Effect of cognitive training on brain dynamics

The human brain is highly plastic.Cognitive training is usually used to modify functional connectivity of brain networks.Moreover,the structures of brain networks may determine its dynamic behavior which is related to human cognitive abilities.To study the effect of functional connectivity on the brain dynamics,the dynamic model based on functional connections of the brain and the Hindmarsh–Rose model is utilized in this work.The resting-state fMRI data from the experimental group undergoing abacus-based mental calculation(AMC)training and from the control group are used to construct the functional brain networks.The dynamic behavior of brain at the resting and task states for the AMC group and the control group are simulated with the above-mentioned dynamic model.In the resting state,there are the differences of brain activation between the AMC group and the control group,and more brain regions are inspired in the AMC group.A stimulus with sinusoidal signals to brain networks is introduced to simulate the brain dynamics in the task states.The dynamic characteristics are extracted by the excitation rates,the response intensities and the state distributions.The change in the functional connectivity of brain networks with the AMC training would in turn improve the brain response to external stimulus,and make the brain more efficient in processing tasks.

Research on the Application of Montessori Education Method in Cognitive Training of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Objective:To study the application of the Montessori education method in cognitive training in patients with Alzheimer’s disease(AD).Methods:40 cases of senile dementia patients who were admitted to our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were selected and randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group according to the single and double number table method,with 20 cases in each group.The intervention group used the Montessori education method,the principle of which was to implement individualized health interventions based on the individual conditions of the patients,for a period of 6 months;the control group was given conventional treatment and nursing of the disease.The Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)was used to compare the effects of the two groups of patients before and after health intervention and conduct statistical analysis.Results:The score of the intervention group was higher than that of the control group,and there was a statistical difference between the two(P<0.05).Conclusion:Implementing the Montessori education method for diagnosed Alzheimer’s patients can effectively improve their cognitive function and delay the progress of further dementia.

Effect of cognitive behavior therapy training and psychological nursing on the midwifery process in the delivery room

BACKGROUND The severe physical and psychological impact of pain on the physical and mental health of women during labor leads to increased risks and complications during childbirth,presenting a major public health concern.Some studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)has a positive effect on maternal psychology during delivery,reducing stress and shortening labor time.Thus,CBT training for mothers and delivery room staff may be beneficial in minimizing complications and adverse effects during natural birth.AIM To investigate the clinical effects of CBT training and psychological care during delivery,and their therapeutic effects on women in labor.METHODS This study used a retrospective analysis and included 140 mothers admitted to the maternity ward between January 2021 and January 2023.The study subjects were randomized into two groups:control(n=70)and observation(n=70).Routine care,CBT training,and psychological care were provided to mothers in both groups.Psychological status scores,delivery time,and satisfaction with care pre-and post-delivery were compared,and the incidence of complications after receiving care was analyzed between the two groups.RESULTS Although the psychological state of both groups improved significantly in the late stages of labor,the psychological state scores of the mothers in the observation group were significantly lower than those of the mothers in the control group(P<0.05).The duration of labor and incidence of complications in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The mothers in the observation group were significantly more satisfied with nursing care during the course of labor than those in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION CBT training and psychological care for mothers in the midwifery process can effectively improve anxiety and depression,shorten labor duration,reduce postnatal complications,and improve nursing satisfaction and nurse-patient relationships.Its clinical application is effective and has popularization value,providing a new way to protect maternal mental health.

On the Application of Cognitive Strategy in College English Listening Comprehension——With International Talents Training as the Goal

This paper, with the training of the international talents possessing remarkable English listening and speaking ability,mainly discusses the specific application of the cognitive strategy in different stages of college English listening comprehension.It is expected that the paper can bring some useful enlightenments on the international talents training.

Research on Improvement Strategies of Psychological Training and Stage Expressiveness in Percussion Performance

With the continuous development of music education,percussion,as an important form of performance,has led to growing attention to the psychological training of its performers.This study aims to explore how psychological factors in percussion performance impact stage expressiveness and to propose corresponding psychological training strategies.By analyzing relevant domestic and international literature,we found that psychological training not only enhances performers’confidence and alleviates performance anxiety but also contributes to an overall improvement in performance quality.This study shows that methods such as emotional management and cognitive restructuring exhibit promising application potential in practice.Therefore,exploring a systematic psychological training program is significant for improving the stage expressiveness of percussion performers.

