Cognitive Fit Research Articles

Adaptive cognitive fit: Artificial intelligence augmented management of information facets and representations

Explosive growth in big data technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) applications have led to increasing pervasiveness of information facets and a rapidly growing array of information representations. Information facets, such as equivocality and veracity, can dominate and significantly influence human perceptions of information and consequently affect human performance. Extant research in cognitive fit, which preceded the big data and AI era, focused on the effects of aligning information representation and task on performance, without sufficient consideration to information facets and attendant cognitive challenges. Therefore, there is a compelling need to understand the interplay of these dominant information facets with information representations and tasks, and their influence on human performance. We suggest that artificially intelligent technologies that can adapt information representations to overcome cognitive limitations are necessary for these complex information environments. To this end, we propose and test a novel “Adaptive Cognitive Fit” (ACF) framework that explains the influence of information facets and AI-augmented information representations on human performance. We draw on information processing theory and cognitive dissonance theory to advance the ACF framework and a set of propositions. We empirically validate the ACF propositions with an economic experiment that demonstrates the influence of information facets, and a machine learning simulation that establishes the viability of using AI to improve human performance.

Scale development for analyzing the fit of real and virtual world integration: an example of Pokémon Go

PurposeAugmented reality (AR) has become a trend, and the effects of Pokémon Go, the most popular online and mobile game, have been explored in many studies. However, few studies have developed questionnaires of fit to investigate the relationship between the fit and the integration of the game's virtual world and reality. The paper intends to integrate the models of stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) and information systems success with cognitive fit theory to explore the fit and reactions of users in the integration of real and virtual worlds.Design/methodology/approachFollowing MacKenzie's scale development, two surveys were conducted. The first survey was conducted to perform a scale development of fit. The second survey was collected from 315 Pokémon Go players to validate the fit scale and it was analyzed via structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results show that scale development of fit has good reliability and validity. Furthermore, game information quality, game system quality and virtual (Pokémon) characteristics have significantly positive effects on cognitive and emotional fit. Cognitive and emotional fit have significant positive effects on user satisfaction, and user satisfaction has significant positive effects on continued intention to play. The results suggest that maintaining the quality of the game and improving the virtual interface will provide a better fit between the real and virtual worlds, enhancing user satisfaction with the fit as well as their intention for continued use.Originality/valueAlthough fit has been widely studied in various contexts, the application of AR has been rarely discussed. This study develops a scale of fit and takes Pokémon Go as the subject to validate the fit measurement and discuss players' cognition and feelings regarding the game. The authors measure user reactions to different stimuli and explore cognitive and emotional fit as well as the integration of virtual worlds and reality. In sum, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the earliest studies to explore and develop a cognitive and emotional fit scale for future researchers and practitioners.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the LEAD trial: a cluster randomized controlled lifestyle intervention to improve hippocampal volume in older adults at-risk for dementia

BackgroundHealthy diet and exercise are associated with reduced risk of dementia in older adults. The impact of diet and exercise interventions on brain health is less consistent, especially with dietary interventions which rely on varying approaches. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 6-month intervention combining exercise with a novel dietary counseling approach to improve hippocampal volume among older adults at-risk for dementia.MethodsParticipants with vascular risk factors and subjective cognitive decline or early mild cognitive impairment were cluster randomized in groups of 3–4 to the diet intervention (DIET) or control education (ED) group. All participants engaged in 1 h of supervised exercise per week and additional exercise at home. DIET involved 1 h per week of group-based dietary counseling comprising education, goal setting, and strategy training. ED involved 1 h per week of group-based brain health education classes. Our primary outcome was change in hippocampal volume from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in cognitive function, blood biomarkers, diet, and fitness. Recruitment challenges and early discontinuation of the trial due to COVID-19 necessitated a revised focus on feasibility and preliminary efficacy.ResultsOf 190 older adults contacted, 14 (7%) were eligible and enrolled, constituting 21% of our recruitment target. All participants completed the intervention and attended 90% of exercise and DIET/ED sessions on average. All 6-month assessments prior to COVID-19 were completed but disruptions to in-person testing resulted in incomplete data collection. No serious adverse events occurred and all participants expressed positive feedback about the study. Preliminary findings did not identify any significant changes in hippocampal volume; however, substantial improvements in diet and HbA1c were observed with DIET compared to ED (d = 1.75 and 1.07, respectively).ConclusionsHigh adherence and retention rates were observed among participants and preliminary findings illustrate improvements in diet quality and HbA1c. These results indicate that a larger trial is feasible if difficulties surrounding recruitment can be mitigated.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03056508.

