The cue to success : improving cognitive control processes in older adults by means of cued Task-Switching Training - an ERP approach

Abstract

It is well documented that cognitive control abilities decline in old age. However, scientific evidence suggests that cognitive-control training reduces age-related differences substantially. The present study implemented an event-related potential (ERP) approach to identify the neural dynamics underlying training-induced changes after cognitive-control training in healthy older adults. Ninety older adults were trained either in a task-switching (high demands on cognitive control) or a single-task training setting (lowered demands on cognitive control) and compared against 30 untrained younger adults. Transfer effects of training were expected in a similar, untrained switching task (near transfer) and in dissimilar tasks (far transfer) measuring context processing and interference control. Behavioral results indicated improved performance in older adults in the transfer tasks that were more pronounced after task-switching training than after single-task training. More importantly, we found a selective decrease in the cue-locked P3 amplitudes for non-switch trials and an increase in mean target-locked P3 amplitudes in the near transfer task, reflecting enhanced task preparation and implementation. Furthermore, results showed a selective decrease in the target-locked N450 and an increase in P3 amplitudes in the far transfer tasks, indicating enhanced conflict detection and interference control after task- switching training. These findings suggest a training-specific enhancement of underlying cognitive-control mechanisms that may be associated with distinct neural signatures.