This study aimed at investigating if age-related cognitive decline in functional capacities can be reversed with a short cognitive intervention (NeuroTracker training). Biological Motion Perception (BMP) involves complex interpretations of human-based movement and body language, essential for interpreting social stimuli and managing complex scenes such as in crowds or sports activities. Young adults cannot read BMP at less than 1 meter, whereas with healthy older people it is typically lost at 4m (a critical risk for collision avoidance). This research focused on testing if the capacities of young adults could be regained.

What Was Studied

41 older adults with mean age of 68 years old were divided into trained, active control (placebo), and passive control (no training) groups. They were measured on a standardised BMP post training, which consisted of 15 NeuroTracker sessions distributed over 5 weeks.

What Was Found

Only the NeuroTracker trained group showed transfer to BMP, who demonstrated substantial improvements in processing BMP at 4m. 

Takeaways

The conclusion was a clear and positive transfer of perceptual-cognitive training onto a socially relevant ability in the elderly.

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Reference: Isabelle Legault & Jocelyn Faubert. ‘Perceptual-cognitive training improves biological motion perception: evidence for transferability of training in healthy aging’ NeuroReport 23(8) 469-473, 2012.

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