Effects of Cognitive Training on Executive Function and Cognition

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2024 | Viewed by 2024

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Nephrology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: physical exercise; cognitive training; chronic diseases; prevention

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Guest Editor
Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Interests: mental and physical fatigue; sports; environmental stressors; placebo effect
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The number of older adults is increasing worldwide, introducing more cognitive decline. In addition, 50 million people suffer from dementia, and experts predict that this number will increase to 152 million by 2050. Since pharmacological interventions predominantly fail to prevent or reverse this tendency, non-pharmacological approaches seem desirable to prevent cognitive decline and, consequently, dementia. Physical interventions have been widely employed and have certainly shown merit in the prevention, or at least the slowing, of cognitive decline. Additionally, cognitive training, or its combination with physical interventions, has been suggested as a possible strategy to improve brain health and cognitive functional capacity in different populations. These strategies, however, require more attention in order to be able to show their efficacy and feasibility.

This Special Issue aims to explore the effects of cognitive training and its combination with other interventions on executive functioning and cognition. By delving into these aspects, we aim to uncover novel insights into strategies that may postpone the onset of dementia and enhance overall brain health. As we navigate the evolving landscape of cognitive interventions, we seek to contribute to the growing body of knowledge, shedding light on potential avenues for preserving cognitive well-being in an aging global population.

The current Special Issue aims to address the following:

  • The effects of cognitive training on executive functioning and cognition.
  • The effects of combined physical and cognitive training on executive functioning and cognition.
  • The effects of cognitive training in combination with other interventions on cognitive domains.

Dr. Špela Bogataj
Prof. Dr. Bart Roelands
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • cognitive decline
  • executive functions
  • intervention
  • cognitive training
  • physical exercise
  • brain training
  • brain endurance training
  • mental fatigue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
A Controlled Clinical Trial on the Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Cognitive Functions in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
by Renata Terra de Oliveira, Tayla Borges Lino, Gabriella Simões Scarmagnan, Suzi Rosa Miziara Barbosa, Ana Beatriz Gomes de Souza Pegorare and Gustavo Christofoletti
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(7), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14070703 - 13 Jul 2024
Viewed by 545
Abstract
Several therapies have been developed to reduce cognitive decline associated with aging. Aquatic exercises, which are widely used to enhance functional capacity, may play a role in stimulating cognitive functions. This study investigated the effects of a 3-month aquatic exercise program on cognitive [...] Read more.
Several therapies have been developed to reduce cognitive decline associated with aging. Aquatic exercises, which are widely used to enhance functional capacity, may play a role in stimulating cognitive functions. This study investigated the effects of a 3-month aquatic exercise program on cognitive functions in community-dwelling older adults. In this prospective, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial, 31 participants were allocated to either the experimental (aquatic exercises) or control (no-exercise) group. The intervention program consisted of exercises conducted twice a week in a 1.2 m deep indoor pool. The main outcome measures were cognitive functions, assessed using Raven’s Progressive Matrices test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess the impact of the exercise program. The effect sizes (η2p) were reported when a level of significance was achieved (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the participants who underwent aquatic exercises showed positive outcomes in Raven’s Progressive Matrices test (p = 0.046; η2p = 0.131) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.589). Complementary analyses of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test indicated that the benefits of the aquatic exercise were observed in terms of the number of trials (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.478), number of errors (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.458), and number of non-perseverative errors (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.302). The results indicate that a period of three months of aquatic exercise was beneficial for stimulating specific aspects of the cognitive function of community-dwelling older individuals. Aquatic exercise should be prescribed to this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Cognitive Training on Executive Function and Cognition)
20 pages, 1770 KiB  
Article
Benefits of Playing at School: Filler Board Games Improve Visuospatial Memory and Mathematical Skills
by Verónica Estrada-Plana, Andrea Martínez-Escribano, Agnès Ros-Morente, Maria Mayoral, Agueda Castro-Quintas, Nuria Vita-Barrull, Núria Terés-Lleida, Jaume March-Llanes, Ares Badia-Bafalluy and Jorge Moya-Higueras
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(7), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14070642 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1036
Abstract
The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of cognitive interventions based on modern board games in school settings to improve memory outcomes and math skills. A parallel, quasi-experimental study was carried out with children (n = 234) into third [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of cognitive interventions based on modern board games in school settings to improve memory outcomes and math skills. A parallel, quasi-experimental study was carried out with children (n = 234) into third and fourth grades (8–10 years old). School centres were allocated into a general domain intervention (playing memory board games), a specific domain intervention (playing mathematical board games) or a control group (regular classes without playing). Teachers carried out bi-weekly sessions during the last 30 min of mathematical lessons (8 weeks, 15 sessions). Before and after intervention, we individually measured verbal and visuospatial memory outcomes (short-term memory and working memory updating) and mathematical skills (number operations, number ranking, number production and problem solving). The results showed significant transfer effects of both memory and math trainings. In third grade, we found that playing math games showed medium–large effect sizes in visuospatial short-term memory and updating memory, number operations and number ranking compared to the control group. In fourth grade, we found that playing memory games showed significant small effect sizes in problem solving compared to the control group. Playing board games could be a methodology that enhances cognitive and mathematical development in children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Cognitive Training on Executive Function and Cognition)
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