title: Computerized tabletop games as a form of a video game training for old-old.
abstract: This research aimed at investigating the utility of a computerized version of a cognitively stimulating activity as a video game intervention for elderly. The study focused on the effect of a 6-week extensive practice intervention on aspects of cognitive functioning (vigilance, working memory (WM), inhibition, reasoning) of old-old participants (N = 29), randomly assigned to trained or active control group. The difference between groups was in the content of the extended video game practice - cognitively complex card game for trained and computerized version of a simple dice-game of chance for control participants. A pretest, posttest and a 4-month follow-up measurement was conducted. Results revealed improvements in both groups, except for improved reasoning found only in trained participants. These results suggest that: (1) improvements are dependent on the complexity of the program, (2) cognitively stimulating activity are a valid training procedure for old-old, (3) novelty of computer use is an important factor in determining training efficacy.
authors: a Department of Psychology , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Cujzek
authors: a Department of Psychology , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Vranic
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003199:Computer Systems; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018910:Video Games
keywords: Video game training; cognitively stimulating activity; executive functions; older adults; reasoning ability