The Effects of Cognitive Training on Executive Functioning and Attention in Multiple Sclerosis
Year: 2013
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that results in diffuse nerve damage and associated physical and cognitive impairments.Of the few comprehensive rehabilitation options that exist in the MS literature, those that have been successful at eliciting broad cognitive improvements have focused on a multi-modal training approach that emphasizes complex cognitive processing utilizing multiple domains simultaneously.The current study sought to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of an eight-week, hybrid variable priority (HVT) training program, using the video game, Space Fortress, relative to a wait-listed control group, to remediate cognitive deficits in a group of individuals diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS.Twenty-six participants were recruited for the study and randomized to either a training group or a wait-listed control group.To assess broad transfer, a battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to all participants preand post-intervention.The results indicated an overall improvement in skill acquisition, as evidenced by a significant improvement in total game score, but a lack of transfer to any tasks of cognition functioning as assessed by the battery.Participants in the training group, however, did show improvements on the 9-hole Peg test, a measure of fine motor control.Improvements to the current model would include a longer training course to elicit positive performance values, the inclusion of only cognitively impaired individuals, and integration of subjective measures of improvement in addition to objective tests of cognitive performance.
Author: Alisha Janssen
Institution: The Ohio State University
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2609500267