Cross-disciplinary learning improves cognitive performance across fields
Evidence from educational psychology and cognitive neuroscience indicates that cross-disciplinary learning and tasks foster the transfer of cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills across distinct domains.
The retrieved literature consistently supports the premise that crossing disciplinary boundaries or training across different contextual environments promotes cognitive flexibility, learning transfer, and problem-solving performance. Multiple studies using empirical and modeling approaches confirm these positive cognitive outcomes.
Yoshitaka Nakakoji, Rachel Wilson. Interdisciplinary Learning in Mathematics and Science: Transfer of Learning for 21st Century Problem Solving at University. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence8030032
Paper 0 demonstrates how learning in mathematics transfers to complex problem solving in physics contexts.
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Tanya Wen, Raphael Geddert, Seth Madlon-Kay, T. Egner. Transfer of Learned Cognitive Flexibility to Novel Stimuli and Task Sets. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976221141854
Paper 1 shows that training in high-volatility environments transfers cognitive flexibility to new, unexperienced tasks.
Miao Xiong, N. N. Chan, Bee Eng Wong, Xiaomin Xie, Meng Na. Investigating cognitive flexibility and innovation in interdisciplinary project-based learning: the role of openness to learning and peer feedback quality in vocational education. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1691422
Paper 3 finds that interdisciplinary project-based learning enhances cognitive flexibility, driving problem-solving and innovation.
Affognon DA. Beyond the left-right brain divide: a framework for dual-domain cognitive fluency.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcogn.2026.1727422
Paper 8 proposes dual-domain cognitive fluency as a generalizable capacity to move fluidly between verbal and mathematical domains.
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