No description available.

Studies attempting to increase working memory (WM) capacity show promise in enhancing related cognitive functions (see Morrison & Chein, 2011 for a recent review), but have also raised criticism in the broader scientific community given the scattered findings produced by these studies (Morrison & Chein, 2011; Shipstead, Redick, & Engle, 2010, 2012). Non-invasive brain stimulation, in particular transcranial direct current stimulation, has been shown to enhance WM performance in a single session (Fregni, et al., 2005) as well as learning over time in other cognitive domains (Iuculano & Cohen Kadosh, 2013; Reis, et al., 2009). However, the extent to which tDCS might enhance learning on a WM training regime, and the extent to which learning gains might transfer outside of the training task remain unknown. To this end, participants engaged in an adaptive WM training task (previously utilized in Chein & Morrison, 2010; Richmond, Morrison, Chein, & Olson, 2011) for 10 sessions over two weeks, concurrent with either active or sham stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Before and after training, a battery of tests tapping domains known to relate to WM abilities was administered. Results show that tDCS reliably enhanced learning on the training task, particularly in the verbal domain. Furthermore, tDCS was shown to enhance transfer to other untrained WM tasks. These results lend support to the idea that tDCS might bolster training and transfer gains in populations with compromised WM abilities. / Psychology

The theoretical part of the thesis is focused on the process of aging of cognitive functions, the brain, memory and its division, dementia syndrome, memory training and methods of memory training, the description of the Centre for the Elderly PATUP and courses of memory training. The main objective of the research part was to assess the courses of memory training in this centre at the faculty of Health and Social Studies of the University of South Bohemia. Partial objective 1 was to assess satisfaction of the elderly ? the participants - with the courses of memory training in the Centre for the Elderly PATUP. Partial objective 2 was to assess the courses of memory training from the trainers´ point of view. Partial objective 3 was to assess the courses of memory training in the Centre for the Elderly PATUP from the sponsor?s point of view. Partial objective 4 was to write a manual for memory trainers with a video recording with a sample lesson of the memory training course. To realize the research part of the thesis, qualitative research, the method of questioning, the technique of a semi-conducted interview and a technique of a focus group were applied. The research set consisted of 28 people who were divided according to the research questions in three groups ? memory trainers, the elderly (participants of the memory training courses) and the sponsor of the Centre for the Elderly PATUP. The research results, processed by SWOT analysis, showed clearly strong and weak points of the memory training courses and also showed recommendations from all respondents (the elderly, the trainers and the sponsor) leading to improvements of memory training courses. The thesis will contribute to creating methodology of the Centre for the Elderly PATUP and a methodological manual of MTC (memory training courses). The thesis also contributes to making MTC more efficient and will serve as educational material for memory trainers in the Centre for the Elderly PATUP.

As intervenções cognitivas voltadas a idosos saudáveis ainda encontram-se pouco estudadas na literatura nacional, apesar de terem sido investigadas em outros países. O treino de memória oferecido a idosos com Comprometimento Cognitivo Leve (CCL) tem recebido cada vez mais atenção de pesquisadores e parece também beneficiar esta população. Não se sabe se o treino tem efeito a longo prazo e nem se os benefícios são os mesmos para idosos saudáveis e com CCL. Esta pesquisa teve como intuito avaliar o impacto do treino de memória de oito sessões oferecido a idosos controles normais (CN) e com CCL com alta escolaridade em parâmetros cognitivos. Para isso, contamos com a participação de 61 idosos acompanhados pela equipe multidisciplinar do Laboratório de Neurociências LIM 27 do Instituto de Psiquiatria da FMUSP aleatoriamente divididos em grupo experimental - GE (sendo 17 CN e 18 com CCL) e grupo controle - GC (sendo 12 CN e 14 com CCL). Estes grupos foram avaliados em quatro momentos diferentes, a saber, antes da intervenção (T0), uma semana após o término da intervenção (T1), um mês após a última avaliação (T2) e seis meses após T1 (T3). O GE recebeu treino de memória com ênfase na categorização e grifos entre T0 e T1. O GC realizou todas as avaliações no mesmo tempo de GE, mas o treino foi lhes oferecido depois de T3. Observou-se melhora em ambos os grupos GE de T0 para T1 quando comparados ao grupo GC em testes de atenção, velocidade de processamento, estratégias mnemônicas, e em testes de memória. Estes efeitos parecem se manter a curto e a longo prazo, mostrando, de maneiras diferentes, os benefícios do treino e a existência de plasticidade cognitiva em ambas as populações estudadas / The cognitive interventions aimed at elderly healthy are little studied in the national literature, despite having been investigated in other countries. The memory training offered to seniors with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has received increasing attention from researchers and also seems to benefit this population. It is not known whether the training has long-term effect, nor whether the benefits are the same for healthy elderly and MCI. This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of eight memory training sessions offered to elderly normal controls (NC) and seniors with MCI in cognitive parameters. For this, we had the participation of 61 older people accompanied by a multidisciplinary team of the Laboratory of Neurosciences LIM 27, Institute of Psychiatry, FMUSP randomly divided into experimental group - EG (including 17 NC and 18 with MCI) and control group - CG (being 12 NC and 14 with MCI). These groups were evaluated at four different times, namely before the intervention (T0), one week after the intervention (T1), one month after the last assessment (T2) and six months after T1 (T3). EG received memory training with emphasis on categorization and underline words between T0 and T1. The CG performed all the assessments at the same time EG, but the training was offered to them after T3. Improvement was observed in both groups EG from T0 to T1 when compared to the CG on tests of attention, processing speed, mnemonic strategies, and memory tests. These effects seem to keep the short and long term, showing, in different ways, the benefits of training and the existence of cognitive plasticity in both populations studied

