Cited by 132Cognitive Abilities and TestingCognitive Functions and MemoryNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Brain training in progress: a review of trainability in healthy seniors

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Buitenweg, Jessika I. V., Murre, Jaap M. J., Ridderinkhof, K. Richard·2012·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Abstract

The cognitive deterioration associated with aging is accompanied by structural alterations and loss of functionality of the frontostriatal dopamine system. The question arises how such deleterious cognitive effects could be countered. Brain training, currently highly popular among young and old alike, promises that users will improve on certain neurocognitive skills, and this has indeed been confirmed in a number of studies. Based on these results, it seems reasonable to expect beneficial effects of brain training in the elderly as well. A selective review of the existing literature suggests, however, that the results are neither robust nor consistent, and that transfer and sustained effects thus far appear limited. Based on this review, we argue for a series of elements that hold potential for progress in successful types of brain training: (1) including flexibility and novelty as features of the training, (2) focusing on a number of promising, yet largely unexplored domains, such as decision-making and memory strategy training, and (3) tailoring the training adaptively to the level and progress of the individual. We also emphasize the need for covariance-based MRI methods in linking structural and functional changes in the aging brain to individual differences in neurocognitive efficiency and trainability in order to further uncover the underlying mechanisms.

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  • Cognitive plasticity is considerable not only in children and adolescents, but also up to old age.

    “The many studies investigating the benefits of cognitive training interventions showed that cognitive plasticity is considerable not only in children and adolescents, but also up to old age (for recent reviews, see Buitenweg et al., 2012; Diamond, 2012; Karbach and Schubert, 2013; Kray and Ferdinand, 2013; Strobach et al., 2014; Titz and Karbach, 2014; Verhaeghen, 2014).”

    From Executive control training from middle childhood to adolescence (2014) · cites this paper as Buitenweg et al., 2012

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  1. Ball K. Berch D. B. Helmers K. F. Jobe J. B. Leveck M. D. Marsiske M. Morris J. N. Rebok G. W. Smith D. M. Tennstedt S. L. Unverzagt F. W. Willis S. L. (2002). Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults - A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 288, 2271– 2281 10.1001/jama.288.18.2271 12425704 PMC2916176 · DOI · Paper page
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Authors
Buitenweg, J. I. V., Murre, J. M. J., & Ridderinkhof, K. R.
Affiliations
University of Amsterdam (NL)
Corresponding author
Buitenweg, Jessika I. V.
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Published
2012
Volume
6
Pages
183-183
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2167759287
Cited by
132
References
124
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 1
FWCI
18.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
brain training, cognitive aging, trainability, older adults, cognitive flexibility, novelty, decision-making training, adaptive training, transfer effects, individual differences

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