Cognitive Exercising for Patients with MCI Using Serious Games

Author(s):  
Ioannis Tarnanas ◽  
Apostolis Tsolakis ◽  
Magda Tsolaki

In this chapter we demonstrate how older adults can benefit from novel technologies. One hundred and fourteen patients with MCI according to the revised Petersen criteria (Petersen, 2006), aged between 65 and 88 years, were recruited to participate in a Serious Game training (SG) and an Active Control group (AC). They benefited from neuropsychological testing and electroencephalography before and after the intervention. Our results showed that the SG group improved performance in specific cognitive functions such as working memory, dual task performance and visual conjunction search. The performance improvement was also supported only at the SG group by increased amplitude of the Event Related Potentials extracted from the electroencephalography measures.The results from our study suggest that older adults do not need to be technologically savvy to benefit from virtual reality training.

2018 ◽  
pp. 1313-1342
Author(s):  
Ioannis Tarnanas ◽  
Apostolis Tsolakis ◽  
Magda Tsolaki

In this chapter we demonstrate how older adults can benefit from novel technologies. One hundred and fourteen patients with MCI according to the revised Petersen criteria (Petersen, 2006), aged between 65 and 88 years, were recruited to participate in a Serious Game training (SG) and an Active Control group (AC). They benefited from neuropsychological testing and electroencephalography before and after the intervention. Our results showed that the SG group improved performance in specific cognitive functions such as working memory, dual task performance and visual conjunction search. The performance improvement was also supported only at the SG group by increased amplitude of the Event Related Potentials extracted from the electroencephalography measures. The results from our study suggest that older adults do not need to be technologically savvy to benefit from virtual reality training.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Kai Chang ◽  
I-Hua Chu ◽  
Jen-Hao Liu ◽  
Chih-Han Wu ◽  
Chien-Heng Chu ◽  
...  

This study explored the effects of exercise modality and type of fitness index on cognitive function in the older adults as assessed via behavioral and neuroelectrical approaches. Sixty older adults were assigned to an aerobic exercise, a coordination exercise, or a control group based on their previous exercise experience. The participants completed congruent and incongruent trials of a modified Stroop Test, during which, event-related potentials were recorded. The participants also completed multiple physical tests that assessed health- and skill-related fitness. Our findings suggest that, in general, both aerobic and coordination exercise, as well as higher scores on health- and skill-related fitness indices, are positively associated with better performance of various cognitive functions in the elderly population. The mechanisms underlying these relationships may be differentially related to specific neuroelectrical processes involved in neurocognitive control.


Author(s):  
Uroš Marušič ◽  
Rado Pišot ◽  
Vojko Kavčič

Prolonged periods of complete physical inactivity or bed rest trigger various alterations in the functional and metabolic levels of the human body. However, bed rest-related adaptations of the central nervous system are less known and thoroughly studied. The aim of this study was to investigate brain electrophysiological changes using event-related potentials (ERPs) after 14 days of bed rest and 12 consecutive sessions of computerized cognitive training (CCT). Sixteen older (Mage= 60 years) healthy volunteers were randomly divided into a CCT treatment group and an active control group. All participants performed ERP measurements based on the foveal visual presentation of a circle on a black background before and after bed rest. After 14 days of bed rest, participants in the control group showed increased peak P1 amplitude (p = .012), decreased P1 latency (p = .024), and increased P2 amplitude (p = .036), while the CCT group also showed decreased P1 latency (p = .023) and decreased P2 latency (p = .049). Our results suggest that, even from a central adaptation perspective, prolonged periods of physical inactivity or bed rest trigger additional neural recruitment and should therefore be minimized, and that CCT may serve as a tool to mitigate this. Future research should focus on other aspects of central nervous system adaptation following periods of immobilization/hospitalization to improve our knowledge of influence of physical inactivity and its effects on cortical activity and to develop appropriate countermeasures to mitigate functional dysregulation.


Author(s):  
Justine Niemczyk ◽  
Monika Equit ◽  
Katja Rieck ◽  
Mathias Rubly ◽  
Catharina Wagner ◽  
...  

