Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults

Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults

2013 September 5 | J.A. Anguera, J. Boccanfuso, J.L. Rintoul, O. Al-Hashimi, F. Faraji, J. Janowich, E. Kong, Y. Larraburo, C. Rolle, E. Johnston, and A. Gazzaley
A study published in *Nature* (2013) demonstrates that video game training can enhance cognitive control in older adults. The research used a custom-designed 3D video game called NeuroRacer to assess multitasking performance across the adult lifespan. Multitasking performance declined linearly with age, from 20 to 79 years. Older adults (60–85 years) who trained with NeuroRacer in multitasking mode showed reduced multitasking costs compared to control groups, achieving performance levels similar to 20-year-olds. These improvements persisted for six months. Training also enhanced neural signatures of cognitive control, including midline frontal theta power and frontal-posterior theta coherence. These gains translated to improvements in untrained cognitive abilities such as sustained attention and working memory. The study highlights the plasticity of the prefrontal cognitive control system in aging and shows how video games can assess cognitive abilities, evaluate neural mechanisms, and enhance cognitive function. The findings suggest that adaptive, interference-rich video games could be effective tools for cognitive training in aging populations. The study also found that training-induced improvements in cognitive control were linked to increased midline frontal theta power, which predicted sustained attention improvements and maintained multitasking performance. The results indicate that video game training can provide generalized cognitive benefits, supporting the use of such tools for cognitive enhancement in older adults.A study published in *Nature* (2013) demonstrates that video game training can enhance cognitive control in older adults. The research used a custom-designed 3D video game called NeuroRacer to assess multitasking performance across the adult lifespan. Multitasking performance declined linearly with age, from 20 to 79 years. Older adults (60–85 years) who trained with NeuroRacer in multitasking mode showed reduced multitasking costs compared to control groups, achieving performance levels similar to 20-year-olds. These improvements persisted for six months. Training also enhanced neural signatures of cognitive control, including midline frontal theta power and frontal-posterior theta coherence. These gains translated to improvements in untrained cognitive abilities such as sustained attention and working memory. The study highlights the plasticity of the prefrontal cognitive control system in aging and shows how video games can assess cognitive abilities, evaluate neural mechanisms, and enhance cognitive function. The findings suggest that adaptive, interference-rich video games could be effective tools for cognitive training in aging populations. The study also found that training-induced improvements in cognitive control were linked to increased midline frontal theta power, which predicted sustained attention improvements and maintained multitasking performance. The results indicate that video game training can provide generalized cognitive benefits, supporting the use of such tools for cognitive enhancement in older adults.
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