Predictive minds can think: addressing generality and surface compositionality of thought

Predictive processing framework (PP) has found wide applications in cognitive science and philosophy. It is an attractive candidate for a unified account of the mind in which perception, action, and cognition fit together in a single model. However, PP cannot claim this role if it fails to accommodate an essential part of cognition—conceptual thought. Recently, Williams (Synthese 1–27, 2018) argued that PP struggles to address at least two of thought’s core properties—generality and rich compositionality. In this paper, I show that neither necessarily presents a problem for PP. In particular, I argue that because we do not have access to cognitive processes but only to their conscious manifestations, compositionality may be a manifest property of thought, rather than a feature of the thinking process, and result from the interplay of thinking and language. Pace Williams, both of these capacities, constituting parts of a complex and multifarious cognitive system, may be fully based on the architectural principles of PP. Under the assumption that language presents a subsystem separate from conceptual thought, I sketch out one possible way for PP to accommodate both generality and rich compositionality.

The impact of physical activity on the cognitive fitness of the elderly – a review

Introduction and aim. The issues of humans’ ageing are more and more frequently addressed in the relevant literature. Most commonly, people follow three ageing trajectories: a normal one, disease-affected one, and a healthy one. The purpose of this article is to present a relationship between physical activity and occurrence of cognitive function impairment in the elderly. Material and methods. This paper is a narrative review. Based on a literature search, various forms of physical activity are presented, as well as the effects of physical activity on mitigation of cognitive disorders in the elderly. The following databases were used: Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar. Analysis of the literature. One of the most important factors that promote healthy ageing is regular physical activity. Many studies and publications have addressed this issue. The relationships between physical activity and cognitive fitness have been less studied. Conclusion. The results of the studies presented in this article may form the basis for more in-depth analyses and, in a longterm perspective, for the development of optimal preventive and therapeutic strategies using broadly understood physical activity to maintain cognitive fitness of the elderly.

Influence of Information Presentation Format on Decision-Making: A Literature Review with A Focus on Cognitive Fit Theory

Influence of Information Presentation Format on Decision-Making: A Literature Review with A Focus on Cognitive Fit Theory

Cognition and reproductive success in cowbirds

Understanding the relationships between cognitive abilities and fitness is integral to an evolutionary study of brain and behavior. However, these relationships are often difficult to measure and detect. Here we draw upon an opportunistic sample of brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) subjects that had two separate research experiences: First, they engaged in a large series of cognitive tests in David Sherry’s Lab in the Advanced Facility for Avian Research (AFAR) at Western University, then subsequently moved to the Field Avian Research Megalab (FARM) at Wilfrid Laurier University where they lived in large breeding flocks in aviaries with other wild-caught cowbirds. Thus, we had extensive measures of cognitive abilities, breeding behavior, and reproductive success for these birds. We report here, for the fist time, the surprisingly strong connections we found among these different measures. Female cowbirds’ spatial cognitive abilities correlated positively with how intensely they were courted by males, and with their overall egg production. Males’ spatial cognition correlated positively with their ability to engage in singing contests (“countersinging”) with other males. In addition, a separate non-spatial cognitive ability correlated positively with the attractiveness of the songs they sung. In sum, these results suggest the cognitive skills assessed in the lab were strongly connected to breeding behavior and reproductive success. Moreover, since certain cognitive abilities related to different aspects of breeding success, it suggests that cognitive modules may have specialized adaptive value, but also that these specialized skills may interact and influence fitness in surprising ways.

A Flourishing Brain in the 21st Century: A Scoping Review of the Impact of Developing Good Habits for Mind, Brain, Well‐Being, and Learning

ABSTRACTEmerging scientific knowledge such as the role of epigenetics and neuroplasticity—the brain's capability to constantly rewire with every action, experience, and thought—is fundamentally changing our understanding of the potential impact we can have on our brain. Our brain is formed by our habits in interaction with our body, the environment, influenced by our lifestyle, successes, failures, and traumas. Neuroplasticity proves that every student's brain is a work in progress, and it is never too late to take better care of one's cognitive fitness. This review presents a repertoire of good habits (GHs). Combined, we suggest that these GHs provide conditions for optimal brain health, by acting as a “Mental Vaccine” which enhances the brain's resilience to brain health‐degrading challenges. We argue that schools have a crucial role to play in empowering students to increase their own stress resilience, well‐being, and learning by developing their own GHs profile.

Effects of Multimodal Physical and Cognitive Fitness Training on Subjective Well-being, Burnout and Resilience in a Military Cohort

Background: The Resilient Mind Program (RMP) is an intervention aimed at improving cognitive fitness. RMP utilises Acceptance Commitment Therapy, mindfulness and cognitive reframing techniques, combined with physical ‘rituals’ involving exercise, cold showers and sleep hygiene. It employs a blended delivery methodology, with 3 hours of face to face delivery augmented with a 4-week mobile application-based program with embedded gamification techniques designed to help participants form healthy habits.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Journal Entries: Accounting Graph Topology for Auditing and Fraud Detection

ABSTRACTAlthough journal entries are an important component of modern accounting, existing research and practice in auditing and fraud detection have not fully exploited the information made available by the double-entry mechanism. This paper proposes a theory-based methodology, accounting graph topology, to visualize journal entries and explicate within- and between-entry relationships. Grounded in cognitive fit theory and graph theory, this methodology can help auditors identify potential internal control issues and problematic transactions for further investigation. We illustrate the benefits of accounting graph topology by applying it to a case study.

Crisis Map Design Considering Map Cognition

Crisis maps play a significant role in emergency responses. Users are challenged to interpret a map rapidly in emergencies, with limited visual information-processing resources and under time pressure. Therefore, cartographic techniques are required to facilitate their map cognition. In this study, we analyzed the exogenous and endogenous disruptions that users needed to overcome when they were reading maps. The analysis results suggested that cartographers’ taking the stressors into consideration could promote the cognitive fit between cartographers and users, improving map cognition and spatial information supply–demand matching. This paper also elaborates the course of map visual information processing and related graphic variables to visual attention attributes. To improve the users’ map cognition in time-critical emergency situations, crisis map design principles and a methodology were proposed. We developed three fire emergency rescue road maps and performed two evaluations to verify the effectiveness of the principles. Our experiments showed that the principles could effectively facilitate the users’ rapid map perception and proper understanding, by reducing their cognitive load, and could improve the quality of the crisis maps to some extent.

P091 The impact of cognitive fitness and gender on sleep quantity and timing and mental health of competitive athletes

Abstract Introduction Mental fitness is increasingly considered key to an athlete’s competitive arsenal. Its active ingredients include cognitive fitness factors, such as impulse control, and recovery factors, such as sleep, which may differ between male and female athletes. Our study investigated: 1) gender differences in cognitive fitness; and 2) the associations of gender and cognitive fitness with sleep and mental health in competitive athletes during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods 84 athletes competing at levels from regional/state to international (42F, mean age=23.2) completed a questionnaire battery containing validated measures of: a) depression, anxiety, and stress; b) sleep (Total Sleep Time, Sleep Latency, mid-sleep time on training- and competition-free days); and c) self-control, intolerance of uncertainty, and impulsivity (representing cognitive fitness constructs). Results Female athletes reported significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress, a later mid-sleep time on free days, lower self-control, higher intolerance of uncertainty, and higher positive urgency impulsivity compared with male athletes. Self-control was negatively associated, and intolerance of uncertainty was positively associated, with depression, anxiety, and mid-sleep time on free days. Discussion Female athletes in our sample reported poorer mental health and cognitive fitness, and later sleeping times on free days. Greater cognitive fitness was associated with better mental health, independent of gender. Overall, these findings are consistent with prior work in community samples. Future work should examine the source(s) of these gender differences. If replicated, our findings would suggest a need to develop interventions aimed at improving athlete well-being, potentially with a particular focus on female athletes.

Mindfulness Training Improves Cognition and Strengthens Intrinsic Connectivity Between the Hippocampus and Posteromedial Cortex in Healthy Older Adults.

Maintaining optimal cognitive functioning throughout the lifespan is a public health priority. Evaluation of cognitive outcomes following interventions to promote and preserve brain structure and function in older adults, and associated neural mechanisms, are therefore of critical importance. In this randomized controlled trial, we examined the behavioral and neural outcomes following mindfulness training (n = 72), compared to a cognitive fitness program (n = 74) in healthy, cognitively normal, older adults (65–80 years old). To assess cognitive functioning, we used the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC), which combines measures of episodic memory, executive function, and global cognition. We hypothesized that mindfulness training would enhance cognition, increase intrinsic functional connectivity measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between the hippocampus and posteromedial cortex, as well as promote increased gray matter volume within those regions. Following the 8-week intervention, the mindfulness training group showed improved performance on the PACC, while the control group did not. Furthermore, following mindfulness training, greater improvement on the PACC was associated with a larger increase in intrinsic connectivity within the default mode network, particularly between the right hippocampus and posteromedial cortex and between the left hippocampus and lateral parietal cortex. The cognitive fitness training group did not show such effects. These findings demonstrate that mindfulness training improves cognitive performance in cognitively intact older individuals and strengthens connectivity within the default mode network, which is particularly vulnerable to aging affects.Clinical Trial Registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02628548], identifier [NCT02628548].

