrieve words and concepts from memory.

Training verbal fluency strengthens the verbal foundation that underlies much of conscious thought and communication.

4. Processing Speed (Process Module)

The Process module features UFOV (Useful Field of View)-inspired training that has been shown in research to:

• Significantly decrease dementia risk
• Reduce at-fault car accident risk
• Improve attention allocation and rapid visual processing

The Investment Theory Connection

There's a fascinating developmental implication: the Investment Theory of Intelligence suggests that fluid intelligence (reasoning ability) influences the development of crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge) over a lifetime.

People with better fluid intelligence find learning easier and more rewarding, leading them to learn more throughout their lives. By improving fluid intelligence early through training foundational processes like relational reasoning, we may enhance the entire trajectory of cognitive development.

Process Overlap Theory: Why This Works

Process Overlap Theory (POT) suggests there's no single "general intelligence" factor—what we measure as g in psychometrics is actually a statistical artifact from overlapping cognitive processes used across various cognitive tests.

This explains why training specific narrow tasks rarely transfers: you're only training the unique processes for that task. But training foundational processes that are used across many domains—like relational reasoning, working memory, and processing speed—should produce widespread benefits through genuine near transfer to all tasks using those processes.

The Relatoria Difference

Relatoria is unique because:

1. Complete SMART Protocol: The only platform offering the full, research-validated SMART program—completely free.

2. Advanced Training: Beyond SMART, we offer advanced Relatoria training built on insights from research and community experience with cognitive training.

3. Comprehensive Approach: Four foundational modules targeting the cognitive processes that matter most.

4. Functional Training: Exercises designed to be abstract and general while maintaining functional similarity to real cognitive demands.

Getting Started

The best part? The complete SMART protocol is available unlimited and free. Start with the Reason module to build your relational reasoning foundation, then explore the other modules to build a comprehensive cognitive training practice.

Ready to train the foundations of thought? Start training now.