Cognitive Training

what are cognitive strategies?

techniques where client may perform on a task at higher levels than expects, accomplishing significant goals in the process

how might cognitive strategies compensate for age-related declines such as processing speed and other domains?

client would use their abilities that don’t decline with age, shifting the cognitive performance demands away from the areas that do decline with age

why might using semantic organization be easier for older adults to use than others?

semantic memory does not typically decline with age

one might develop a daily routine that integrates ____ or ____ to overcome processing limitations

contextual supports, external memory aids

in terms of memory, strategies are ____ and _____ attempts to organize information from the environment and direct retrieval

conscious, unconscious

provide an example of a memory strategy

using visual aid or organization strategy (or both) to remember a shopping list

ACTIVE Trial used

memory training, reasoning training, speed of processing training

memory training consists of

mnemonic strategies (organization, visualization, association) for remembering verbal material in an easier manner

reasoning training consists of

strategies for finding patterns in letter or word series, such as identifying the next item in a series

speed of processing training consists of

visual search and divided attention (computer based)

provide an example of speed group

identifying an object on a computer screen at brief exposure followed by dividing client’s attention between 2 search tasks

what are the two types of memory group techniques?

acronyms and acrostics

provide an example of an acronym

FOMO, YOLO, NASA

provide an example of an acrostic

my very eager mother just served us 9 pizzas (to memorize the planets)

never eat soggy waffles (memorize a your north east south west)

which 3 measures of verbal memory ability did the memory training use?

Hopkins verbal learning test, Rey auditory-verbal learning test, Riverbed behavioral paragraph recall test

which 3 reasoning ability measures did reasoning training use?

letter series, letter sets, word series

everyday functioning was represented by the ______ of difficulty

participant’s self-ratings

when assessing ADL, what cognitively demanding tasks are involved?

meal prep, housework, finances, health maintenance, phone use, shopping

in ACTIVE trial, cognitive training resulted in what?

less functional decline compared to the control group (patients who did not receive training)

trained/improved abilities remained 5 years after the intervention

belleville study encourages learning through ____ and ____ because it was effective in normal aged individuals

tutoring, observation

older adults can cope with _____ problems and focus on ______ and ____ that is preserved in aging, according to Belleville

memory, body of skill, knowledge

how was the speed of attention trained in the belleville study?

participants perform simple memory scanning tak with increasing time contstrains over series of blocks of trials

in Belleville, to improve visual imagery abilities, what was taught?

interactive imagery, method of loci, face-name association, organization of test information (PQRST)

what is Focus of Loci?

based on the assumption that you best remember familiar places, you can link something you need to remember with that place. the location will serve as a clue that will help you remember

what is interactive imagery?

an item is more likely to be remembered if it is imagines as being involved with a location/thing instead of the item just sitting there. when items are linked together, they become a chunk/whole in memory

how did belleville utilize method of loci?

participants had to generate and memorize set of familiar locations in home environment. then they were presented with words to remember and instructed to link each work with a place in their mental map

what does the acronym PQRST stand for?

preview, question, read, state, test

why was PQRST used?

it was a method use to help remember a short piece of test

what were the results of the MCI: Episodic Memory (Belleville) trial?

treatment groups improved, control groups did not improve

MCI can improve in the form of memory performance especially in ADLs

Brains of those with MCI remain …

able to recruit new neural circuits to perform demanding memory tasks

memory training in MCI results in changes in brain network including ….

regions implicated in memory and a new alternative network relating to the taught mnemonics

brain imaging provides ______ for the use of cognitive training as a potential treatment for people with _____ difficulties

empirical support, memory

T or F: memory training resulted in fewer neural changes that are measurable with brain imaging

False; it resulted in significant neural changes showing evidence of brain plasticity in MCI patients

T or F: mind mapping is valid for MCI and dementia patients

False; it is not valid. there are no randomized control trials (RCT) or reviews that test this as a form of therapy or diagnostic tool.

is there support behind mind mapping?

yes, but only in the academic setting such as learning and recall

what are the clinical equivalents to mind mapping with evidence backing it?

memory notebooks/calendars (compensatory)

mnemonic/semantic strategies (restorative)

cognitive stimulation and training programs

MCI mnemonic strategies showed increased activity within the _____ for both trains and untrained sitmuli

left hippocampal body

mnemonic strategy training (MST) participants displayed …

improvement in face-name memory and increased activation in the left anterior temporal lobe

in cognitive intervention: computer based training, what were the results?

computer based training is feasible. verbal learning and memory favored the intervention

what improvements were made using technology-based cognitive training?

improvements in global cognition, attention, exec function, memory, mood and ADLs

technology based training includes what type of devices?

anything such as computers, tablets, VR

T or F: technology platforms can enhance cognitive training’s reach and adaptability

True

would combining executive + memory training vs. memory-only training work better?

it depends. memory-only improved memory the most. combined training improved broader cognitive domains