The present invention teaches that cognitive skills may be trained by methods of increasing loading, distraction and pace while a trainee is carrying out a cognitive skill related repetitive mental task. Loading may comprise addition of a second repetitive mental task, distraction may be visual, auditory, kinesthetic and may increase in the power of the distraction, and pace may be increased until a maximum pace is achieved. Patterned, continuous, intermittent, and combined loading, distraction and pace changes may be used, as well as patterned feedback. The result is that the student learns to process the stimuli--using the cognitive skills--at increased levels of efficiency and speed.