Researchers report that computerized cognitive training can change brain structure and improve thinking skills in adults with chronic traumatic brain injury.
The team randomly assigned 17 adults (ages 24–56) to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group used the Brain Fitness Program 2.0, a computer program with games that included recalling syllable sequences, distinguishing different sound frequencies, and remembering details from a verbal story. Participants completed 40 one-hour sessions over 14 weeks.
Using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers measured nerve-fiber pathways and found significant changes in neuroplasticity for the trained group compared with the control group. The structural changes in white matter were linked to measurable gains on tests of processing speed, attention, and working memory.
Gerald Voelbel, the study's senior author, said the training can induce neuroplasticity in adults with chronic brain injury. The research appears in the Journal of Neurotrauma.
Difficult words
- neuroplasticity — brain's ability to change its structure
- white matter — brain tissue made of nerve fiber connections
- processing speed — how quickly the brain handles information
- working memory — ability to hold and use information briefly
- control group — group that did not receive the training
- experimental group — group that received the computer training
- diffusion — movement of molecules through a medium
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Discussion questions
- Would you try a computer program like Brain Fitness Program 2.0? Why or why not?
- How could better processing speed, attention, and working memory help daily life for a person with brain injury?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using computer games for rehabilitation?
