Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026
10:13
Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
14.3K
Leisure Activities and Change in Cognitive Stability: A Multivariate Approach
Nathalie Mella1,2, Emmanuelle Grob3,4, Salomé Döll5
1Cognitive aging lab, FPSE, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland. Nathalie.Mella-Barraco@unige.ch.
Brain Sciences
|March 4, 2017
Summary
Engaging in cultural, physical, and intellectual activities may protect against age-related cognitive decline by reducing intraindividual variability (IIV). This study highlights IIV as a key indicator in aging research.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Aging is linked to cognitive decline and increased intraindividual variability (IIV).
- Existing research on lifestyle interventions for cognitive health primarily focuses on mean performance, with limited understanding of their impact on IIV.
- Intraindividual variability (IIV) is a sensitive marker for age-related cognitive changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between lifestyle activities and age-related changes in cognitive performance, specifically considering both mean performance and IIV.
- To explore how physical, social, intellectual, and cultural activities influence cognitive aging trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 96 participants aged 64-93 years.
- Four cognitive assessments over a seven-year period.
- Linear multilevel models analyzed associations between lifestyle activities and cognitive performance (mean and IIV).
Main Results:
- Leisure activities demonstrated a stronger association with IIV than with mean cognitive performance.
- Cultural, physical, and intellectual activities showed protective effects on IIV.
- The impact of activities on IIV varied depending on the specific cognitive tasks assessed.
Conclusions:
- Lifestyle activities, particularly cultural, physical, and intellectual pursuits, may mitigate age-related increases in cognitive variability.
- Intraindividual variability (IIV) is a crucial metric for understanding cognitive aging and the efficacy of lifestyle interventions.
- Future research should incorporate IIV measures to gain a more comprehensive understanding of cognitive aging.
More Related Videos
08:36The Immersive Cleveland Clinic Virtual Reality Shopping Platform for the Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Published on: July 28, 2022
4.6K
11:21Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
8.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
1.0K
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,...
1.0K
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
765
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.
765
01:17Cognitivism
3.3K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
3.3K
01:30Information Processing Approach
684
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...
684
01:21Cognitive Learning
1.5K
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
1.5K
01:27Language and Cognition
909
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
909