Systems and methods are provided for the implementation of personalized cognitive training. As an example, a processor-implemented method is provided for enhancing cognitive abilities of a user by personalizing cognitive training regimens through difficulty progression. The method includes: performing a cognitive assessment of a user using a set of assessment tasks; estimating a maximal performance of the user related to the set of assessment tasks; determining a performance range based at least in part on the maximal performance of the user; dividing the performance range into a plurality of progress gates, the plurality of progress gates corresponding to a plurality of task difficulty levels; selecting a first progress gate within the performance range; generating a first set of training tasks associated with the first progress gate; and collecting the user's first training responses to the first set of training tasks.