Cognitive Training in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objective We investigated the feasibility and efficacy of cognitive training for older adults in rura settings and with low education levels, who have mild cognitive impairment （MCl）. Methods Forty-five older adults （ages 〉65 years） with MCI were assigned to treatment or control groups, at a 2：1 ratio. Cognitive training occurred in the treatment group for 2 months. The cognitive abilities of the participants were assessed at pre-training, metaphase, and post-training time points, using the Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE）, Montreal Cognitive Assessment （MoCA）, Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment （LOTCA）, and Hamilton Depression Scale （HAM-D）. Results Following training, cognitive abilities improved in the treatment group, based on the total scores of all 4 measures, as well as specifically on the MoCA and LOTCA. There were differences in the main effects of group and time point on some subscales, but these differences had little, if any, effect on the overall analyses. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that cognitive training has beneficial effects on attention, language, orientation, visual perception, organization of visual movement, and logical questioning in patients with MCI. Furthermore, the observed effects are long-term changes.

Memory Training and Task Specificity in 90-99-Year-Old Seniors with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Managing memory deficits is a central problem among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study examined the effects of memory training on memory performance in an understudied “oldest-old” population ranging in age from 90 to 99 years. Eighteen mild to moderately cognitive-impaired older seniors, 90 years and older were recruited from memory clinics established in senior living communities. Treatment sessions took place, on average, twice weekly, for 55 minutes. Memory intervention included nineteen computer-based exercises customized to focus on memory loss. The specificity of memory training was very clear;memory training produced significant effects (F(3,51) = 2.81, p = 0.05) on memory performance, especially after 6 months of training, while other outcome measures showed no effects as predicted. Based on the results, it can be concluded that interventions targeting cognition and memory in the oldest-old MCI population can significantly improve memory function and reduce cognitive deficits.

Effect of visual training on cognitive function in stroke patients

Objective:To observe the effect of visual training on cognitive function in stoke patients.Methods:Eighty stroke patients with cognitive dysfunction were divided into two groups(n?40 in each group).The control group received conventional rehabilitation therapies.The experimental group received visual training in addition to the conventional therapies.This training was administered for 30 min once a day,five times a week,for four weeks.All patients were screened with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)both before and after the four weeks of intervention.Results:After the four-week intervention,patients in the experimental group increased their scores for attention and concentration,executive function,memory,visual skills,abstract thinking,calculation,and directional force,as well as their total standard score(p<0.01).The patients in the control group also increased their scores in the executive function,visual skills and abstract thinking,as well as their total standard score(p<0.05).However,the experimental group scored higher than the control group for both the individual and total standard scores(p<0.05).Conclusion:Visual training could improve cognitive function of patients with stroke.

Stress Inoculation Training on Cognitive Emotional Regulation: The Effect on Vulnerable Married Female Adolescents

Married female adolescents are the most vulnerable people that culturally marry with their parents’ permission in Iran. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of stress inoculation training (SIT) on cognitive emotional regulation (CER) in these women. The method of this research was semi-experiment with pretest and posttest. The statistical society was the married adolescent female students from Qom high schools (80 people). First, they were assessed by cognitive emotional regulation questionnaire to find the subjects under the CER cut of point (55 people). Then 30 participants were randomly selected and were equally divided into experimental and control groups. The entry criteria for samples were female married students between 17 and 19 from low socioeconomic income. The experimental group received 8 sessions of SIT training while there was no intervention for control group. Results from MANCOVA analysis showed that there were significant differences between groups on cognitive emotional regulation in post-test. The data of pretest were the covariate factor. Finding suggests SIT is effective for cognitive emotional regulation in vulnerable married female adolescents. In addition, this training method elevates positive emotional strategies, which correlate with planning, focusing and organizing the emotions. In contrast, except self and the others blaming, negative emotional strategies differed slightly.

