1. BRAIN FITNESS Clinical Trial to measure the effect of cognitive training in the brain’s abilities

2. * 2 nd semester The scientific investigation as a process: 1. Formulation of the question 2. Study Design 3. Selection of data sources 4. Selection of participants 5. Protocol draft 6. Data collection* 7. Data processing and analysis* 8. Dissemination of results*

3. develop Can “brain exercise” develop the brain’s performance, in younger people?

4. CLINICAL TRIAL Objective - Testing the influence of exercise programs in : - Memory - Concentration - Speed of processing In a clinical trial, the BLINDING is as important as the RANDOMIZATION. Blinding/Double Blinding – Impossible (in this clinical trial) Randomization – Possible: Division of the participants in two groups – Experimental Group and Control Group

5. -67 Neuropsychological tests found; -Excluded those who didn’t measure: -Memory; -Concentration; -Speed of Processing; -Problems with the remaining tests: -Too expensive; -Usually used/focused on elderly people; -Usually not applied to healthy individuals; -TOMAL; WAIS-III; d2 Test of Attention; -Problem finding applicable tests;

6. 1.The participant is volunteer; 2.Questionary about basal variables (age,sex…) to further analysis; 3.The participant is considered eligible for inclusion; 4.The participant joins the study; 5.Randomization in two groups. Inclusion criteria: - 1 st year ‘s students, Medicine, FMUP Exclusion criteria: - Class 13 1 st year - Mental diseases - Age < 17 - Age > 19 - Not having internet at home The number of participants will be determined as soon as we confirm the kind of test that we’ll apply.

7. - Studies/clinical trials on this matter are mainly about: - the elderly - keeping the brain fit and functional; -Our clinical trial aims to draw some conclusions about : - younger people; - developing the brain’s abilities; - Training method: Online daily brain training program; - Evaluation method: Offline written tests (pretest and final test); -Expected results: Some improvement in the experimental group’s test results comparing to those of the control group;

8. Bibliographic References: 1) Murase, K., Tanada, S., Inoue, T., Sugawara, Y., & Hamamoto, K., Improvement of brain single photon emission tomography (SPET) using transmission data acquisition in a four-head SPET. Eur J Nucl Med. 1993 Jan; 20(1):32-8. 2) Ogawa, S., Tank, D. W., Menon, R., Ellermann, J. M., Kim, S.G., Merkle, H., & Ugurbil, K., Intrinsic signal changes accompanying sensory stimulation: functional brain mapping with magnetic resonance imaging. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (1992) 89:5951–5955. 3) Schaie, K., Willis, S., Hertzog, C., & Schulenberg, J., Effects of cognitive training on primary mental ability structure. Psychol Aging. 1987 Sep; 2(3):233-42. 4) Ball, K., Berch, D., Helmers, K., & al., Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of American Medical Association, 288(18):2271-2281. 5) Green, S., & Bavelier, D., (2003). Action video game modifies visual selective attention. Nature, 423:534-537. 6) Rebok, G., Rasmusson, D., & Brandt, J., (1996). Prospects for computerized memory training in normal elderly: Effects of practice on explicit and implicit memory tasks. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 10:211-223. 7) Jobe, J. B., Smith, D. M, Ball, K., & al. ACTIVE: a cognitive intervention trial to promote independence in older adults. Control Clin Trials. 2001; 22:453-479. 8) Scanlon, M., Drescher, D., & Sarkar, K. of the Lumos Labs, inc “Improvement of Visual Attention and Working Memory through a Web-based Cognitive Training Program” 9) Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., & Perrig, W. J., Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 May 13; 105(19):6829-33. Epub 2008 Apr 28. 10) Draganski, B., Gaser, C., Busch, V., Schuierer, G., Bogdahn, U., & May, A., Neuroplasticity: changes in grey matter induced by training. Nature. 2004 Jan 22; 427(6972):311-2.

9. Ana Isabel Cruz André Canelas Filipa Machado Joana Pedreira João Barroso Liliana Beirão Lúcia Freitas Mafalda Seabra Maria João Portero Mário Baptista Rafael Oliveira Tânia Maia