Age-related Cognitive Decline, Cognitive Decline, Healthy
Conditions
Keywords
training intervention, filter training, distractor inhibition
Brief summary
The investigators are interested in how attentional filter training/ distractor inhibition training could influence cognitive functions like working memory, executive control, problem solving, decision making and attentional control.
Detailed description
Two different computer based trainings were applied: an attentional filter training and a working memory training.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALfilter training
one-week filter training on the computer: computerized visual change detection experiment (selective attention )
BEHAVIORALmemory training
one-week storage training on the computer: computerized visual change detection experiment (memory storage)
no training applied
Sponsors
German Research Foundation
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* right-hander * aged between 18-30 or 60-80years
Exclusion criteria
* severe visual impairments (e.g. dyschromatopsia, very low vision) * diseases or medication that might impair test performance * Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score (MoCA) \< 26 points
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improvements in test performance | 45min pre / post | Working memory and filtering performance (in %), effects of distractor interference and reaction times for trials with and without distractors with 4, 5 & 6 targets |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Gambling Task | 5min on each training day (1-5) | Decision making |
| Daily Questionnaires | 2 min on each training day (1-5) | subjective performance in the training paradigm |
| Performance in repeating numbers | 10min pre / post | Repeating numbers in forward & backward conditions |
| Rey Complex Figure Test | 30min pre / post | Copying complex figures and reproduce it from memory |
| Memory from TAP (Test battery of Attentional Performance) | 45min pre / post | Working Memory (n-back) |
| Attention from TAP (Test battery of Attentional Performance) | 45min pre / post | divided attention, Go-NoGo, Flexibility, Incompatibility, Visual scanning |
| Subtest from CANTAB (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery) | 10min pre / post | Spatial Span Test |
| Memory performance with distractors among different setsizes | 45min pre / post | Working memory performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and distractors and averaged performance for all conditions with distractors |
| Filtering performance without distractors among different setsizes | 45min pre / post | Filtering performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and averaged performance for all conditions without distractors |
| Filtering performance with distractors among different setsizes | 45min pre / post | Filtering performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and distractors and averaged performance for all conditions with distractors |
| Reaction times | 45min pre / post | Reaction times in each condition |
| Values of distractor inhibition | 45min pre / post | Distractor inhibition (DIIN) = Mean of conditions without distractors - Mean of conditions with distractors |
| Memory performance without distractors among different setsizes | 45min pre / post | Working memory performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and averaged performance for all conditions without distractors |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed