Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
Honeywell Labs, Honeywell Aerospace, Redmond, WA, United States.
Neuropsychologia. 2018 Sep;118(Pt A):107-114. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Apr 9.
It is debated whether cognitive training of specific executive functions leads to far transfer effects, such as improvements in fluid intelligence (Gf). Within this context, transcranial direct current stimulation and recently also novel protocols such as transcranial random noise and alternating current stimulation are being investigated with regards to their ability to enhance cognitive training outcomes. We compared the effects of four different transcranial electrical brain stimulation protocols in combination with nine daily computerized training sessions on Gf. 82 participants were randomly assigned to receive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), random noise stimulation (tRNS), multifocal alternating current stimulation at 40 Hz (mftACS), or multifocal tDCS (mftDCS) in combination with an adaptive and synergistic executive function (EF) training, or to a no-contact control group. EF training consisted of gamified tasks drawing on isolated as well as integrated executive functions (working memory, inhibition, cognitive flexibility). Transfer was assessed with a combined measure of Gf including three established tests (Bochumer Matrizentest - BOMAT, Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices - RAPM, and Sandia Matrices). We found significant improvements in Gf for the tDCS, mftDCS, and tRNS groups when compared with the no-contact group. In contrast, the mftACS group did not improve significantly and showed a similar pattern as the no-contact group. Mediation analyses indicated that the improvement in Gf was mediated through game progression in the mftDCS and tRNS group. Electrical brain stimulation in combination with sustained EF training can lead to transfer effects in Gf, which are mediated by training progression.
关于认知训练特定的执行功能是否会产生远迁移效应，例如提高流体智力（Gf），这一点存在争议。在这种情况下，正在研究经颅直流电刺激和最近的新方案，如经颅随机噪声和交流电刺激，以了解它们增强认知训练效果的能力。我们比较了四种不同的经颅电脑刺激方案与九次每日计算机训练相结合对 Gf 的影响。82 名参与者被随机分配接受经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）、随机噪声刺激（tRNS）、40 Hz 多焦点交流电刺激（mftACS）或多焦点 tDCS（mftDCS），同时接受适应性和协同执行功能（EF）训练，或接受无接触对照组。EF 训练包括基于孤立和综合执行功能（工作记忆、抑制、认知灵活性）的游戏化任务。通过结合使用三项成熟的测试（Bochumer Matrizentest - BOMAT、Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices - RAPM 和 Sandia Matrices）来评估转移。与无接触组相比，tDCS、mftDCS 和 tRNS 组的 Gf 显著提高。相比之下，mftACS 组没有显著提高，与无接触组的模式相似。中介分析表明，mftDCS 和 tRNS 组的 Gf 改善是通过游戏进展来介导的。经颅电刺激与持续的 EF 训练相结合，可以导致 Gf 的转移效应，这种效应是通过训练进展来介导的。