Nine Months of Memory Training Increases Cognistat Measured Memory in 79 - 89 Year-Old Mild Cognitively Impaired Individuals

The effects of a memory training paradigm on performance across multiple cognitive domains, measured via the Cognistat, in 70 - 89 year-old individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were examined. Memory training sessions were conducted on average twice weekly, for 55 minutes each session, for 9 months. Across the testing period, Cognistat-measured memory increased relative to performance in other cognitive domains. Additionally, performance on non-memory measures remained stable or declined. Thus, memory training in older adult, MCI individuals may result in improved memory, but not in improvement in other, non-memory, cognitive domains. Results replicate previous work examining “oldest-old” individuals ranging in age from 90 to 99 years old at the time of study start.

A network-based cognitive training induces cognitive improvements and neuroplastic changes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis:an exploratory case-control study

Cognitive impairments are commonly observed in patients with multiple sclerosis and are associated with lower levels of quality of life.No consensus has been reached on how to tackle effectively cognitive decline in this clinical population non-pharmacologically.This exploratory case-control study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a hypothesis-based cognitive training designed to target multiple domains by promoting the synchronous co-activation of different brain areas and thereby improve cognition and induce changes in functional connectivity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.Forty-five patients(36 females and 9 males,mean age 44.62±8.80 years)with clinically stable relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were assigned to either a standard cognitive training or to control groups(sham training and nonactive control).The standard training included twenty sessions of computerized exercises involving various cognitive functions supported by distinct brain networks.The sham training was a modified version of the standard training that comprised the same exercises and number of sessions but with increased processing speed load.The non-active control group received no cognitive training.All patients underwent comprehensive neuropsychological and magnetic resonance imaging assessments at baseline and after 5 weeks.Cognitive and resting-state magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using repeated measures models.At reassessment,the standard training group showed significant cognitive improvements compared to both control groups in memory tasks not specifically targeted by the training:the Buschke Selective Reminding Test and the Semantic Fluency test.The standard training group showed reductions in functional connectivity of the salience network,in the anterior cingulate cortex,associated with improvements on the Buschke Selective Reminding Test.No changes were observed in the sham training group.These findings suggest that multi-domain training that stimulates multiple brain areas synchronously may improve cognition in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis if sufficient time to process training material is allowed.The associated reduction in functional connectivity of the salience network suggests that training-induced neuroplastic functional reorganization may be the mechanism supporting performance gains.This study was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of Yorkshire and Humber(approval No.12/YH/0474)on November 20,2013.

Cognitive training in neurodegenerative diseases: a way to boost neuroprotective molecules?

Neurotrophins,and growth factors in general,are proteins which exert many actions in central nervous system neurons.Neurotrophins promote the survival and neuronal function of neurons and exert neuroprotective effects in pathological models of neurodegenerative diseases.In humans several clinical trials based on the use of these proteins have been carried out. Among them, it is worth to mention gene ther- apy especially in Parkinson＇s disease （PD） （Kordower and Bjorklund, 2013）, and a series of experiments using vectors capable of carrying neurotrophins in the selected target re- gion where they can exert their beneficial action （Ghosh et al., 2014）.

Module Diagnostic-Training System An Innovative Solution for Diagnosis and Assessment of Cognitive Processes

The development of cognitive competences for police officers and other officers of the uniformed services is crucial The Police Academy in Szczytno （Poland） developed--as part of a research and development project （2013-2015）---an innovative diagnostic system for training that allows automated assessment of the current fitness level of cognitive functions and their online training. The system consists of three interconnected modules： diagnostic module, training module, and knowledge base. It is a fully functional online platform. Various forms of cognitive training in the form of games have been proposed. The system includes a component in the form of a psychophysiological recorder, which is intended for the training of coping with stress. The innovativeness of this diagnostic training system involves the use of information systems to stimulate the cognitive competence of officers by designing exercises in the form of computer games and to permit to verify their current mental shapes. It is assumed that this solution will develop the personal skills of officers and positively affect their operational readiness. Extending the area of application of this diagnostic training module by other functionalities can contribute to improving the effectiveness and safety of work, especially in occupational groups performing tasks requiring special cognitive and psychomotor predispositions.