Abstract. Objective: Daytime urinary incontinence (DUI) is common in childhood. The aim of the study was to neurophysiologically analyse the central emotion processing in children with DUI. Method: In 20 children with DUI (mean age 8.1 years, 55 % male) and 20 controls (mean age 9.1 years, 75 % male) visual event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded after presenting emotionally valent (80 neutral, 40 positive, and 40 negative) pictures from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) as an oddball-paradigm. All children received a full organic and psychiatric assessment. Results: Children with DUI did not differ significantly from controls regarding responses to emotional pictures in the frontal, central, and parietal regions and in the time intervals 250–450 ms, 450–650 ms, and 650–850 ms after stimulus onset. The patient group had more psychological symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities than the control group. Conclusions: EEG responses to emotional stimuli are not altered in children with DUI. Central emotion processing does not play a major role in DUI. Further research, including a larger sample size, a more homogeneous patient group (regarding subtype of DUI) or brain imaging techniques, could reveal more about the central processing in DUI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 116-116
Author(s):  
M Pires ◽  
A Antunes ◽  
C Gameiro ◽  
C Pombo

Community-focused programs that promote active and healthy aging can help preserve cognitive capacities, prevent or reverse cognitive deficits. Computer-based cognitive training (CCT) is a promising non-pharmacological, cost -effective and accessible intervention to face the effects of age-related cognitive decline. Previous studies proved CCT to have equal or better efficacy compared to traditional interventions. This comparative multifactorial study aims to test the efficacy of a CCT in a non-randomized community sample of 74 older adults: G1-CCT Experimental group (n=43) (Mean age M=72.21, SD=12.65) and G2- Paper-Pencil Control group (n=31; M=77.94, SD=10.51). Pensioners (97.3%), mostly women (83.8 %) with basic education (51.4%) and without dementia diagnosis, completed a cognitive training program of 17 or 34 group sessions (twice a week). G2 undertook a classic cognitive paper-pencil stimuli tasks. G1, performed, additionally, individual CCT with COGWEB® in a multimodal format (intensive training of attention, calculation, memory, gnosis, praxis, executive functions). Both groups completed Portuguese versions of Mini -Mental State Examination (MMSE),Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA); Geriatric Depressive Scale (GDS); Mini Dependence Assessment (MDA); WHOOQL 5 and Social Support Satisfaction Scale (ESSS) before and after participating in the program. Both groups reported better post-test scores on basic cognitive functions (MMSE, MOCA), Depression symptoms (GDS-30), subjective well-being and quality of life (WHOOQL-5). G1 presented higher MOCA and lower GDS scores before and after CCT, although, group differences become less expressive when interaction effects are considered. Results are in line with findings from past studies, CCT supported by the new technologies, is as a relevant cost-effective therapeutic tool for health professionals working with older adults. Particularly for preventive purposes of neuro-cognitive disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215145932110291
Author(s):  
Atsuko Satoh ◽  
Yukoh Kudoh ◽  
Sangun Lee ◽  
Masumi Saitoh ◽  
Miwa Miura ◽  
...  

Introduction: To evaluate fall-prevention rehabilitative slippers for use by self-caring, independent older adults. Materials and Methods: This assessor-blinded, randomized, and controlled 1-year study included 59 self-caring, independent participants (49 women) who attended day services. The mean age of participants was 84.0 ± 5.3 years. Participants were randomly selected from 8 nursing homes. We tested slippers top-weighted with a lead bead (200, 300, or 400 g). Intervention group participants walked while wearing the slippers for 10-20 min, 1-3 days/week at the day service center. Fall risk was measured using the Berg Balance Scale and the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) before and at 3-month intervals after the intervention/control phase. Results: After 12 months, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvement. Berg Balance and POMA compared to the control group ( p < .05 p < .01, respectively). Mobility scores improved significantly for both measurements in the intervention group before and after ( p < .01), but the control group had significantly lower scores. Discussion: Overall, falls decreased in the intervention group from 10 to 7, and control group falls increased from 9 to 16 ( p = .02). No adverse events related to the intervention were reported. Conclusions: Rehabilitation training slippers may reduce falls in older adults.


2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 2672-2681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel N. van den Broeke ◽  
André Mouraux ◽  
Antonia H. Groneberg ◽  
Doreen B. Pfau ◽  
Rolf-Detlef Treede ◽  
...  

