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Feasibility of a Home-Based Task-Switching Training in Middle-Aged Caregivers.

Sarah Susanne Lütke LanferSören EngeMarlen MelzerJürgen WeggeMatthias Kliegel
Published in: Journal of cognitive enhancement : towards the integration of theory and practice (2022)
The current study aimed at investigating feasibility of a self-administered task-switching training in a middle-aged working population. Eighty-one caregivers (41-62 years old) were instructed to train at home 8 times either within a 7- or 14-day interval. Only 56.7% performed more than 50% of the instructed number of training sessions. However, compliant caregivers (who completed more than 4 training sessions) showed significant training gains and transfer to an untrained task-switching task. Although transfer effects to other cognitive tasks were not found, trained participants tended to report fewer everyday memory failures than a control group. In conclusion, the implementation of a home-based task-switching training in everyday life of caregivers is possible. However, there is only limited evidence for generalization of results of previous laboratory studies. Adherence and transfer to other cognitive tasks are discussed as important challenges in conveying laboratory findings into real life.
Keyphrases
  • middle aged
  • virtual reality
  • palliative care
  • working memory
  • healthcare
  • metabolic syndrome
  • body composition
  • electron transfer