Taking control! Structural and behavioural plasticity in response to game-based inhibition training in older adults

- We set out to train response inhibition using computer-game elements.
- We trained older adults for 2 months and had an active and passive control group.
- The experimental group showed increases in right IFG cortical thickness.
- The experimental group showed shorter stop signal response times after training.
- The results may foster treatment research in psychiatric impulse control diseases.

While previous attempts to train self-control in humans have frequently failed, we set out to train response inhibition using computer-game elements. We trained older adults with a newly developed game-based inhibition training on a tablet for two months and compared them to an active and passive control group. Behavioural effects reflected in shorter stop signal response times that were observed only in the inhibition-training group. This was accompanied by structural growth in cortical thickness of right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) triangularis, a brain region that has been associated with response inhibition. The structural plasticity effect was positively associated with time spent on the training-task and predicted the final percentage of successful inhibition trials in the stop task. The data provide evidence for successful trainability of inhibition when game-based training is employed. The results extend our knowledge on game-based cognitive training effects in older age and may foster treatment research in psychiatric diseases related to impulse control.