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Conte G, Quadrana L, Zotti L, Di Garbo A, Oliveri M. Prismatic adaptation coupled with cognitive training as novel treatment for developmental dyslexia: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7148. [PMID: 38531968 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57499-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite intense and costly treatments, developmental dyslexia (DD) often persists into adulthood. Several brain skills unrelated to speech sound processing (i.e., phonology), including the spatial distribution of visual attention, are abnormal in DD and may represent possible treatment targets. This study explores the efficacy in DD of rightward prismatic adaptation (rPA), a visuomotor adaptation technique that enables visuo-attentive recalibration through shifts in the visual field induced by prismatic goggles. A digital intervention of rPA plus cognitive training was delivered weekly over 10 weeks to adolescents with DD (aged 13-17) assigned either to treatment (N = 35) or waitlist (N = 35) group. Efficacy was evaluated by repeated measures MANOVA assessing changes in working memory index (WMI), processing speed index (PSI), text reading speed, and words/pseudowords reading accuracy. rPA treatment was significantly more effective than waitlist (p ≤ 0.001; ηp2 = 0.815). WMI, PSI, and reading speed increased in the intervention group only (p ≤ 0.001, ηp2 = 0.67; p ≤ 0.001, ηp2 = 0.58; p ≤ 0.001, ηp2 = 0.29, respectively). Although modest change was detected for words and pseudowords accuracy in the waitlist group only (words: p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.17, pseudowords: p = 0.028; d = 0.27), between-group differences were non-significant. rPA-coupled cognitive training enhances cognitive and reading abilities in adolescents with DD. This innovative approach could have implications for early remedial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Conte
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, 108 via dei Sabelli, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Lauro Quadrana
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, 108 via dei Sabelli, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Lilian Zotti
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, 108 via dei Sabelli, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Di Garbo
- NeuroTeam Life & Science, 112 via della Libertà, 90143, Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Oliveri
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 129 via del Vespro, 90127, Palermo, Italy
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Hartmann H, Forkmann K, Schmidt K, Kleine-Borgmann J, Albers J, Wiech K, Bingel U. Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19468. [PMID: 37945662 PMCID: PMC10636058 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45979-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of so-called 'smart drugs' such as modafinil to improve cognitive performance has recently attracted considerable attention. However, their side effects have limited user enthusiasm. Open-label placebo (OLP) treatment, i.e., inert treatments that are openly disclosed to individuals as having no active pharmacological ingredient, has been shown to improve various medical symptoms and conditions, including those related to cognitive performance. OLP treatment could therefore be an exciting alternative to pharmacological cognitive enhancers. Here, we used a randomized-controlled design to investigate the effect of a 21-day OLP treatment on several sub-domains of cognitive performance in N = 78 healthy volunteers. Subjective and objective measures of cognitive performance as well as different measures of well-being were obtained before and after the treatment period. Using a combination of classic Frequentist and Bayesian analysis approaches showed no additional benefit from OLP treatment in any of the subjective or objective measures of cognitive performance. Our study thus highlights possible limitations of OLP treatment in boosting cognitive performance in healthy volunteers. These findings are discussed in the light of expectancy-value considerations that may determine OLP efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Hartmann
- Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Katarina Forkmann
- Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Katharina Schmidt
- Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Julian Kleine-Borgmann
- Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Johanna Albers
- Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Katja Wiech
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Haedington, Oxford, UK
| | - Ulrike Bingel
- Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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Klichowski M, Wicher A, Kruszwicka A, Golebiewski R. Reverse effect of home-use binaural beats brain stimulation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11079. [PMID: 37422545 PMCID: PMC10329717 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38313-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Binaural beats brain stimulation is a popular strategy for supporting home-use cognitive tasks. However, such home-use brain stimulation may be neutral to cognitive processes, and any intellectual improvement may be only a placebo effect. Thus, without belief in it, it may bring no benefits. Here we test 1000 individuals at their homes as they perform a two-part fluid intelligence test. Some took the second part listening to binaural beats, while others took it in silence or listening to other sounds. The binaural beats group was divided into three subgroups. The first one was informed that they would listen to sounds that improve the brain's work, the second that neutral sounds, and the third that some sounds the nature of which was not defined. We found that listening to binaural beats was not neutral, as it dramatically deteriorated the score irrespective of the condition. Silence or other sounds had no effect. Thus, home-use binaural beats brain stimulation brings reverse effects to those assumed: instead of supporting the effectiveness of cognitive activities, it may weaken them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Klichowski
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.
