Cognitive and neural plasticity in older adults' prospective memory following training with the Virtual Week computer game.

ABSTRACT: Prospective memory (PM) - the ability to remember and successfully execute our intentions and planned activities - is critical for functional independence and declines with age, yet few studies have attempted to train PM in older adults. We developed a PM training program using the Virtual Week computer game. Trained participants played the game in 12, 1-h sessions over 1 month. Measures of neuropsychological functions, lab-based PM, event-related potentials (ERPs) during performance on a lab-based PM task, instrumental activities of daily living, and real-world PM were assessed before and after training. Performance was compared to both no-contact and active (music training) control groups. PM on the Virtual Week game dramatically improved following training relative to controls, suggesti

SUBMITTER: Rose NS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4623669 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature