Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Cognitive Training and Transfer Effects in Stroke Patients

Abstract

Stroke lesions are frequently followed by cognitive impairments. Cognitive training is a non-pharmacological intervention that can promote neural compensation mechanisms and strategies to remediate cognitive impairments. The aims of this study were: (1) To investigate the cognitive performance, generalization effects, and neural correlates of semantic organization strategy training (SOST) in patients with chronic left frontoparietal stroke and healthy controls (HC); and (2) to compare the behavioral effects and neural correlates of SOST with an active control psychoeducation intervention (PI). In this randomized controlled study, all participants were randomly allocated into two groups, one group received SOST, and the other received PI intervention. Participants underwent two fMRI sessions, one prior and the other, after intervention. In each fMRI session, images were obtained during memory encoding task using a list of semantically related words. We found improved post-intervention memory performance in participants that received SOST (both patients and controls), indicated by number of words recalled, word clustering scores, and performance in a generalization task. The fMRI analysis revealed negative correlation between task performance and regions of the default-mode network. These results suggest that cognitive training using semantic organization strategy can improve episodic memory performance and promote potential functional neuroplasticity in patients with ischemic stroke lesions.

Effects of Combined Interventions with Aerobic Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training on Cognitive Function in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review

“…Many cognitive rehabilitation strategies, usually focused on the specific domains that are impaired in each patient, are employed to treat cognitive disorders in stroke patients, principally by neuropsychologists and speech therapists. Some studies have revealed a number of the neural mechanisms involved in the efficacy of these interventions [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Cognitive Training and Aerobic Exercise as Intervention Techniques for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Research Protocol

“…The authors thus concluded that it is within this demographic that cognitive training has the most potential to slow cognitive decline in individuals with MCI [2]. Moreover, another review by Miotto et al has shown that individuals with MCI retain a degree of neuroplasticity, indicating that cognitive training can be a feasible treatment avenue for this population [11]. Overall, a plethora of evidence supports that cognitive training has positive effects on individuals with MCI by slowing cognitive decline and reducing the rate of progression to dementia.…”

Ganho Cognitivo Com Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana Em Alvo Motor Pós Acidente Vascular Cerebral

“…Dentre os danos desencadeados pelo AVC encontram-se frequentemente os déficits motores e cognitivos (incluindo alterações de humor), estes prejuízos ocorrem em mais de um terço dos pacientes e podem persistir por anos produzindo disfuncionalidades (Einstad et al, 2021;Jonsdottir et al, 2021;Kuan et al, 2022;Miotto et al, 2020;Morishita & Hummel, 2017)O prejuízo cognitivo pós AVC pode inibir o processo de reabilitação física devido a problemas de memória e mau julgamento (anosognosia), além disso resulta em piores desfechos em longo prazo, como nas atividades de vida diária (AVD), reintegração na comunidade e qualidade de vida (Rohde et al, 2019).…”