Introdução: As pessoas idosas têm preocupação com a perda da memória considerada como um sinal de alarme para declínio cognitivo. O fato é que a falta de memória compromete o cotidiano da pessoa idosa, sua auto-estima e seu relacionamento social. Baltes desenvolveu uma teoria onde preconiza que o desenvolvimento para toda a vida inclui otimização seletiva com compensação e permite que as pessoas envelheçam sem traumas. Isso prevê o engajamento em tarefas que sejam importantes. Num programa de treinamento da memória há espaço para a criação de condições de preparar e manter as pessoas idosas ativas e participantes. Objetivo: Sistematizar um programa de treinamento da memória para pessoas idosas incorporando a auto-avaliação. Método: O estudo é quase experimental - tipo antes e depois, realizado na Faculdade de Saúde Pública/USP, com a população idosa que demanda programas de atividades relacionadas à Universidade Aberta à terceira idade. Constou, na primeira fase, de um programa de treinamento da memória desenvolvido em dez sessões. Após definição do perfil da população alvo, o repertório sistematizado foi caracterizado segundo a função mental a ser estimulada. Resultados: O programa definitivo resultou de ajustes do Programa desenvolvido na primeira fase realizados a partir da análise das fichas de auto-avaliação de desempenho nas estratégias e exercícios e da análise das fichas de auto-relatos sobre a aplicação no dia-a-dia dos participantes, dos conteúdos aprendidos. As observações do pesquisador sobre vários aspectos comportamentais do grupo também foram importantes para os ajustes realizados. O tema atenção e concentração foi o mais citado nas auto-avaliações e auto-relatos. Evidenciou-se que o processo de socialização dos participantes deve merecer a atenção do monitor ao programar o elenco de atividades do grupo de participantes / Introduction: Aged persons are concerned wit loss of memory considered as an alarm sign for cognitive decline. The fact is that the loss of memory jeopardizes the aged person\'s daily life, his/her self-esteem and social relationship. Baltes developed a theory stating that the development for the whole life includes selective optimization with compensation and allows persons to age without traumas. This foresees the engagement in tasks which are important. In a memory training program there is room for the creation of conditions that prepare and maintain aged persons active and participating. Objective: To set up a memory training program for aged persons incorporating self-evaluation. Methodology: The study is almost experimental - before and after, conducted at the Public Health School/USP, with an aged population requiring activity programs related to the Open University for aged persons. The first place consisted of a memory training program developed in ten sessions. After defining the target population\'s profile the systematized repertory was broken down according to the mental function to be stimulated. Results: The final program resulted from adjustments of the program developed in the first phase from the analysis of self-evaluation cards in the performance of strategies and exercises and from the analysis of performance cards of training activities and from the analysis of self-reports on the application on a daily basis of the learned contents. The researcher\'s observations on the group\'s daily behavioral aspects were also important for the effected adjustments. Attention and concentration were the most mentioned subjects in the self-evaluations and self-reports. It was underlined that the socialization process of the participants should receive attention from the facilitator when programming the range of activities of the participants

