Enhancing Human Cognitive Capital by Harnessing the Brain’s Inherent Neuroplasticity

2019 ◽  
pp. 260-286
Author(s):  
Sandra B. Chapman ◽  
Lori G. Cook ◽  
Asha K. Vas ◽  
Ian H. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Strategic Thinking ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
Educational Preparation ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
Stressful Environments ◽  
Moderate Stress ◽  
Great Complexity

This chapter addresses the capability to enhance human cognitive performance (i.e., cognitive capital) through training, with the down-range goal of improving functionality in contexts of great complexity, including military/political operations, corporate directions, and educational preparation. It highlights a multidimensional framework to measure gains in cognitive capital on brain, cognitive, psychological, life-functionality, and emotional-cognition factors. To illustrate the potential to harness neuroplasticity, the chapter summarizes evidence showing improved agility and focus from a specific cognitive training that targets strategic thinking (e.g., filter/focus, big picture thinking, innovation). This chapter also adds to the notion of increasing peak performance utilizing moderate stress levels to boost responses. Optimizing performance in continually changing and stressful environments relies on strengthening human cognitive capital in the healthy brain across the life span—similar to that achieved for physical fitness.

scholarly journals Older Adults-Friendly Multi-Modal Touch-Screen Platform Measures for Bilingual Cognitive Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 816-816
Author(s):  
W Quin Yow ◽  
Tharshini Lokanathan ◽  
Hui-Ching Chen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Touch Screen ◽  
Cognitive Intervention ◽  
Cognitive Interventions ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Poor Comprehension ◽  
Touch Screen Devices

Abstract There is an increasing interest in using touch-screen devices to conduct cognitive training and collect measurements of cognitive performance. However, older adults often have concerns such as anxiety about using these systems and poor comprehension of language instructions (Czaja & Lee, 2007). Given that Singapore is a multilingual society, we examined the deployment of an age-friendly multi-modal touch-screen platform (a game-based application on a tablet) in a cognitive intervention research. After modification of the platform to include features such as simplified instructions, multi-level prompts with a local accent, and four different instructional languages (including local dialects), participants were less reliant on the researchers and reported fewer difficulties in comprehending the instructions. The integrity and reliability of the data collected improved as a result. In sum, multilingual age-friendly touch-screen platform can be a novel yet effective method to study cognitive interventions in the Asian older adult populations.

THE POSSIBILITY OF LINKING SPONTANEOUS AND INDUCED NEUROCOGNITIVE PLASTICITY: CAN COGNITIVE TRAINING INFLUENCE COMPENSATORY BRAIN ACTIVITY IN OLDER ADULTS? THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL PREMISES

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-523
Author(s):  
Ludmiła Zając-Lamparska
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Theory Of Aging

One of the most important determinants of successful aging is cognitive ability. Although cognitive decline is a well-documented phenomenon characteristic of aging, it is acknowledged that aging can also be related to cognitive neuroplasticity that allows one to compensate the decline and adapt to it. Cognitive neuroplasticity may be spontaneous or induced by external influences. An example of the former is compensatory brain activity in older adults, and the latter – improvement in cognitive functioning under the influence of cognitive training. Both the compensatory brain activity of older adults and the effectiveness of cognitive training in this age group have already been extensively studied. However, it has not yet been examined whether they can be linked. The article indicates theoretical and empirical premises for the possibility of influencing compensatory brain activity in older adults by cognitive training. In the most comprehensive way the phenomenon of compensatory brain activity in older adults is addressed by the STAC model – the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition, which also provides the theoretical grounds for the possible impact of cognitive training on compensatory brain activity. There are also empirical arguments in favour of such an impact, but they are quite limited in nature. The reason for this is the lack of research directly addressing the problem of the consistency of brain activity changes resulting from cognitive training with the assumptions of compensatory brain activity models, such as STAC. The theoretical grounds for the linkage of compensatory brain activity in older adults with the influence of cognitive training are clear. However, the analysis of the studies discussed in the article suggests that failing to embed the study design within the theoretical framework of compensatory brain activity in older adults may lead to the exclusion of factors important in drawing conclusions about this phenomenon. The following elements of the study design were identified as necessary to include: participation of young adults in the study as a reference group, usage of tasks in different difficulty levels during the measurement of brain activity and consideration of the relation between brain activity and cognitive performance, and comparison of brain activity in relation to cognitive performance before and after training in both, older and young adults.

scholarly journals Prospective associations of physical fitness and cognitive performance among inpatients with Schizophrenia

2018 ◽  
Vol 270 ◽  
pp. 738-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Jung Chen ◽  
Julie Christina Hao ◽  
Po-Wen Ku ◽  
Brendon Stubbs
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cognitive Performance

scholarly journals Effect of a Multiple-Micronutrient-Fortified Fruit Powder Beverage on the Nutrition Status, Physical Fitness, and Cognitive Performance of Schoolchildren in the Philippines

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (4_suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S129-S140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florentino S. Solon ◽  
Jesus N. Sarol ◽  
Allan B. I. Bernardo ◽  
Juan Antonio A. Solon ◽  
Haile Mehansho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Iron Status ◽  
Urinary Iodine ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
Urinary Iodine Excretion ◽  
Iodine Status ◽  
Multiple Micronutrient ◽  
Fortified Beverage

