Short answer

When designing cognitive support tools for older adults, consider incorporating elements that not only train specific cognitive skills but also aim to directly reduce negative thought patterns and improve overall mood.

Field: Human Factors
Source: Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (2017)
Method: Randomised multiple-baseline single-case research design
Sample: 6 participants
Evidence: Mixed findings

Targeted working memory training may lead to small improvements in reducing repetitive negative thinking and enhancing mood in some older adults, though its direct impact on working memory capacity itself is not consistently demonstrated. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter). Using Randomised multiple-baseline single-case research design with 6 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing cognitive support tools for older adults, consider incorporating elements that not only train specific cognitive skills but also aim to directly reduce negative thought patterns and improve overall mood.

Study

Human FactorsHigh ImpactMixed findings

Working Memory Training May Offer Modest Benefits for Reducing Negative Thinking in Older Adults

Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) · 2017

Key Findings

01The working memory training program did not significantly impact participants' working memory capacity.
02Two out of six participants showed reliable improvement in both repetitive negative thinking and mood.
03A small, non-significant decrease in daily repetitive negative thinking was observed across five participants.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When developing digital therapeutics or cognitive training programs for older adults, consider user feedback mechanisms and mood tracking alongside cognitive performance metrics to assess broader impact.

Project actions

01When designing a cognitive training tool, consider how to measure not just performance on the task, but also the user's emotional state.
02Acknowledge that individual responses to interventions can vary significantly.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate the efficacy and acceptability of a working memory intervention in older adults for reducing repetitive negative thinking and improving mood.

MethodRandomised multiple-baseline single-case research design

ProcedureParticipants underwent baseline assessments of mood, repetitive negative thinking, and working memory. They then tracked their repetitive negative thinking daily during a baseline phase. Following this, participants engaged in a daily working memory training intervention while continuing to track their negative thinking. Post-intervention assessments were conducted.

Sample6 participants

ContextCognitive psychology and gerontology

Variables

IVWorking memory training program

DVRepetitive negative thinking, mood, working memory capacity

CVAge of participants (>60 years), baseline mood, baseline repetitive negative thinking, baseline working memory

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilized a rigorous single-case design suitable for exploring individual responses.
+Investigated a relevant and timely issue concerning cognitive health and mental well-being in older adults.

Limitations

The small number of participants makes it hard to draw firm conclusions, and the intervention's effect wasn't the same for everyone.

Reliability & validity

The study used a single-case design with visual and statistical analysis, which can provide strong evidence for individual effects but has limitations in generalizability due to the small sample size. Reliability of self-reported measures of mood and negative thinking would be a consideration.

Think critically

Given the mixed results, what other factors might influence an older adult's response to cognitive training, and how could a design project account for these individual differences?

Design Principles

"Cognitive interventions can have indirect benefits on emotional well-being, even if direct improvements in the trained cognitive function are not consistently observed."

Understanding how cognitive interventions can influence psychological well-being is crucial for designing products and services that support cognitive health in aging populations. This research highlights the potential, albeit limited, for cognitive training to impact emotional regulation and mental health outcomes.

What This Means for Your Design

Doing brain games might help some older people feel less worried or sad, even if it doesn't make them 'smarter' in the way the game is designed to.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the potential for cognitive training interventions to impact psychological well-being in user research or design justification.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study by Rawlings (2017) explored the impact of working memory training on repetitive negative thinking in older adults. While the training did not consistently improve working memory capacity, two participants demonstrated reliable improvements in both negative thinking and mood, suggesting potential indirect benefits for psychological well-being. This highlights the importance of considering broader user outcomes when designing cognitive interventions.

Source

Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter)

The role of a working memory training program in reducing repetitive negative thinking in older adults

journal · 2017

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about working memory training may offer modest benefits for reducing negative thinking in older adults?: When designing cognitive support tools for older adults, consider incorporating elements that not only train specific cognitive skills but also aim to directly reduce negative thought patterns and improve overall mood. Evidence: Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (2017).
Why does "Working Memory Training May Offer Modest Benefits for Reducing Negative Thinking in Older Adults" matter for design?: Understanding how cognitive interventions can influence psychological well-being is crucial for designing products and services that support cognitive health in aging populations. This research highlights the potential, albeit limited, for cognitive training to impact emotional regulation and mental health outcomes.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing cognitive support tools for older adults, consider incorporating elements that not only train specific cognitive skills but also aim to directly reduce negative thought patterns and improve overall mood.
What were the main findings?: The working memory training program did not significantly impact participants' working memory capacity.. Two out of six participants showed reliable improvement in both repetitive negative thinking and mood.. A small, non-significant decrease in daily repetitive negative thinking was observed across five participants.
What research method was used?: Randomised multiple-baseline single-case research design with 6 participants.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Mixed findings, based on a 2017 journal from Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter).
What should I do differently in my next project?: When developing digital therapeutics or cognitive training programs for older adults, consider user feedback mechanisms and mood tracking alongside cognitive performance metrics to assess broader impact.
What are the limitations?: Small sample size, inconsistent impact across participants, and difficulty in predicting who might benefit.