Changes of electrical brain activity after cognitive training in old adults and older industrial workers

Abstract

Cognitive training (CT) has effects on performance as well as brain measures. In most CT studies measures of brain structure and perfusion have been used, while methods based on the electroencephalogram (EEG) have been almost neglected. The first part of the chapter provides an overview about CT studies in older adults using EEG-based methods. The results generally reveal enhancements of specific EEG frequency bands or ERP components after CT while timing was not affected. This suggests an enhancement but no acceleration of the underlying processes due to CT. The second part presents some results of a CT study with older industrial workers who showed specific cognitive deficits. CT led to an improvement of the affected functions which was seen in an increase of performance accuracy and enhancement of specific ERP components. In the final part the advantages of brain-related, and particular EEG-based, measures for CT research are outlined, and recommendations for their use in future CT studies with older adults and particularly older workers are given.