- Learning Laboratory, Faculty of Educational Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Andrzej Wicher
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Acoustics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kruszwicka
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
- Learning Laboratory, Faculty of Educational Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Roman Golebiewski
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Acoustics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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Foerster FR, Chidharom M, Giersch A. Enhanced temporal resolution of vision in action video game players. Neuroimage 2023; 269:119906. [PMID: 36739103 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Video game play has been suggested to improve visual and attention processing. Nevertheless, while action video game play is highly dynamic, there is scarce research on how information is temporally discriminated at the millisecond level. This cross-sectional study investigates whether temporal discrimination at the millisecond level in vision varies across action video game players (VGPs; N = 23) and non-video game players (NVGPs; N = 23). Participants discriminated synchronous from asynchronous onsets of two visual targets in virtual reality, while their EEG and oculomotor movements were recorded. Results show an increased sensitivity to short asynchronies (11, 33 and 66 ms) in VGPs compared with NVGPs, which was especially marked at the start of the task, suggesting better temporal discrimination abilities. Pre-targets oculomotor freezing - the inhibition of small fixational saccades - was associated with correct temporal discrimination, probably revealing attentional preparation. However, this parameter did not differ between groups. EEG and reconstruction analyses suggest that the enhancement of temporal discrimination in VGPs during temporal discrimination is related to parieto-occipital processing, and a reduction of alpha-band (8-14 Hz) power and inter-trial phase coherence. Overall, the study reveals an enhanced ability in action video game players to discriminate in time visual events in close temporal proximity combined with reduced alpha-band oscillatory activities. Consequently, playing action video games is associated with an improved temporal resolution of vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois R Foerster
- Université de Strasbourg, INSERM U1114, Pôle de Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Strasbourg, France.
| | - Matthieu Chidharom
- Department of Psychology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| | - Anne Giersch
- Université de Strasbourg, INSERM U1114, Pôle de Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Strasbourg, France
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Krzyzanowski D, Kusi M, Goghari VM. Malleability of expectations of computerized cognitive training. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Parong J, Seitz AR, Jaeggi SM, Green CS. Expectation effects in working memory training. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2209308119. [PMID: 36067292 PMCID: PMC9477404 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209308119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing body of research focused on developing and evaluating behavioral training paradigms meant to induce enhancements in cognitive function. It has recently been proposed that one mechanism through which such performance gains could be induced involves participants' expectations of improvement. However, no work to date has evaluated whether it is possible to cause changes in cognitive function in a long-term behavioral training study by manipulating expectations. In this study, positive or negative expectations about cognitive training were both explicitly and associatively induced before either a working memory training intervention or a control intervention. Consistent with previous work, a main effect of the training condition was found, with individuals trained on the working memory task showing larger gains in cognitive function than those trained on the control task. Interestingly, a main effect of expectation was also found, with individuals given positive expectations showing larger cognitive gains than those who were given negative expectations (regardless of training condition). No interaction effect between training and expectations was found. Exploratory analyses suggest that certain individual characteristics (e.g., personality, motivation) moderate the size of the expectation effect. These results highlight aspects of methodology that can inform future behavioral interventions and suggest that participant expectations could be capitalized on to maximize training outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn Parong
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Aaron R. Seitz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | | | - C. Shawn Green
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706
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Sansevere KS, Wooten T, McWilliams T, Peach S, Hussey EK, Brunyé TT, Ward N. Self-reported Outcome Expectations of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Are Malleable: a Registered Report that Replicates and Extends Rabipour et al. (2017). JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-022-00250-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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