Abstract
Background
Neuroimaging studies have shown changes in functional connectivity after cognitive training in preclinical phases of dementia. What is not yet clear is the neurophysiological aspects of these changes. Our objective was analyze the effect of cognitive training on brain functional connectivity during visual short term memory binding (VSTMB) task in preclinical phases of dementia.
Method
The final sample was composed of 5 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (mean age = 62.08, SD = 6.48) and 4 with mild cognitive impairment (mean age = 62.93, SD = 6.75). All participants underwent assessment with VSTMB test (shape only and shape-color) while we recorded their EEG with 160-channel system (Brain Vision ActiChamp), at baseline and 3 months after cognitive training. The program lasted 24 sessions and was focused on attention, executive function and memory domains.
Result
We found a significant improvement of visuospatial memory at behavioral level (p<.05). In shape only test phase, we found a post training activity diminution in fronto-central right ROIs, in intermediate and late time windows (FDR p < .05), an enhancement in fronto-central right ROI and early time window (FDR p < .05) and parietal-posterior left ROI in late time windows (FDR p<.05). In shape-color binding condition, significant differences were found for encoding phase presenting post training activity enhancement for fronto-central left ROI in intermediated and late time windows (FDR p < .05).
Conclusion
Cognitive training changed functional connectivity in anterior and posterior regions during shape only test phase. During shape-color condition there was a connectivity increased in anterior regions during encoding phase. These findings are discussed in the light of cognitive and neurophysiological aging models.
Neuroimaging studies have shown changes in functional connectivity after cognitive training in preclinical phases of dementia. What is not yet clear is the neurophysiological aspects of these changes. Our objective was analyze the effect of cognitive training on brain functional connectivity during visual short term memory binding (VSTMB) task in preclinical phases of dementia.
Method
The final sample was composed of 5 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (mean age = 62.08, SD = 6.48) and 4 with mild cognitive impairment (mean age = 62.93, SD = 6.75). All participants underwent assessment with VSTMB test (shape only and shape-color) while we recorded their EEG with 160-channel system (Brain Vision ActiChamp), at baseline and 3 months after cognitive training. The program lasted 24 sessions and was focused on attention, executive function and memory domains.
Result
We found a significant improvement of visuospatial memory at behavioral level (p<.05). In shape only test phase, we found a post training activity diminution in fronto-central right ROIs, in intermediate and late time windows (FDR p < .05), an enhancement in fronto-central right ROI and early time window (FDR p < .05) and parietal-posterior left ROI in late time windows (FDR p<.05). In shape-color binding condition, significant differences were found for encoding phase presenting post training activity enhancement for fronto-central left ROI in intermediated and late time windows (FDR p < .05).
Conclusion
Cognitive training changed functional connectivity in anterior and posterior regions during shape only test phase. During shape-color condition there was a connectivity increased in anterior regions during encoding phase. These findings are discussed in the light of cognitive and neurophysiological aging models.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e054735 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Alzheimer's and Dementia |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | S5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Dec 2021 |
Keywords
- psychiatry and mental health
- cellular and molecular neuroscience
- geriatrics and gerontology
- neurology (clinical)
- developmental neuroscience
- health policy
- epidemiology