Secondary hyperalgesia is believed to be a key feature of “central sensitization” and is characterized by enhanced pain to mechanical nociceptive stimuli. The aim of the present study was to characterize, using EEG, the effects of pinprick stimulation intensity on the magnitude of pinprick-elicited brain potentials [event-related potentials (ERPs)] before and after secondary hyperalgesia induced by intradermal capsaicin in humans. Pinprick-elicited ERPs and pinprick-evoked pain ratings were recorded in 19 healthy volunteers, with mechanical pinprick stimuli of varying intensities (0.25-mm probe applied with a force extending between 16 and 512 mN). The recordings were performed before (T0) and 30 min after (T1) intradermal capsaicin injection. The contralateral noninjected arm served as control. ERPs elicited by stimulation of untreated skin were characterized by 1) an early-latency negative-positive complex peaking between 120 and 250 ms after stimulus onset (N120-P240) and maximal at the vertex and 2) a long-lasting positive wave peaking 400–600 ms after stimulus onset and maximal more posterior (P500), which was correlated to perceived pinprick pain. After capsaicin injection, pinprick stimuli were perceived as more intense in the area of secondary hyperalgesia and this effect was stronger for lower compared with higher stimulus intensities. In addition, there was an enhancement of the P500 elicited by stimuli of intermediate intensity, which was significant for 64 mN. The other components of the ERPs were unaffected by capsaicin. Our results suggest that the increase in P500 magnitude after capsaicin is mediated by facilitated mechanical nociceptive pathways.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
T. Sumiyoshi ◽  
Y. Higuchi ◽  
T. Itoh ◽  
M. Matsui ◽  
H. Arai ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to determine if perospirone, a second generation antipsychotic drug and partial agonist at serotonin-5-HT1A receptors, enhances electrophysiological activity, such as event-related potentials (ERPs), in frontal brain regions, as well as cognitive function in subjects with schizophrenia. P300 current source images were obtained by means of standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) before and after treatment with perospirone for 6 months. Perospirone significantly increased P300 current source density in the left superior frontal gyrus, and improved positive symptoms and performance on the script tasks, a measure of verbal social cognition. Perospirone also tended to enhance verbal learning memory in patients with schizophrenia. There was a significant correlation between the changes in P300 amplitudes on the left frontal lead and those in social cognition. These results suggest the changes in three-dimensional distribution of cortical activity, as demonstrated by sLORETA, may mediate some of the actions of antipsychotic drugs. the distinct cognition-enhancing profile of perospirone may be related to its actions on 5-HT1A receptors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-115
Author(s):  
Eva Koderman

Abstract Anxiety is characterized by a sustained state of heightened vigilance due to uncertain danger, producing increased attention to a perceived threat in one's environment. To further examine this exploited the temporal resolution afforded by event-related potentials to investigate the impact of predictability of threat on early perceptual activity. We recruited 28 participants and utilized a within-subject design to examine hypervigilance in anticipation of shock, unpleasant picture and unpleasant sound during a task with unpredictable, predictable and no threat. We investigated if habituation to stimuli was present by asking the participants to rate unpleasantness and intensity of the stimuli before and after the experiment. We observed hypervigilance in the unpredictable threat of shock. Habituation was observed for the visual stimuli. The present study suggests that unpredictability enhances attentional engagement with neutral somatosensory stimuli when the threat is of the same modality, meaning we observed the presence of hypervigilance which is a characteristic of anxiety.


Author(s):  
Wessam Mostafa Essawy

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Amblyaudia is a weakness in the listener’s binaural processing of auditory information. Subjects with amblyaudia also demonstrate binaural integration deficits and may display similar patterns in their evoked responses in terms of latency and amplitude of these responses. The purpose of this study was to identify the presence of amblyaudia in a population of young children subjects and to measure mismatch negativity (MMN), P300 and cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) for those individuals.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Subjects included in this study were divided into 2 groups control group that consisted of 20 normal hearing subjects with normal developmental milestones and normal speech development. The study group (GII) consisted of 50 subjects with central auditory processing disorders (CAPDs) diagnosed by central auditory screening tests. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> With using dichotic tests including dichotic digits test (DDT) and competing sentence test (CST), we could classify these cases into normal, dichotic dysaudia, amblyaudia, and amblyaudia plus with percentages (40%, 14%, 38%, 8% respectively). Using event related potentials, we found that P300 and MMN are more specific in detecting neurocognitive dysfunction related to allocation of attentional resources and immediate memory in these cases.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The presence of amblyaudia in cases of central auditory processing disorders (CAPDs) and event related potentials is an objective tool for diagnosis, prognosis and follow up after rehabilitation.</p>


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