The Effects of Attentional Filter Training on Working Memory

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators are interested in how attentional filter training/ distractor inhibition training could influence cognitive functions like working memory, executive control, problem solving, decision making and attentional control.

Detailed Description
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Two different computer based trainings were applied: an attentional filter training and a working memory training.

Official Title
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Improving Cognitive Functions by Training Distractor Inhibition (DIIN) in Younger and Older Healthy Adults

Conditions
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Cognitive Decline, Healthy, Age-related Cognitive Decline

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: filter training
* Behavioral: memory training
* Other: no training (control)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: right-hander aged between 18-30 or 60-80years Exclusion Criteria: severe visual impairments (e.g. dyschromatopsia, very low vision) diseases or medication that might impair test performance Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score (MoCA) < 26 points

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Young subjects<br>Working memory training & attentional filter training for participants (18-30 years) | Behavioral: filter training<br>* one-week filter training on the computer: computerized visual change detection experiment (selective attention )<br>Behavioral: memory training<br>* one-week storage training on the computer: computerized visual change detection experiment (memory storage)<br>|
| Experimental: Old subjects<br>Working memory training, attentional filter training and no training (control) for participants (60-80 years) | Behavioral: filter training<br>* one-week filter training on the computer: computerized visual change detection experiment (selective attention )<br>Behavioral: memory training<br>* one-week storage training on the computer: computerized visual change detection experiment (memory storage)<br>Other: no training (control)<br>* no training applied<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Improvements in test performance | Working memory and filtering performance (in %), effects of distractor interference and reaction times for trials with and without distractors with 4, 5 & 6 targets | 45min pre / post | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rey Complex Figure Test | Copying complex figures and reproduce it from memory | 30min pre / post | 
| Memory from TAP (Test battery of Attentional Performance) | Working Memory (n-back) | 45min pre / post | 
| Attention from TAP (Test battery of Attentional Performance) | divided attention, Go-NoGo, Flexibility, Incompatibility, Visual scanning | 45min pre / post | 
| Performance in repeating numbers | Repeating numbers in forward & backward conditions | 10min pre / post | 
| Subtest from CANTAB (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery) | Spatial Span Test | 10min pre / post | 
| Iowa Gambling Task | Decision making | 5min on each training day (1-5) | 
| Daily Questionnaires | subjective performance in the training paradigm | 2 min on each training day (1-5) | 
| Daily Questionnaires | Assessing external circumstances of daily influences | 2min on each training day (1-5) | 
| Memory performance without distractors among different setsizes | Working memory performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and averaged performance for all conditions without distractors | 45min pre / post | 
| Memory performance with distractors among different setsizes | Working memory performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and distractors and averaged performance for all conditions with distractors | 45min pre / post | 
| Filtering performance without distractors among different setsizes | Filtering performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and averaged performance for all conditions without distractors | 45min pre / post | 
| Filtering performance with distractors among different setsizes | Filtering performance (in %) for trials with 4, 5 & 6 targets and distractors and averaged performance for all conditions with distractors | 45min pre / post | 
| Reaction times | Reaction times in each condition | 45min pre / post | 
| Values of distractor inhibition | Distractor inhibition (DIIN) = Mean of conditions without distractors - Mean of conditions with distractors | 45min pre / post | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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training intervention, filter training, distractor inhibition