英国伦敦大学Nikolaus Steinbeis小组取得一项新突破。他们发现通过普通的反应抑制进行认知控制训练，不会改变儿童的大脑和行为。该项研究成果发表在2024年6月4日出版的《自然-神经科学》上。

据了解，认知控制是组织思想和行动的必要条件，对于追求长期目标至关重要。儿童时期的认知控制与长大后的认知功能有关，并可预测日后成功和幸福指数。

研究人员采用随机对照试验的方法，在235名6-13岁儿童中测试了是否可以通过预先设定的为期8周的反应抑制干预来改善认知控制，以及与反应速度训练相比，这种干预是否会导致多种行为和神经结果的变化。

研究表明，在为期一年的随访中，与认知控制密切相关的测量指标都得到了长期改善。然而，训练对任何行为结果（决策、学业成绩、心理健康、推理和创造力）或神经结果（任务依赖性和内在脑功能以及灰质和白质结构）都没有影响。贝叶斯分析有力地证明了训练效果的缺失。该研究表明有针对性的反应抑制训练几乎不会改变儿童的大脑或行为。

附：英文原文

Title: Cognitive control training with domain-general response inhibition does not change children’s brains or behavior

Author: Ganesan, Keertana, Thompson, Abigail, Smid, Claire R., Caigueral, Roser, Li, Yongjing, Revill, Grace, Puetz, Vanessa, Bernhardt, Boris C., Dosenbach, Nico U. F., Kievit, Rogier, Steinbeis, Nikolaus

Issue&Volume: 2024-06-04

Abstract: Cognitive control is required to organize thoughts and actions and is critical for the pursuit of long-term goals. Childhood cognitive control relates to other domains of cognitive functioning and predicts later-life success and well-being. In this study, we used a randomized controlled trial to test whether cognitive control can be improved through a pre-registered 8-week intervention in 235 children aged 6–13years targeting response inhibition and whether this leads to changes in multiple behavioral and neural outcomes compared to a response speed training. We show long-lasting improvements of closely related measures of cognitive control at the 1-year follow-up; however, training had no impact on any behavioral outcomes (decision-making, academic achievement, mental health, fluid reasoning and creativity) or neural outcomes (task-dependent and intrinsic brain function and gray and white matter structure). Bayesian analyses provide strong evidence of absent training effects. We conclude that targeted training of response inhibition does little to change children’s brains or their behavior.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01672-w

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01672-w