Examination on Brain Training Method: Effects of n-back task and dual-task
Kazue Sawami, Yukari Katahata, Chizuko Suishu, Tomiko Kamiyoshikawa, Emi Fujita, Mika Uraoka, Hiroko Nishikawa
2017
F1000Research
Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most common dementia, Background accounting for more than 60% of all dementia cases. For adults aged >65 years, the incidence rate doubles for every 5 years of increased age; therefore, preserving cognitive function is a pressing issue. Thus, our team screens for AD in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, at 11 public halls in Kashihara City, Japan, and offers follow-up to those with cognitive difficulties. The purpose of this research was to measure the
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... effects of two interventions, a dual-task (requiring the participant to perform two tasks at the same time) and an n-back task (test of memory retention, requiring the participant to identify the item occupying the nth-back position in a sequence of items). A comparison group performed a single learning task in place of the dual-task. Moreover, the majority of non-drug therapies for the maintenance of cognitive function help promote a positive mood, activating reward systems in the brain and motivating the individual to continue the task. Therefore, the correlation between cognitive function, and positive and negative mood was investigated. : Dual and n-back task (n = 304) and single-task (n = 78) groups were Methods compared in a 6-month intervention. Salivary α-amylase concentration was measured, which reflects positive and negative mood, and correlations with cognitive function were analyzed. : Cognitive function improved in both the dual-task and the single-task Results groups, and many cognitive domains had improved in the dual-task group. A correlation between salivary α-amylase and cognitive function was found, indicating that a greater positive mood was associated with greater cognitive function. : The results of this research show that functional decline can be Conclusion improved by a cognitive intervention. Positive mood and cognitive function were correlated, suggesting that encouraging comfort in the participant can increase the effectiveness of the intervention. , University of Ottawa,
doi:10.12688/f1000research.10584.1
fatcat:22joz73dkzdhxflqyi6lvt7hui