Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Science & SocietyThe case for an ecological approach to cognitive training
Section snippets
The case for an ecological approach to cognitive training
Not a week passes without an article or a report praising the remarkable plasticity of the brain and the numerous ways it can be trained and rewired for greater accomplishment. Various incentives for brain training have been proposed, such as enhancing academic achievement, performance in the workplace, delaying cognitive decline, and preventing dementia. Furthermore, some scientists have suggested that brain training will become a normal part of our schedule in the near future, like fitness
From neuroplasticity to WM training
A brief reminder of the scientific roots surrounding cognitive training helps put recent trends in perspective. Over the past few decades, compelling evidence for neuroplasticity outside the critical period of development has opened new venues for behavioral interventions 2, 3. Taking advantage of the malleability of our neural networks across the lifespan, cognitive training has emerged as a valid alternative to more invasive interventions such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or
Limitations of WM training
There are serious limitations to this approach. First, the architecture of WM is complex and includes two major components: domain-general and domain-specific processes. Structural equation models have demonstrated that different measures of WMC correlate strongly [9] even when testing items are different 5, 10. In other words, WMC is largely influenced by domain-general mechanisms and therefore does not vary notably depending on the type of testing item. Training upsets this equilibrium. Tasks
Working toward ecological interventions
Despite the central role of WM in human cognition, perhaps WM tasks are not the most pertinent way to train the brain. To some extent, the same applies to computerized brain training: most of the tasks included in brain-training software are impoverished and non-ecological, with few real-world applications. A close review of neurophysiological research in cognitive training indicates that tapping domain-general mechanisms [12] to induce transfer to a wide range of situations requires training
Concluding remarks
Can cognition be improved? Certainly. However, optimal training programs have yet to be designed. The notion that the brain remains malleable across the lifespan has prompted insightful and engaging research in the field of cognitive training. Given both the remarkable plasticity of the brain and the massive funding poured into cognitive training research, scientists have a responsibility to inform the public objectively, based on sound and well-designed experiments addressing the numerous
References (15)
- et al.
Visual working memory capacity: from psychophysics and neurobiology to individual differences
Trends Cogn. Sci.
(2013) - et al.
Is working memory capacity task dependent?
J. Mem. Lang.
(1989) - et al.
The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: How to Optimize Brain Health and Performance at Any Age
(2013) Long-term change of mind
Science
(1998)Functional neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus
Nature
(2002)Working Memory
(1986)The generality of working memory capacity: a latent variable approach to verbal and visuospatial memory span and reasoning
J. Exp. Psychol. Gen.
(2004)
Cited by (110)
A precision-mapping approach to physical exercise interventions targeting cognitive function
2024, Progress in Brain ResearchEffects of Capoeira on children's executive functions: A randomized controlled trial
2022, Mental Health and Physical ActivityCitation Excerpt :In this sense, Capoeira can be characterized as a "holistic movement practice", an emergent term that refers to a plethora of aspects of physical exercise that transcend the common focus on energy expenditure (Vergeer & Biddle, 2021). The unpredictability of the Capoeira game enhances cognitive engagement and provides excellent EF training (Moreau & Conway, 2013, 2014), requiring practitioners to change their behavior constantly according to the game's situation. The Capoeira game also demands processing highly variable visual and auditory stimuli, since rhythm, melody and the song's lyrics influence the players' actions.
Motor-cognitive intervention concepts can improve gait in chronic stroke, but their effect on cognitive functions is unclear: A systematic review with meta-analyses
2022, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral ReviewsExecutive Functions and Improvement of Thinking: An Intervention Program to Enhance Deductive Reasoning Abilities
2022, Spanish Journal of Psychology