Cognitive Stimulation of the Default-Mode Network Modulates Functional Connectivity in Healthy Ageing.

Cognitive Stimulation of the Default-Mode Network Modulates Functional Connectivity in Healthy Ageing. Brain Res Bull. 2015 Dec 10; Authors: Marco M, Meneghello F, Duzzi D, Rigon J, Pilosio C, Venneri A Abstract A cognitive-stimulation tool was created to regulate functional connectivity within the brain Default-Mode Network (DMN). Computerised exercises were designed based on the hypothesis that repeated task-dependent coactivation of multiple DMN regions would translate into regulation of resting-state network connectivity. Forty seniors (mean age: 65.90 years; SD: 8.53) were recruited and assigned either to an experimental group (n=21) who received one month of intensive cognitive stimulation, or to a control group (n=19) who maintained a regime of daily-life activities explicitly focused on activities based on social interactions. An MRI protocol and a battery of neuropsychological tests were administered at baseline and at the end of the study. Changes in the DMN (measured via functional connectivity of posterior-cingulate seeds), in brain volumes, and in cognitive performance were measured with mixed models assessing group-by-timepoint interactions. Moreover, regression models were run to test grey-matter correlates of the various stimulation tasks. Significant associations were found between task performance and grey-matter volume of multiple DMN core regions. Training-dependent up-regulation of functional connectivity was fou...
Source: Brain Research Bulletin - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research