Feasibility and acceptability of a new web-based cognitive training platform for cognitively healthy older adults: the breakfast task.

Background: Developing efficient cognitive training for the older population is a major public health goal due to its potential cognitive benefits. A promising training target is executive control, critical for multitasking in everyday life. The aim of this pilot study was to establish the feasibility and acceptability of the Breakfast Task training in older adults, a new web-based cognitive training platform that simulates real-life multitasking demands.

Imposed load versus voluntary investment: Executive control and attention management in dual-task performance.

Dual task performance is one of the most frequently used paradigm in the evaluation of coping with concurrent task demands. The Breakfast Task experimented in this paper, was originally developed as a general indicator of coping ability with high demand executive control and attention management requirements. It is a computer-based simulation, in which the performer is required to cook several food items while concurrently setting table for guests.

The consistency of visual attention to losses and loss sensitivity across valuation and choice.

Sensitivity to losses has been found to vary greatly across individuals. One explanation for this variability is that for some losses garner more visual attention and are subsequently given more weight in decision-making processes. In three studies we examined whether biases in visual attention toward potential losses during valuation and choice were related to loss sensitivity, as well as the valuations provided and the choices made.

The acute effect of Hypericum perforatum on short-term memory in healthy adults.

Rationale: Over-the-counter drugs containing Hypericum perforatum (H. perforatum) have been argued to improve memory and sustained attention. So far, these claims have not been supported in human studies.

Hypericum perforatum as a cognitive enhancer in rodents: A meta-analysis.

Considered an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent, Hypericum perforatum affects multiple neurotransmitters in a non-competitive synergistic manner, and may have nootropic potential. We quantitatively reviewed the pre-clinical literature to examine if there is a cognitive-enhancing effect of H. perforatum in healthy rodents.