Computerized Exercises to Promote Transfer of Cognitive Skills to Everyday Life

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cognitive remediation programs exist in computerized and non-computerized formats.
• A misconception is that computer use alone drives therapy efficiency, neglecting metacognitive skill training.
• Metacognitive skills are crucial for transferring cognitive improvements to functional outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce RECOS, a theory-based approach for cognitive remediation.
• To highlight the importance of integrating metacognitive training with cognitive skill practice.
• To demonstrate how RECOS facilitates the transfer of cognitive skills to functional improvements.

Main Methods:

• RECOS employs a one-on-one therapeutic approach combining paper/pencil tasks and interactive computer exercises.
• Paper/pencil tasks focus on developing problem-solving techniques and strategy identification.
• Computerized sessions guide participants in understanding procedural knowledge and its application through retrospective introspection.

Main Results:

• The study emphasizes that effective cognitive remediation requires training metacognitive skills alongside cognitive abilities.
• RECOS aims to uncover patients' latent procedural knowledge through interactive computerized environments.
• Conscious awareness of strategies, fostered by RECOS, enables conditional knowledge for real-world application.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive remediation therapy's success is enhanced by integrating metacognitive skill development.
• RECOS effectively bridges the gap between cognitive skill acquisition and functional improvement.
• The approach leverages both explicit strategy training and implicit procedural knowledge activation.