Artificial intelligence-based public healthcare systems: G2G knowledge-based exchange to enhance the decision-making process

With the rapid evolution of data over the last few years, many new technologies have arisen with artificial intelligent (AI) technologies at the top. Artificial intelligence (AI), with its infinite power, holds the potential to transform patient healthcare. Given the gaps revealed by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare systems, this research investigates the effects of using an artificial intelligence-driven public healthcare framework to enhance the decision-making process using an extended model of Shaft and Vessey (2006) cognitive fit model in healthcare organizations in Saudi Arabia. The model was validated based on empirical data collected using an online questionnaire distributed to healthcare organizations in Saudi Arabia. The main sample participants were healthcare CEOs, senior managers/managers, doctors, nurses, and other relevant healthcare practitioners under the MoH involved in the decision-making process relating to COVID-19. The measurement model was validated using SEM analyses. Empirical results largely supported the conceptual model proposed as all research hypotheses are significantly approved. This study makes several theoretical contributions. For example, it expands the theoretical horizon of Shaft and Vessey's (2006) CFT by considering new mechanisms, such as the inclusion of G2G Knowledge-based Exchange in addition to the moderation effect of Experience-based decision-making (EDBM) for enhancing the decision-making process related to the COVID-19 pandemic. More discussion regarding research limitations and future research directions are provided as well at the end of this study.

Cognitive Fit in Recruitment and Group Dynamics

This study presents a cognitive perspective on the recruitment and selection of new employees in small teams. In doing so the article builds on a distributed cognitive theoretical framework and is inspired by current Person-environment fit (P-E fit) measurements. At the same time, the work presented in this article is an attempt to move forward traditional P-E fit measures by emphasizing the dynamic nature of a constantly evolving team environment. To explore the utility of such a perspective and to investigate its feasibility, the article presents an Agent-Based computational simulation Model (ABM). The results indicate that such an approach may be advisable for recruitment, particularly when dealing with a highly docile team environment and highly docile potential candidates.

Heart Rate Variability During Physical Exercise Is Associated With Improved Cognitive Performance in Alzheimer's Dementia Patients-A Longitudinal Feasibility Study.

Heart rate variability (HRV) rapidly gains attention as an important marker of cardiovascular autonomic modulation. Moreover, there is evidence for a link between the autonomic deficit measurable by reduced HRV and the hypoactivity of the cholinergic system, which is prominently affected in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite the positive influence of physical exercise on cognition and its promising association with HRV, previous studies did not explore the effect of long-term physical exercise in older adults with AD. Taking advantage of a longitudinal study we analyzed the effect of a 20-week dual task training regime (3 × 15-min per week) on the vagal mediated HRV index RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR interval differences) during physical exercise and the short-term memory performance in a AD cohort (N = 14). Each training contained physical exercise on a bicycle ergometer while memorizing 30 successively presented pictures as well as the associated post-exercise picture recognition memory test. Linear-mixed modeling revealed that HRV-RMSSD significantly increased over the intervention time. Moreover, the reaction time in the picture recognition task decreased while the accuracy remained stable. Furthermore, a significantly negative relationship between increased fitness measured by HRV-RMSSD and decreased reaction time was observed. This feasibility study points to the positive effects of a dual task regime on physical and cognitive fitness in a sample with impaired cognitive performance. Beyond this, the results show that the responsiveness of parasympathetic system as measured with HRV can be improved in patients with dementia.

The influence of low-impact dance intervention on bone metabolism, cognition, and function fitness of old women

ABSTRACT This study examined the low-impact dance intervention on the markers of bone metabolism, cognitive function, and functional fitness of postmenopausal women. Senior women were randomized into low-impact dance (LG) or control group (CG). Three dance sessions weekly were scheduled in the LG for 16 weeks. The markers of bone metabolism, bone composition, Stroop test, and functional fitness were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. The marker of bone formation, some of cognitive function and functional fitness were improved in the LG. The low-impact dance intervention benefited the marker of bone formation, parts of cognitive function and functional fitness.

Effect of physical exercise on cognitive function after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial (PAM study).

