Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.8
2.7
Journals
Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Cognition Training: From Classical Methods to Technical Applications
share announcement

Cognition Training: From Classical Methods to Technical Applications

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurotechnology and Neuroimaging".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2024) | Viewed by 2232

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Lars Wojtecki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Medical Faculty, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
Interests: movement disorders; Parkinson´s disease; cognitive neurology and neuromodulation techniques; deep brain stimulation; motor cortex stimulation; non-invasive methods as tDCS, tACS, tRNS and (r)TMS and neurofeedback
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to this Special Issue dedicated to exploring the dynamic field of cognitive training.

This issue delves into the latest advancements from the digital applications to the adjuvant use of neurophysiological brain stimulation techniques, offering a comprehensive overview of different emerging and established interventions. 

As cognitive training technologies evolve, their applications stretch from enhancing everyday mental capabilities to therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders. 

The contributions in this issue span original research articles, reviews, and case studies that highlight innovative approaches, practical outcomes, and theoretical implications in cognitive training. 

This collection not only enriches our understanding but also sets the stage for future developments in cognitive enhancement strategies from neuroenhancement in healthy subjects to the treatment of neurological diseases.

Prof. Dr. Lars Wojtecki
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • brain stimulation
  • non-invasive
  • neuroenhancement
  • home use training
  • digital applications
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • cognitive training
  • intervention
  • neurofeedback

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 605 KiB  
Article
Eye Tracking as Biomarker Compared to Neuropsychological Tests in Parkinson Syndromes: An Exploratory Pilot Study Before and After Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
by Celine Cont, Nathalie Stute, Anastasia Galli, Christina Schulte and Lars Wojtecki
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15020180 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) are becoming increasingly prevalent, necessitating diverse treatment options to manage symptoms. The effectiveness of these treatments depends on accurate and sensitive diagnostic methods. This exploratory pilot study explores the use of eye tracking and compares [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) are becoming increasingly prevalent, necessitating diverse treatment options to manage symptoms. The effectiveness of these treatments depends on accurate and sensitive diagnostic methods. This exploratory pilot study explores the use of eye tracking and compares it to neuropsychological tests on patients treated with deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS). Methods: We used the HTC Vive Pro Eye VR headset with Tobii eye tracker to measure eye movements in 10 Parkinson syndrome patients while viewing three 360-degree scenes. Eye movements were recorded pre- and post-dTMS, focusing on Fixation Duration, Longest Fixation Period, Saccade Rate, and Total Fixations. Neuropsychological assessments (MoCA, TUG, BDI) were conducted before and after stimulation. dTMS was performed using the Brainsway device with the H5 helmet, targeting the motor cortex (1 Hz) and the prefrontal cortex (10 Hz) for 7–12 sessions. Results: ROC analysis indicated a moderate ability to differentiate between states using eye movement parameters. Significant correlations were found between changes in the longest fixation period and MoCA scores (r = 0.65, p = 0.025), and between fixation durations and BDI scores (r = −0.55, p = 0.043). Paired t-tests showed no significant differences in eye movement parameters, but BDI scores significantly reduced post-dTMS (t(5) = 2.57, p = 0.049). Conclusions: Eye-tracking parameters, particularly the Longest Fixation Duration and Saccade Rate, could serve as sensitive and feasible biomarkers for cognitive changes in Parkinson’s Syndrome, offering a quick alternative to traditional methods. Traditional neuropsychological tests showed a significant improvement in depressive symptoms after dTMS. Further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to validate these findings and explore the diagnostic utility of eye tracking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognition Training: From Classical Methods to Technical Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1164 KiB  
Article
Elusive Gains of Cognitive Training: Limited Effects on Neural Activity Across Sessions
by Luka Juras, Andrea Vranic and Ivana Hromatko
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15010022 - 29 Dec 2024
Viewed by 942
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cognitive training paradigms rely on the idea that consistent practice can drive neural plasticity, improving not only connectivity within critical brain networks, but also ultimately result in overall enhancement of trained cognitive functions, irrespective of the specific task. Here we opted to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cognitive training paradigms rely on the idea that consistent practice can drive neural plasticity, improving not only connectivity within critical brain networks, but also ultimately result in overall enhancement of trained cognitive functions, irrespective of the specific task. Here we opted to investigate the temporal dynamics of neural activity and cognitive performance during a structured cognitive training program. Methods: A group of 20 middle-aged participants completed 20 training sessions over 10 weeks. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) parameters, including alpha and theta power, alpha/theta ratio, and fronto-parietal coherence, were analyzed at four time points to assess changes in neural activity. Results: Results revealed significant overall improvements in the trained task (n-back) performance, without an effect on the untrained task (OSPAN). qEEG analyses showed increased change in posterior (and a less robust in frontal) alpha power, particularly during mid-training, suggesting an improved neural efficiency in regions associated with attentional allocation and task engagement. Theta power remained stable across sessions, indicating a limited influence on neural processes underlying working memory and attentional control. The parietal alpha/theta ratio showed weak increases during mid-training, reflecting subtle shifts in the neural efficacy and cognitive engagement. There were no significant changes in functional connectivity between frontal and parietal locations. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cognitive training primarily influences localized neural activity, rather than network-level connectivity. This lack of a longer-range network-level effect might also explain the failure of cognitive training paradigms to induce performance enhancements on the untrained tasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognition Training: From Classical Methods to Technical Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop