Taking control! Structural and behavioural plasticity in response to game-based inhibition training in older adults

Abstract

While previous attempts to train self-control in humans have frequently failed, we set out to train response inhibition using computer-game elements. We trained older adults with a newly developed game-based inhibition training on a tablet for two months and compared them to an active and passive control group. Behavioural effects reflected in shorter stop signal response times that were observed only in the inhibition-training group. This was accompanied by structural growth in cortical thickness of right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) triangularis, a brain region that has been associated with response inhibition. The structural plasticity effect was positively associated with time spent on the training-task and predicted the final percentage of successful inhibition trials in the stop task. The data provide evidence for successful trainability of inhibition when game-based training is employed. The results extend our knowledge on game-based cognitive training effects in older age and may foster treatment research in psychiatric diseases related to impulse control.

Practice-induced functional plasticity in inhibitory control interacts with aging

“…Chavan et al, 2015;Manuel et al, 2013;Benikos et al, 2013) and interpreted as reflecting faster inhibition processes: if the speed of execution processes improves without resulting in more false alarms, it means that the speed of the 'intercepting' inhibition processes also improved. Yet, there was almost no change at the behavioral level in the older adults, a finding that provides limited support to previous claim that inhibitory control training might be beneficial for older adults (Kühn et al, 2017). The present study however focused on a short practice session, and while such practice durations reliably improve performance in young adults (Benikos et al, 2013;Hartmann et al, 2016;Manuel et al, 2013;Spierer et al, 2013), and has been shown to constitute a good model for longer training intervention because it results in corresponding effects (e.g.…”

Effects of an In-home Multicomponent Exergame Training on Physical Functions, Cognition, and Brain Volume of Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…However, previous animal and human studies showed structural brain alternations after a variety of physical exercises in gray and white matter; for example after aerobic training (13,24,128,129), after strength training (15), after coordinative exercises (130)(131)(132)(133)(134), after dancing (111,121,135) or after Tai Chi (136). Moreover, changes in brain structure have been reported after cognitive training (29)(30)(31)(32)(33)137). To the best of our knowledge, only two studies have been conducted assessing the effects of exergame training on brain structure of older adults (57,58).…”

“…Hippocampal volume seems to be sensitive to the intervention duration: In a sample of older adults, an almost linear development in hippocampal volume enhancement was demonstrated after 6 and 12 months of aerobic training (13). In cognitive training studies, however intervention durations were around several weeks (29)(30)(31)(32)(33)137). Thus, one might speculate that a longer training period with the Active@Home exergame could have led to effects on older adults' brain volume.…”

“…Cognitive training seems to be effective in improving various aspects of cognitive functioning including memory, executive functions, attention, visuo-spatial skills and processing speed (28). Regarding neuronal measures, a positive influence on gray and white brain matter has been reported after cognitive training in older adults, mainly in frontal, temporal (including hippocampus), and parietal areas (29)(30)(31)(32)(33). Animal studies, with mice or rats raised in enriched environments (environments with various objects as toys, tunnels, and mirrors providing cognitive stimulation), showed altered brain structure and better cognitive performance (34)(35)(36).…”

The project REBOOT protocol: Evaluating a personalized inhibitory control training as an adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa and binge‐eating disorder

“…Although ICTs show great promise, results for the impact of ICTs on real‐world behaviors (i.e., eating behaviors days or weeks after a training) are mixed (Jones, Hardman, Lawrence, & Field, ), likely for several reasons. First, most previous ICTs involve only a few trainings, despite evidence that repeated trainings (e.g., daily for several weeks) are needed to produce the neural changes necessary to retain skill gains (Kami et al, ; Kühn et al, ). Second, with the exception of only two studies (Kalanthroff, Steinman, Schmidt, Campeas, & Simpson, ; Stice, Yokum, Veling, Kemps, & Lawrence, ), the majority of ICTs do not create a personalized set of stimuli for each participant.…”