Computerized Cognitive Training in Healthy Older Adults:Baseline Cognitive Level and Subjective Cognitive Concerns Predict Training Outcome

Computerized cognitive training (CCT) can improve cognition in older adults. However, specific programs for this target group have rarely been developed, and predictors of training success are largely unclear. In a randomized controlled pilot trial, we examined effects of a six-week CCT, tailored to the cognitive profile of healthy older adults (EG, n = 21) as compared to a nonspecific CCT (CG, n = 18) matched in frequency and intensity. No interaction effects between Group and Time were found. However, within-group analysis showed significant gains in verbal and non-verbal memory, executive and visuospatial functions and subjective cognitive concerns (SCC) in the EG, while the CG only benefitted in non-verbal memory and set-shifting. Low cognitive performance and lower SCC at baseline were the most consistent predictors of cognitive gains in the EG. Thus, CCTs specifically tailored to older adults seem advantageous compared to non-specific CCT. Further, we conclude that SCC may be related to reduced cognitive plasticity.

Neurogranin as an important regulator in swimming training to improve the spatial memory dysfunction of mice with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

Background:Vascular cognitive impairment caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion(CCH)has become a hot issue worldwide.Aerobic exercise positively contributes to the preservation or restoration of cognitive abilities;however,the specific mechanism has remained inconclusive.And recent studies found that neurogranin(Ng)is a potential biomarker for cognitive impairment.This study aims to investigate the underlying role of Ng in swimming training to improve cognitive impairment.Methods:To test this hypothesis,the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)-associated protein 9(Cas9)system was utilized to construct a strain of Ng conditional knockout(Ng cKO)mice,and bilateral common carotid artery stenosis(BCAS)surgery was performed to prepare the model.In Experiment 1,2-month-old male and female transgenic mice were divided into a control group(wild-type littermate,n=9)and a Ng cKO group(n=9).Then,2-month-old male and female C57BL/6 mice were divided into a sham group(C57BL/6,n=12)and a BCAS group(n=12).In Experiment 2,2-month-old male and female mice were divided into a sham group(wild-type littermate,n=12),BCAS group(n=12),swim group(n=12),BCAS+Ng cKO group(n=12),and swim+Ng cKO group(n=12).Then,7 days after BCAS,mice were given swimming training for 5 weeks(1 week for adaptation and 4 weeks for training,5 days a week,60 min a day).After intervention,laser speckle was used to detect cerebral blood perfusion in the mice,and the T maze and Morris water maze were adopted to test their spatial memory.Furthermore,electrophysiology and Western blotting were conducted to record long-term potential and observe the expressions of Ca^(2+)pathway-related proteins,respectively.Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the expression of relevant markers in neuronal damage,inflammation,and white matter injury.Results:The figures showed that spatial memory impairment was detected in Ng cKO mice,and a sharp decline of cerebral blood flow and an impairment of progressive spatial memory were observed in BCAS mice.Regular swimming training improved the spatial memory impairment of BCAS mice.This was achieved by preventing long-term potential damage and reversing the decline of Ca^(2+)signal transduction pathway-related proteins.At the same time,the results suggested that swimming also led to improvements in neuronal death,inflammation,and white matter injury induced by CCH.Further study adopted the use of Ng cKO transgenic mice,and the results indicated that the positive effects of swimming training on cognitive impairments,synaptic plasticity,and related pathological changes caused by CCH could be abolished by the knockout of Ng.Conclusion:Swimming training can mediate the expression of Ng to enhance hippocampal synaptic plasticity and improve related pathological changes induced by CCH,thereby ameliorating the spatial memory impairment of vascular cognitive impairment.