As intervenções cognitivas voltadas a idosos saudáveis ainda encontram-se pouco estudadas na literatura nacional, apesar de terem sido investigadas em outros países. O treino de memória oferecido a idosos com Comprometimento Cognitivo Leve (CCL) tem recebido cada vez mais atenção de pesquisadores e parece também beneficiar esta população. Não se sabe se o treino tem efeito a longo prazo e nem se os benefícios são os mesmos para idosos saudáveis e com CCL. Esta pesquisa teve como intuito avaliar o impacto do treino de memória de oito sessões oferecido a idosos controles normais (CN) e com CCL com alta escolaridade em parâmetros cognitivos. Para isso, contamos com a participação de 61 idosos acompanhados pela equipe multidisciplinar do Laboratório de Neurociências LIM 27 do Instituto de Psiquiatria da FMUSP aleatoriamente divididos em grupo experimental - GE (sendo 17 CN e 18 com CCL) e grupo controle - GC (sendo 12 CN e 14 com CCL). Estes grupos foram avaliados em quatro momentos diferentes, a saber, antes da intervenção (T0), uma semana após o término da intervenção (T1), um mês após a última avaliação (T2) e seis meses após T1 (T3). O GE recebeu treino de memória com ênfase na categorização e grifos entre T0 e T1. O GC realizou todas as avaliações no mesmo tempo de GE, mas o treino foi lhes oferecido depois de T3. Observou-se melhora em ambos os grupos GE de T0 para T1 quando comparados ao grupo GC em testes de atenção, velocidade de processamento, estratégias mnemônicas, e em testes de memória. Estes efeitos parecem se manter a curto e a longo prazo, mostrando, de maneiras diferentes, os benefícios do treino e a existência de plasticidade cognitiva em ambas as populações estudadas / The cognitive interventions aimed at elderly healthy are little studied in the national literature, despite having been investigated in other countries. The memory training offered to seniors with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has received increasing attention from researchers and also seems to benefit this population. It is not known whether the training has long-term effect, nor whether the benefits are the same for healthy elderly and MCI. This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of eight memory training sessions offered to elderly normal controls (NC) and seniors with MCI in cognitive parameters. For this, we had the participation of 61 older people accompanied by a multidisciplinary team of the Laboratory of Neurosciences LIM 27, Institute of Psychiatry, FMUSP randomly divided into experimental group - EG (including 17 NC and 18 with MCI) and control group - CG (being 12 NC and 14 with MCI). These groups were evaluated at four different times, namely before the intervention (T0), one week after the intervention (T1), one month after the last assessment (T2) and six months after T1 (T3). EG received memory training with emphasis on categorization and underline words between T0 and T1. The CG performed all the assessments at the same time EG, but the training was offered to them after T3. Improvement was observed in both groups EG from T0 to T1 when compared to the CG on tests of attention, processing speed, mnemonic strategies, and memory tests. These effects seem to keep the short and long term, showing, in different ways, the benefits of training and the existence of cognitive plasticity in both populations studied