12015 Background: Chemotherapy is associated with cognitive problems. Physical exercise is a promising intervention. We investigated whether exercise improves cognition in chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer (BC) patients 2-4 years after diagnosis. Methods: In the PAM study, we randomized chemotherapy-exposed BC patients with self-reported and test-confirmed cognitive problems to an exercise or control group. The 6-month exercise intervention consisted of 2 hours of supervised aerobic and resistance training and two hours of Nordic/power walking. Memory function measured with the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) was our primary outcome. Further measurements included online neuropsychological tests (Amsterdam Cognition Scan; ACS), self-reported cognitive complaints (MDASI-MM, EORTC QLQ C-30 cognitive functioning), physical fitness (VO2peak), fatigue (MFI, EORTC fatigue), quality of life (QoL; EORTC), anxiety (HADS) and depression (HADS, PHQ9). HVLT-R total recall was analyzed with a Fisher exact test for clinically relevant improvement of ≥5 words. Other outcomes were analyzed using multiple regression analyses adjusted for baseline and stratification factors. An hypothesis driven but not pre-specified analysis in patients with high baseline EORTC fatigue levels (≥39) was performed. Results: We randomized 181 patients to the exercise (n = 91) or control group (n = 90). Two-third of the patients attended ≥ 80% of the exercise program and physical fitness significantly improved compared to the control patients ( VO2peak1.4 ml/min/kg, 95% CI 0.6; 2.2). No difference in favor of the intervention group was seen on the primary cognitive outcome or other cognitive tests. However, significant beneficial intervention effects were found for self-reported cognition (MDASI-MM Severity (-0.7, -1.2;-0.1)), fatigue (general fatigue (-2.2, -3.3; -1.1), physical fatigue (-3.3, -4.4; -2.2), mental fatigue (-1.0, -2.0; 0.0), reduced motivation (-1.1, -2.0; -0.2) and reduced activity (-2.1, -3.2; -1.1)), QoL (summary score (4.0, 1.2; 6.7), global health status (5.8, 1.1; 10.6), role functioning (7.2, 1.3; 13.1) and social functioning (5.9, 0.2; 11.6)) and depression (PHQ9 (-1.16, -2.19; -0.13)). In high-fatigued patients, exercise did show significant positive effects on objective cognitive function (ACS Reaction Time (-26.8, -52.9; -0.6) and ACS Wordlist Learning (4.4, 0.5; 8.3)). Conclusions: A 6-month exercise intervention did not improve objectively measured cognitive function in chemotherapy-exposed BC patients with cognitive problems. However, self-reported cognitive function, physical fitness, fatigue, QoL and depression did improve. Unplanned analysis indicated a small positive effect of exercise on cognitive functioning in high-fatigued patients. Clinical trial information: NTR6104.

Effects of cognitive characteristics and information format on teleoperation performance: A cognitive fit perspective

The present work explored how operators’ cognitive characteristics (spatial ability, verbal/imagery cognitive style) and the format of additional spatial information (numerical or graphic) provided to operators influence the performance of cross-aiming teleoperation based on a simulated robotic arm. It was found that both mental rotation ability and perspective-taking ability significantly affected the efficiency and reliability of the cross-aiming teleoperation. Individuals with an imagery cognitive style felt more satisfied with their own teleoperation performance, and experienced less temporal demand and frustration than those with verbal cognitive style. It was also found that for both verbal and imagery participants, matching the format of additional spatial information with their cognitive styles can improve their safety performance during teleoperation without affecting their workload. Conversely, for the imagery participants, the mismatch could not improve teleoperation performance but increased their workload. This suggests that the cognitive fit theory should be modified to incorporate cognitive style.

The Relationship Between Cognitive Performance and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents

Background. Literature suggests cardiorespiratory fitness as a factor influencing cognitive improvement. The authors of the present study sought to investigate if cardiorespiratory fitness related to cognitive performance after an acute bout of game-based exercise of different intensities in adolescents.
 Methods. As many as 37 adolescents (24 girls and 13 boys, 15–16 years of age) were assigned to three groups: experimental group 1 (EX 1), experimental group 2 (EX 2), and control (CON) group. The experimental groups experienced different levels of exercise intensity (EX 1 – light intensity, EX 2 – vigorous intensity). The Shuttle Run Test was performed a week before the intervention and VO2peak was calculated. Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) was evaluated before and after the acute intervention. A 2 x 3 repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the SDMT and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to estimate the relationship between the cognitive performance (SDMT) and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak).
 Results. Comparing the SDMT scores before and after the intervention, there were no differences found between the three groups. Neither in any of the experimental groups nor in the control group was a relationship between the SDMT score and VO2peak observed.
 Conclusion. Acute game-based exercise intervention did not prove to improve cognitive performance effectively. The authors of the present paper did not confirm the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive performance in adolescents.
 Keywords: exercise, cognitive performance, cardiorespiratory fitness.