Is cognitive training an effective tool for improving cognitive function and real-life behaviour in healthy children and adolescents? A systematic review

•Systematic review of cognitive training studies including normal-weight and overweight individuals.•WM training is the main approach among CCT studies in children and adolescents.•Results indicate near-transfer effects to WM with medium to large effect sizes.•CCT may be a reasonable election as par...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2020-09, Vol.116, p.268-282
Main Authors: Luis-Ruiz, Sandra, Caldú, Xavier, Sánchez-Castañeda, Cristina, Pueyo, Roser, Garolera, Maite, Jurado, María Ángeles
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Childhood
Cognitive training
Executive functions
Systematic review
Weight status
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Summary:•Systematic review of cognitive training studies including normal-weight and overweight individuals.•WM training is the main approach among CCT studies in children and adolescents.•Results indicate near-transfer effects to WM with medium to large effect sizes.•CCT may be a reasonable election as part of weight loss treatments.•Future studies should determine the specific traits of cognitive training for weight-loss goals. Computerised cognitive training (CCT) has been applied to improve cognitive function in pathological conditions and in healthy populations. Studies suggest that CCT produces near-transfer effects to cognitive functions, with less evidence for far-transfer. Newer applications of CTT in adults seem to produce certain far-transfer effects by influencing eating behaviour and weight loss. However, this is more unexplored in children and adolescents. We conducted a systematic review of 16 studies with randomised controlled design to assess the impact of CCT on cognitive functioning and real-life outcomes, including eating behaviour, in children and adolescents with typical development (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019123889). Results show near-transfer effects to working memory, with inconsistent results regarding far-transfer effects to other cognitive functions and real-life measures. Long-term effects show the same trend. Far-transfer effects occurred after cue-related inhibitory control and attentional training, although effects seem not to last. CCT may be a potential weight-loss treatment option but more research is needed to determine the specific characteristics to enhance treatment outcomes.
ISSN:0149-7634
1873-7528
DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.019