INSIGHT, A Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Brain Training System

Summary

Adaptive reasoning and problem-solving are critical skills that allow for accurate decisions to be made based on varying levels of information. In many situations these decisions must be made and communicated under stressful, time-sensitive conditions. In such contexts, an ability to apply inductive and deductive reasoning to complex, ambiguous, and/or novel problems is critical. The objective of the INSIGHT project is to establish a comprehensive and rigorous brain training protocol to significantly improve adaptive reasoning and problem solving. We will examine a variety of interventions (cognitive training, physical fitness training, physiological stimulation, , and combinations thereof) to assess their ability to improve adaptive reasoning and problem solving abilities. Multimodal interventions are hypothesized to act synergistically to significantly enhance fluid intelligence (Gf) and underlying brain structure and function.

Conditions

• Cognitive Ability, General

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Training - 48 sessions

Mind Frontiers cognitive training software (Aptima Inc.) is a Wild West-themed Android application played on Nexus 10 tablets. This intervention includes 20 70-min sessions (23.33 hrs) completed over 12 weeks: 1/wk weeks 5-8, 2/wk weeks 9-16. The 6 mini-games, played in random order for 10 min each session, are Ante Up (Tower of London, executive functioning); Irrigator (visuospatial reasoning); Pen 'Em Up (dual task switching, executive function); Supply Run (Keep Track, working memory updating); Riding Shotgun (visuospatial working memory); and Sentry Duty (dual n-back, working memory). There is also a meta-game in which players build a town using resources earned from the mini-games, played for 5 min each session.

BEHAVIORAL

Fitness

Based on high intensity cardiovascular resistance training (HICRT), this intervention includes a combination of aerobic and strength training. Sessions are conducted in a group of ≤20 participants per class, with ≤5 participants per trainer. This intervention includes 28 70-min sessions (32.67 hrs) completed over 16 weeks: 3/wk weeks 1-4, 2/wk weeks 5-8, 1/wk weeks 9-16. At the first and last session, participants complete the Army Physical Readiness Test. All other sessions consist of: Warm-up; Walk/Run; 2 HICRT circuits with 3 sets of 3-4 exercises; 1-2 min jump rope and 4-min power series between HICRT segments; Drills \& Skills; and Cool-down/stretch.

BEHAVIORAL

Active Control

The active control condition consists of 2 tasks (change detection and visual search) with 3 variants each. This intervention includes 48 70-min sessions (56 hrs) completed over 16 weeks: 3/wk. The 6 tasks are played in random order for 10 min each session.

DEVICE

active tDCS

Active HD-tDCS is administered during the first 30 minutes of each Mind Frontiers session. Therefore, the schedule is 20 30-min sessions (10 hrs) completed over 12 weeks: 1/wk weeks 5-8, 2/wk weeks 9-16. The HD-tDCS devices are Soterix Medical 2x2 models, using 4 electrodes (2 anodal and 2 cathodal). Electrodes are held in place with custom, 3D-printed electrode holders inserted into EEG caps, using EEG gel. Participants receive 2.0 mA current for 30 min, split over the 2 anodal electrodes, each drawing ≤1.0 mA. Stimulation is ramped up and ramped down over 30 sec at the beginning and end of the 30-min stimulation period.

DEVICE

sham tDCS

Sham HD-tDCS is administered during the first 30 minutes of each Mind Frontiers session. Therefore, the schedule is 20 30-min sessions (10 hrs) completed over 12 weeks: 1/wk weeks 5-8, 2/wk weeks 9-16. The HD-tDCS devices are Soterix Medical 2x2 models, using 4 electrodes (2 anodal and 2 cathodal). Electrodes are held in place with custom, 3D-printed electrode holders inserted into EEG caps, using EEG gel. Participants do not receive sustained stimulation; it is ramped up and ramped down over 30 sec at the beginning and end of the 30-min stimulation period to elicit the sensation of simulation and make the sham condition more convincing.

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Training - 20 sessions

Mind Frontiers cognitive training software (Aptima Inc.) is a Wild West-themed Android application played on Nexus 10 tablets. This intervention includes 20 70-min sessions (23.33 hrs) completed over 12 weeks: 1/wk weeks 5-8, 2/wk weeks 9-16. The 6 mini-games, played in random order for 10 min each session, are Ante Up (Tower of London, executive functioning); Irrigator (visuospatial reasoning); Pen 'Em Up (dual task switching, executive function); Supply Run (Keep Track, working memory updating); Riding Shotgun (visuospatial working memory); and Sentry Duty (dual n-back, working memory). There is also a meta-game in which players build a town using resources earned from the mini-games, played for 5 min each session.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The City College of New York

  collaborator OTHER

• Aptima, Inc.

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Georgia Institute of Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• Circinnus LLC

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Aron K Barbey, Ph.D. · University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Arthur F Kramer, Ph.D. · Northeastern University

• Neal J Cohen, Ph.D. · University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Charles H Hillman, Ph.D. · University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

44 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-03-31

Primary Completion

2014-11-30

Completion

2014-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations