Brain Plasticity Based Adaptive Cognitive Training Study

This article addresses the real world problem of the deterioration of cognition in individuals.The possibility of cognitive decline also means a chance of decline in one’s functionality. It focuses primarily on older people and the possibility for improved mental functions to lead to greater health and subsequently a better quality of life. The method in question is a new brain plasticity-based (the brain 's ability to change) cognitive training program (IMPACT) and its ability to improve memory.
The underlying research question is whether the improvement of sensory systems such as auditory system function, will lead to improvements in memory and also, attention.
Two previous approaches to addressing the problem of mental processes diminishing with age were considered by researchers while developing this experimental approach. This new study elaborates upon previous studies, but makes changes to the outcome measures to hopefully ensure more detailed and exact results. It introduces, a positive control that should produce an expected response and allow for a good comparison to the unknown results of the treatment. Also it includes more measures of memory and attention, responses from the participants about their own results, and more sensitivity to group differences.
The design is a …show more content…
There are two levels of the IV which are, the experimental treatment training program and the active control training program. The study includes an experimental group, but it also has an active control group which is not set out to improve sensory (specifically auditory) functions but still involves learning processes and will be used as a reference point to measure the potential progress of the experimental group. The researchers are looking to see a change, hopefully improvement, in cognitive function, making it the dependent