Brain Changes Following Executive Control Training in Older Adults.
Areeba Adnan, Anthony J W Chen, Tatjana Novakovic-Agopian and 2 others
PMID 28868974WHAT IT FOUND
Goal-oriented attention training increased brain activity in attention networks during a selective attention task, but did not improve reaction time or accuracy compared to a control group.
The training also did not significantly improve memory for relevant information.
Key findings
01The GOALS training group showed increased brain activity in the right frontal gyrus, temporal parietal junction, precuneus, and left parahippocampal gyrus during a selective attention task compared to baseline, a change not seen in the control group.
02There were no significant differences between the GOALS and control groups in reaction time or accuracy on the selective attention task.
03There was no significant difference in memory performance (d-prime) for attended versus ignored stimuli between the GOALS and control groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample size was very small (N=24 analyzed), which limits the power to detect behavioral changes. Six participants were excluded due to motion artifacts or attrition, further reducing the sample. The study focused on cognitively normal older adults, so results may not apply to individuals with diagnosed cognitive impairments. The behavioral task showed no improvement, raising questions about whether the neural changes translate to real-world functional benefits.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Department of Defense (DoD).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the observed brain changes equate to improved cognitive function in daily life. The study found no significant improvement in reaction time, accuracy, or memory performance compared to the control group, meaning the neural activation changes did not translate to measurable behavioral benefits in this specific task.