Introdução: As pessoas idosas têm preocupação com a perda da memória considerada como um sinal de alarme para declínio cognitivo. O fato é que a falta de memória compromete o cotidiano da pessoa idosa, sua auto-estima e seu relacionamento social. Baltes desenvolveu uma teoria onde preconiza que o desenvolvimento para toda a vida inclui otimização seletiva com compensação e permite que as pessoas envelheçam sem traumas. Isso prevê o engajamento em tarefas que sejam importantes. Num programa de treinamento da memória há espaço para a criação de condições de preparar e manter as pessoas idosas ativas e participantes. Objetivo: Sistematizar um programa de treinamento da memória para pessoas idosas incorporando a auto-avaliação. Método: O estudo é quase experimental - tipo antes e depois, realizado na Faculdade de Saúde Pública/USP, com a população idosa que demanda programas de atividades relacionadas à Universidade Aberta à terceira idade. Constou, na primeira fase, de um programa de treinamento da memória desenvolvido em dez sessões. Após definição do perfil da população alvo, o repertório sistematizado foi caracterizado segundo a função mental a ser estimulada. Resultados: O programa definitivo resultou de ajustes do Programa desenvolvido na primeira fase realizados a partir da análise das fichas de auto-avaliação de desempenho nas estratégias e exercícios e da análise das fichas de auto-relatos sobre a aplicação no dia-a-dia dos participantes, dos conteúdos aprendidos. As observações do pesquisador sobre vários aspectos comportamentais do grupo também foram importantes para os ajustes realizados. O tema atenção e concentração foi o mais citado nas auto-avaliações e auto-relatos. Evidenciou-se que o processo de socialização dos participantes deve merecer a atenção do monitor ao programar o elenco de atividades do grupo de participantes / Introduction: Aged persons are concerned wit loss of memory considered as an alarm sign for cognitive decline. The fact is that the loss of memory jeopardizes the aged person\'s daily life, his/her self-esteem and social relationship. Baltes developed a theory stating that the development for the whole life includes selective optimization with compensation and allows persons to age without traumas. This foresees the engagement in tasks which are important. In a memory training program there is room for the creation of conditions that prepare and maintain aged persons active and participating. Objective: To set up a memory training program for aged persons incorporating self-evaluation. Methodology: The study is almost experimental - before and after, conducted at the Public Health School/USP, with an aged population requiring activity programs related to the Open University for aged persons. The first place consisted of a memory training program developed in ten sessions. After defining the target population\'s profile the systematized repertory was broken down according to the mental function to be stimulated. Results: The final program resulted from adjustments of the program developed in the first phase from the analysis of self-evaluation cards in the performance of strategies and exercises and from the analysis of performance cards of training activities and from the analysis of self-reports on the application on a daily basis of the learned contents. The researcher\'s observations on the group\'s daily behavioral aspects were also important for the effected adjustments. Attention and concentration were the most mentioned subjects in the self-evaluations and self-reports. It was underlined that the socialization process of the participants should receive attention from the facilitator when programming the range of activities of the participants

Undergraduate students from California State University, San Bernardino were recruited to examine the effects of working memory training and encoding strategy upon working memory capacity. Participants will be prescreened for low working memory capacity, and then will be tested on a battery of complex span measures. Participants will be divided into several strategy conditions: rehearsal, visual, and control. Then participants will be tested on their verbal working memory both before and after the 20 session n-back working memory training program. Participants are predicted to do the same or worse with the strategy instruction before working memory training while they will improve after training in comparison to control groups. The effects of strategy and training upon working memory capacity were nonsignificant. However, the direction of group differences is consistent with the maximization of individual differences with strategy instruction while cognitive training minimizes individual differences.

Preference for smaller-sooner over larger-later rewards characterizes one type of impulsivity—impulsive choice. Impulsive choice is related to a number of maladaptive behaviors including substance abuse, pathological gambling, and poor health behaviors. As such, interventions designed to reduce impulsive choice may have therapeutic benefits. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore two methods to change nonhuman impulsive choice. In doing so, we hope to provide a baseline that future research can use to assess variables that are less amenable to human research (e.g., drug self-administration following reductions in impulsive choice). In Chapter 2, we failed to reduce nonhuman impulsive choice using working-memory training, a finding both inconsistent and consistent with the extant human literature. Chapters 3-5 sought to better understand a training regimen that generates large between-group differences in nonhuman impulsive choice—delay- and immediacy-exposure training. The results from Chapters 3 and 4 suggest that prolonged exposure to delayed food rewards produces large and long-lasting reductions in impulsive choice. Chapter 5 showed that the delay-exposure training effect can be obtained in fewer sessions than has previously been employed. A better understanding of the effects of delay-exposure training on nonhuman impulsive choice may have implications for the design and implementation of a human analog.

Working memory (WM), which is essential for many academic skills, has been found to predict inattentive behaviours and is a common deficit in ADHD and LD. Recent studies have suggested that WM can be improved by intensive and adaptive computerized training. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a WM training program on WM, attention, behaviour and academics in adolescents with severe LD/ADHD. A total of 60 12 to 17 year olds with ADHD/LD were randomised to one of two computerized intervention programs: working memory training or math training and evaluated before and at three weeks after completion. Adolescents in the WM training group showed greater improvements in some measures of WM than those in the Math training group, but no training effects were observed on any other measures. Findings are discussed in the context of theoretical and practical implications of WM training.