Kray Jutta, Ferdinand Nicola K, Stenger Katharina
Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Department of Psychology, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany.
Front Hum Neurosci. 2020 Dec 4;14:565927. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.565927. eCollection 2020.
Cognitive control processes, such as updating task-relevant information while switching between multiple tasks, are substantially impaired in older adults. However, it has also been shown that these cognitive control processes can be improved by training interventions, e.g., by training in task switching. Here, we applied an event-related potential (ERP) approach to identify whether a cognitive training improves task-preparatory processes such as updating of relevant task goals. To do so, we applied a pretest-training-posttest design with eight training sessions. Two groups of older adults were either trained in task switching (treatment group) or in performing single tasks (control group) and we compared their performance to a group of untrained younger adults. To foster cue updating in the treatment group, we applied a cue-based switching task in which the two task cues were randomly selected prior to target presentation so that participants had time to prepare for the upcoming task. In contrast, the control group also received task cues but those were redundant as only one task had to be performed. We also examined whether training in cue updating during task switching can be transferred to a similar cognitive control task measuring updating of context information, namely a modified version of the AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT). The results revealed training-specific improvements in task switching, that is, a larger improvement in blocks requiring switching in comparison to single tasks at the behavioral level. In addition, training specific-effects were also found at the neuronal level. Older adults trained in cue updating while switching showed a reduction in mixing costs in the cue-related P3, indicating an improvement in preparatory updating processes. Additionally, P3 topography changed with training from a very broad to a parietally focused scalp distribution similar to the one found in younger adults. However, we did not obtain training-specific improvements in context updating in the AX-CPT neither at the behavioral level nor at the neuronal level. Results are discussed in the context of the ongoing debate on whether transfer of cognitive training improvements is possible.
认知控制过程，比如在多个任务之间切换时更新与任务相关的信息，在老年人中会受到显著损害。然而，研究也表明，这些认知控制过程可以通过训练干预得到改善，例如通过任务切换训练。在此，我们采用事件相关电位（ERP）方法来确定认知训练是否能改善任务准备过程，比如相关任务目标的更新。为此，我们采用了前测-训练-后测设计，共进行八次训练课程。两组老年人分别接受任务切换训练（治疗组）或执行单一任务训练（对照组），并将他们的表现与一组未接受训练的年轻人进行比较。为了促进治疗组的线索更新，我们采用了基于线索的切换任务，在目标呈现之前随机选择两个任务线索，以便参与者有时间为即将到来的任务做好准备。相比之下，对照组也会收到任务线索，但这些线索是多余的，因为只需要执行一项任务。我们还研究了任务切换过程中的线索更新训练是否可以转移到一个类似的测量情境信息更新的认知控制任务中，即改良版的AX连续性能任务（AX-CPT）。结果显示，在任务切换方面有特定训练带来的改善，即在行为层面上，与单一任务相比，需要切换的组块有更大的改善。此外，在神经元层面也发现了特定训练的效果。接受线索更新切换训练的老年人在与线索相关的P3中混合成本降低，表明准备更新过程有所改善。此外，随着训练，P3的头皮分布从非常广泛变为以顶叶为中心，类似于在年轻人中发现的分布。然而，我们在AX-CPT的情境更新方面，无论是在行为层面还是神经元层面，都没有获得特定训练带来的改善。我们将在关于认知训练改善是否可能转移的持续争论背景下讨论这些结果。