This study aimed to determine the effect of a multiple-micronutrient-fortified beverage on the micronutrient status, physical fitness, and cognitive performance of schoolchildren. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of schoolchildren assigned to receive either the fortified or nonfortified beverage with or without anthelmintic therapy. Data on hemoglobin level, urinary iodine excretion (UIE) level, physical fitness, and cognitive performance were collected at baseline and at 16 weeks post-intervention. The fortified beverage significantly improved iron status among the subjects that had hemoglobin levels < 11 g/dl at baseline. The proportion of children who remained moderately to severely anemic was significantly lower among those given the fortified beverage. In the groups that received the fortified product, the median UIE level increased, whereas among those who received the placebo beverage, the median UIE level was reduced significantly. Iron- and/or iodine-deficient subjects who received the fortified beverage showed significant improvements in fitness (post-exercise reduction of heart rate) and cognitive performance (nonverbal mental ability score). The study showed that consumption of a multiple-micronutrient-fortified beverage for 16 weeks had significant effects on iron status, iodine status, physical fitness, and cognitive performance among iron- and/or iodine-deficient Filipino schoolchildren. Anthelmintic therapy improved iron status of anemic children and iodine status of the iron-adequate children at baseline but it had no effect on physical fitness and cognitive performance. The results from the clinical study showed that a multiple-micronutrient-fortified beverage could play an important role in preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies.

scholarly journals Intensity dependent effect of cognitive training on motor cortical plasticity and cognitive performance in humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 238 (12) ◽  
pp. 2805-2818
Author(s):  
Christina Berns ◽  
Wanja Brüchle ◽  
Sebastian Scho ◽  
Jessica Schneefeld ◽  
Udo Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Cortical Plasticity ◽  
Cognitive System ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Motor Excitability ◽  
Motor Cortical

Abstract Intervention-induced neuroplastic changes within the motor or cognitive system have been shown in the human brain. While cognitive and motor brain areas are densely interconnected, it is unclear whether this interconnectivity allows for a shared susceptibility to neuroplastic changes. Using the preparation for a theoretical exam as training intervention that primarily engages the cognitive system, we tested the hypothesis whether neuroplasticity acts across interconnected brain areas by investigating the effect on excitability and synaptic plasticity in the motor cortex. 39 healthy students (23 female) underwent 4 weeks of cognitive training while revision time, physical activity, concentration, fatigue, sleep quality and stress were monitored. Before and after cognitive training, cognitive performance was evaluated, as well as motor excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation and long-term-potentiation-like (LTP-like) plasticity using paired-associative-stimulation (PAS). Cognitive training ranged individually from 1 to 7 h/day and enhanced attention and verbal working memory. While motor excitability did not change, LTP-like plasticity increased in an intensity-depending manner: the longer the daily revision time, the smaller the increase of neuroplasticity, and vice versa. This effect was not influenced by physical activity, concentration, fatigue, sleep quality or stress. Motor cortical plasticity is strengthened by a behavioural intervention that primarily engages cognitive brain areas. We suggest that this effect is due to an enhanced susceptibility to LTP-like plasticity, probably induced by heterosynaptic activity that modulates postsynaptic excitability in motorcortical neurones. The smaller increase of PAS efficiency with higher cognitive training intensity suggests a mechanism that balances and stabilises the susceptibility for synaptic potentiation.

[P1-599]: ONLINE COGNITIVE TRAINING INCREASES NEUROGENESIS AND IMPROVES COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN ADULTS OVER 50

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (7S_Part_10) ◽  
pp. P525-P525
Author(s):  
Anne Corbett ◽  
Clive Ballard ◽  
Helen Brooker ◽  
Adam Hampshire ◽  
Robert Stenton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training

Home-based personalized cognitive training in MS patients: A study of adherence and cognitive performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Shatil ◽  
Avishag Metzer ◽  
Omer Horvitz ◽  
Ariel Miller
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Home Based

Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Cognition

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Training Interventions ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Wide Range

There is substantial interest in identifying the behavioral means by which to improve cognitive performance. Recent research and commercial ventures have focused on cognitive training interventions, but evidence suggests that the effects of these programs are small and task-specific. Researchers have also shown interest in exploring the potential benefits of physical activity for cognitive performance. Because the effects of physical activity have been found to be small to moderate and to be more global in nature, interest in physical activity has been growing over the past several decades. Evidence regarding the efficacy of physical activity is provided through cross-sectional studies, longitudinal prospective studies, and randomized controlled trials. When reviewed meta-analytically, small-to-moderate beneficial effects are reported for children, adults, older adults, and cognitively impaired older adults, and these effects are evident for a wide range of cognitive domains, including executive function, memory, and information processing. Researchers are currently focused on identifying the mechanisms of these effects. Most of this research has been conducted using animal models, but there is a growing body of literature with humans. From this evidence, there is support for the role of changes in cerebral structure, hippocampal perfusion, and growth factors in explaining the observed benefits. Thus far, however, the literature is quite sparse, and future research is needed to clarify our understanding of the mechanisms that provide the causal link between physical activity and cognitive performance. Research is also focused on understanding how to increase the benefits by potentially combining cognitive training with physical activity and by identifying the genetic moderators of the effects. These lines of work are designed to elucidate ways of increasing the magnitude of the benefits that can be obtained. At this point in time, the evidence with respect to the potential of physical activity for benefiting cognitive performance is quite promising, but it is critical that funding agencies commit their support to the continued exploration necessary to allow us to ultimately be able to prescribe physical activity to specific individuals with the express purpose of improving cognition.

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