Cognitive Training Modulates Cognitive Processes of the Brain: The Response Inhibition Improved by Attention Training

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of attention training on aspects of cognitive control in adults. In this study, the participants $(\mathbf{n}=\pmb{17})$ ) were asked to complete a dot-probe task as attention training. The event-related potentials (ERPs) technique was applied in Go/No-go task at pre-and post-training assessments, in order to assess response inhibition function. We focused on the N2 and P3 components in the difference wave between No-go condition and Go condition, which is considered to reflect different processing stage of response inhibition. After eight training sessions (twice a week), findings revealed that the participants had an increasing N2 in Go/No-go task, indicating attention training enhanced conflict monitoring function. The topographic map suggested that the N2 components was associated with the frontal lobe and P3 components might be associated with the parietal lobe. Therefore, computer-based attention training generally improve the ability of response inhibition, and the change of response inhibition during the training is likely to be mediated by the activation of frontal area.