Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
Efficiency, capacity, compensation, maintenance, plasticity: emerging concepts in cognitive reserve
1Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|September 11, 2013
Summary
Cognitive reserve (CR) explains why some individuals maintain cognitive function despite brain damage. Sharpening conceptual boundaries is crucial for understanding preserved cognition in aging and dementia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cognitive reserve (CR) addresses the gap between brain pathology and cognitive performance.
- CR is vital for understanding aging and dementia, applicable to all brain damage.
- CR relates to compensatory, neuroprotective, and brain reserve concepts.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce the concept of cognitive reserve.
- Explicate the potential cognitive and neural implementation of CR.
- Clarify the relationship between CR and related concepts.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of cognitive reserve.
- Literature review on related concepts (e.g., brain reserve, compensation).
- Discussion of cognitive and neural mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Cognitive reserve is a key factor in preserved cognitive function.
- CR is compatible with and complementary to related concepts.
- Existing concepts require clearer definitions.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive reserve is a valuable framework for understanding cognitive resilience.
- Sharper conceptual distinctions are needed for CR and related theories.
- Further research should focus on defining boundaries to explain preserved function.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:01Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
01:24Working Memory
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:16Interference and Decay
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...