Analysis of the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for patients with chronic mental illness:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND People suffering from chronic mental illness are sensitive to stressful stimuli,lack coping skills,and have low self-esteem due to problems such as social situations.They also experience depression,isolation,fear,and frustration.Due to cognitive dysfunction,people suffering from chronic mental illness have inadequate cognitive processes that lead to distorted thinking.AIM To confirm the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy in improving cognitive function and alleviating behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with chronic mental illness,and to identify the cognitive function that had the main effect.METHODS The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews criteria,and data published from 2011 to December 2022 were searched using PubMed,Cochrane,RISS,KISS,and DBpia.The keywords used in the search were“mental illness,”“cognitive rehabilitation,”“cognition,”and“mental.”A meta-analysis was conducted on the 12 selected papers.RESULTS The level of evidence for the 12 documents was that of a randomized experimental study.Intervention types in cognitive rehabilitation can be divided into cognitive behavior,cognitive training,cognitive rehabilitation,and computerized cognitive programs.Most of the studies were on schizophrenia,and the measurement areas were cognitive functions(e.g.,concentration,memory,and executive function)as well as depression,sociability,and quality of life.As a result of the meta-analysis of each variable,the effect size for cognitive rehabilitation treatment was in the following order:Sociability,memory,concentration,executive function,quality of life,and depression.Particularly,sociability and memory exhibited significant effects.CONCLUSION Cognitive rehabilitation aids cognitive function and sociability in patients with chronic mental illness and can be used as evidence for cognitive rehabilitation in mental health and occupational therapy.

Comparing the effects of dual-task training and single-task training on walking,balance and cognitive functions in individuals with Parkinson’s disease:A systematic review

Background:This systematic review aimed to examine whether dual-task(DT)training was superior to single-task(ST)training in improving DT walking,balance and cognitive functions for individuals with Parkinson’s disease(PD).Methods:Literature search was performed in the following electronic databases:PubMed,the Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and Metstr covering inception to May 10,2023.And in order to facilitate comparison across trials,we calculated the effect size(Hedges’g)of gait,balance,cognitive,and other parameters under both ST and DT conditions,using the mean change score and standard deviation(SD)of change score of the experimental and control groups.Randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of DT motor and cognitive training in individuals with Parkinson’s disease were included for this systematic review.Results:A total of 214 participants recruited from six articles(actually five trials)were involved in this review.In terms of walking ability,only double support time and stride time variability showed significant between-group difference(Hedges’g=0.34,0.18,respectively).Compared to ST training group,DT training group had a more improvement effect in laboratory balance measurement(Hedges’g=0.18,1.25),but no significant improvement in clinical balance measurement.No significant between-group differences were observed,thus its training effect on cognitive function was inconclusive.Conclusions:The DT training failed to achieve promising results better than ST training in improving DT walking and balance functions for individuals with PD.Any firm conclusion cannot be drawn at present,due to the limited number of eligible publications.Larger sample size and high-quality studies are needed to investigate the effectiveness of DT training in individuals with PD.

Reshaping the Cortical Connectivity Gradient by Long-Term Cognitive Training During Development

The organization of the brain follows a topologi-cal hierarchy that changes dynamically during development.However,it remains unknown whether and how cognitive training administered over multiple years during develop-ment can modify this hierarchical topology.By measuring the brain and behavior of school children who had carried out abacus-based mental calculation(AMC)training for five years(starting from 7 years to 12 years old)in pre-training and post-training,we revealed the reshaping effect of long-term AMC intervention during development on the brain hierarchical topology.We observed the development-induced emergence of the default network,AMC training-promoted shifting,and regional changes in cortical gradi-ents.Moreover,the training-induced gradient changes were located in visual and somatomotor areas in association with the visuospatial/motor-imagery strategy.We found that gradient-based features can predict the math ability within groups.Our findings provide novel insights into the dynamic nature of network recruitment impacted by long-term cognitive training during development.

Differential Impact of an Executive-Function and a Social Cognition Training on Preschoolers with Externalizing Behavior Problems

In preschoolers, externalizing behavior problems are a primary cause of consultation. It is known that externalizing behavior (EB) could result from individual and environmental risk factors. Individual risk factors included notably social cognition (SC) and executive functions (EF). A high level of EB has usually been related to dysfunction in SC and to poor skills in EF. The aim of the present experimental study is to compare the impact of two very targeted child-oriented trainings in the increasing of social competence and decreasing of EB in preschoolers. One training targeted SC abilities while the second one targeted EF capacities. These two trainings were compared on 48 preschoolers presenting clinically relevant levels of EB. The comparison of those results highlighted how each training could help preschoolers with EB in their behavior, emotion regulation and social adjustment. In comparison to a waiting-list control-group, the two trainings were effective in decreasing EB and differentiated impacts of the two trainings were obtained on different dimensions of profiles of social competence and emotion regulation. Results are discussed for their research and clinical implications.