Testing the limits of cognitive plasticity in older adults: Application to attentional control
Abstract
Laboratory based training studies suggest that older adults can benefit from training in tasks that tap control aspects of attention. This was further explored in the present study in which older and younger adults completed an adaptive and individualized dual-task training program. The testing-the-limits approach was used [Lindenberger, U., & Baltes, P. B. (1995). Testing-the-limits and experimental simulation: Two methods to explicate the role of learning in development. Human Development, 38, 349-360.] in order to gain insight into how attentional control can be improved in older adults. Results indicated substantial improvement in overlapping task performance in both younger and older participants suggesting the availability of cognitive plasticity in both age groups. Improvement was equivalent among age groups in response speed and performance variability but larger in response accuracy for older adults. The results suggest that time-sharing skills can be substantially improved in older adults.
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With a few notable exceptions, transfer-of-training effects are relatively narrow.
“It is also the case, with a few notable exceptions (e.g., Bherer et al., 2006; Edwards et al., 2002; Jennings et al., 2005; Kramer, Larish, et al., 1999; Stuss et al., 2007; Willis et al., 2006), that transfer-of-training effects are relatively narrow.”
From Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced? (2008) · cites this paper as Bherer et al., 2006
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- Authors
- Bherer, L., Kramer, A. F., Peterson, M. S., Colcombe, S., Erickson, K., & Becic, E.
- Affiliations
- Université du Québec à Montréal (CA)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- George Mason University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bherer, Louis
- Venue
- Acta Psychologica
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-11
- Volume
- 123
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 261-278
- ISSN
- 0001-6918 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2146138097
- Cited by
- 155
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 7.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Psychologica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (R01 AG 14966, AG 21887, R01AG014966, R01AG021887)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- cognitive plasticity, older adults, attentional control, dual-task training, time-sharing, aging, cognitive training, response accuracy, response variability, response speed
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Attention, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Neuronal Plasticity
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