Showing posts with label neuroplasticity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label neuroplasticity. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

MindHub Pub #2: The Science Behind Interactive Metronome: An Integration of Brain Clock, Temporal Processing, Brain Network and Neurocognitive Research and Theory






The second MindHub Pub working paper is now available:  The Science Behind Interactive Metronome:  An Integration of Brain Clock, Temporal Processing, Brain Network and Neurocognitive Research and Theory.  The PDF document can be viewed/downloaded by clicking here.

This working paper is an integration of research and theory that attempts to explain the science behind the positive outcomes of the Interactive Metronome rehabilitative and brain training neurotechnology (the IM effect).  A three-level explanatory model involving three different levels of brain and neurocognitive constructs (McGrew, 2012) is described.   The three-levels are presented in the visual summary in the figure below.  Although the text focuses on explaining the IM effect on cognitive functions (focus, controlled attention, working memory, executive functions), the three-level hypothesized model should be considered a general explanatory framework for understanding the positive IM effect in other human performance domains as well (e.g., recovery from stroke; gait; motor coordination).

 The three-level model described here can also be viewed as an IM-free integration of research and theory that explains the relations between the temporal processing (temporal g) of the human brain clock (s), brain regions and networks, brain network communication and synchronization (the parietal-frontal integration theory of intelligence [P-FIT] in particular), and the neurocognitive constructs of controlled attention (focus), working memory, and executive functioning.

[Click on image to enlarge]

Friday, January 23, 2009

iAbstract: Excercising your brain review

Double click image to enlarge. See prior post for additional info on iAbstract deals.

iAbstract: Aging and cognitive plasticity

The most recent issue of Psychology and Aging had a special section devoted aging and cognitive plasticity. I offer my usual "I give you PDF copies of articles I'm exchange for guest blog posts about the articles" quid-pro-quo deal. Contact me if interested.

Double click on image to enlarge.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

More on brain training for the eldery

Sharp Brains has a more detailed post regarding the topic I blogged about yesterday....new research demonstrating positive effects for brain training in the elderly. Check out SB's post....I consider SB to be the "Ralph Nader" or "Consumer Reports" regarding the growing brain fitness industry.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

WSJ reviews brain fitness products

Another article in the Wall Street Journal re: a number of the more visible brain-based products in the brain-fitness movement. If I had the time and resources it would be nice to do the following with these products, as well as many others that are available (see Sharp Brains for more)

1. Task analyze the cognitive/neuropsychological abilities that appear to be activated/treated with each product using a standard/accepted taxonomy of human cognitive abilities. In the domain of cognitive abilities I, of course, would analyze the products using the CHC taxonomy of cognitive abilities. Having a handful of independent experts in CHC theory complete this task analysis and then establish an "expert consensus" would be nice. Long story short----lets examine all of these products using the same cognitive taxonomic model and terminology.

2. Conduct a study (or series of studies) where the effectiveness of the programs (at least 3-4) are compared head-to-head with either (a) the same subjects (of course, using a counter-balanced design) and/or (b) randomly assign subjects to different product treatment groups (or use some matched subject groups). The use of a control (non-treatment group) would also be ideal. Have all subjects take a standard battery of pre- and post-test cognitive/neuropsychological measures and statistically compare the relative treatment effects against the control group.

I'm sure there is more, but this would provide some useful information for the consumer in this whole brain fitness movement.

Finally, if any readers of this blog have had experience with any of these products, and/or are aware of published empirical effectiveness studies, please leave a comment.

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Friday, October 27, 2006