title: Plasticity of inhibitory processes and associated far-transfer effects in older adults.
abstract: Inhibition deficit plays a crucial part in cognitive aging; however, few studies have systematically investigated the plasticity of various inhibitory processes among older adults. We studied the plasticity of 3 inhibitory processes (access, deletion, and restraint) and the extent of far transfer of inhibition training to other general cognitive abilities. Thirty-six participants (aged 60 years and above, M = 70.06, SD = 5.53) were randomly assigned to an adaptive training group that received 12 sessions of training covering 3 inhibitory processes or an active control group that received 4 sessions of mental health lectures. Participants in both groups completed pre- and posttest assessments, in which behavioral and electrophysiological measures were used to evaluate potential transfer effects. Direct training gains were observed for trained tasks of all inhibitory processes, but near-transfer effects were only found within untrained tasks associated with deletion at a composite score level. Furthermore, far-transfer effects were demonstrated for fluid intelligence (Gf) but not for working memory or other general cognitive abilities. Near transfer to deletion and far transfer to Gf persisted at a 3-month follow-up assessment session. We discussed differences in plasticity between the 3 inhibitory processes as well as their possible associations with far transfer to Gf. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7942-9333
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
authors.forename: Tianyong
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8948-4969
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mental Health.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D012193:Reversal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D014163:Transfer, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*