Cognitive performance manifests regional differences, correlated with education. There is less information available about regional differences in performance-based measures of functional capacity. In multi-national trials focused on cognitive enhancement, it may be impossible to validate every measure in all locations. It is unknown if regional differences in healthy controls\' (HC) performance affects relative levels of impairment in participants with schizophrenia (SCZ). A multi-site study comparing SCZ and HC administered the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT) to 164 HC participants and 164 with SCZ across three sites (Columbia, SC, Miami, and San Diego) and a representative sample of HC (n = 390) completed the VRFCAT in Durham, NC. Performance was compared between HC and SCZ participants at the validation sites. There were statistically significant cross-site differences in HC performance on both the MCCB and VRFCAT. Differences between HC and SCZ on MCCB and VRFCAT were substantial at all three sites, indicating that regional variations in HC performance did not induce reduced differences from SCZ participants. Regional differences were smaller than diagnostic group differences, suggesting that relative impairments of participants with SCZ is consistently preserved across performance differences in HC.

UNASSIGNED: The use of psychoactive substances to increase cognitive performance while studying has been termed \'pharmacological cognitive enhancement\' (PCE). In previous years, several large-scale national surveys have focused on their use by students at university, including drug types, prevalence rates, and predictive factors. The recent coronavirus pandemic brought about widespread structural changes for UK universities, as students were forced to adapt to home-based learning and in many cases reduced academic support. No study has yet focused primarily on the impact of pandemic social restrictions on PCE in students and academic staff, and whether personality and demographic factors reveal user profiles that predict use during the pandemic period.
UNASSIGNED: A convenience sample of 736 UK students and staff aged 18-54 (M = 22.2, SD = 5.2) completed a cross-sectional survey assessing PCE prevalence rates, polydrug use, perceived effects, academic self-efficacy and personality during the first year of social restrictions (March 2020 - February 2021) compared with the previous year (March 2019 - February 2020).
UNASSIGNED: There was a significant self-reported rise in the use of all drug types (all ps < 0.001) during social restrictions, particularly with Modafinil (+42%), nutraceuticals (+30.2%) and microdose LSD (+22.2%). Respondents also indicated stronger PCE effects for all substances, except alcohol, in comparison to the previous year. Polydrug use with modafinil and other prescription stimulants increased the most during social restrictions. Personality factors and gender identity reliably predicted PCE use and lower agreeableness was often the strongest predictor, followed by identifying as male and lower conscientiousness. Academic self-efficacy and student/academic staff status were not consistent predictors.
UNASSIGNED: This is the first survey of UK students to investigate PCE during coronavirus social restrictions and to assess predictive factors. Findings reveal a rise in PCE use and polydrug use which we suggest is because of increased pressures on students created by the lockdown and reduced access to university resources.

UNASSIGNED: Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF) impacts cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Executive Functions trainings to support daily-living skills in several clinical populations. However, although the relationship between Executive Functions and BIF has been studied, few studies have explored the effects of cognitive enhancement training for BIF children. Given the pivotal significance of Executive Functions in learning, orchestrating cognitive processes, and modulating affective and behavioral responses, our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive enhancement training targeting Executive Functions in a group of 23 children diagnosed with Borderline Intellectual Functioning devoid of neurodevelopmental impairments.
UNASSIGNED: We included a multiple assessment based on several informants (children, teachers, parents, and tutors) and provided individualized cognitive enhancement training focused on Executive Functions through both digital and analog activities. The training was highly customized, structured and monitored at various stages of the process activities. The training was composed of 20 sessions, each lasting 2 hours, held twice a week for each child.
UNASSIGNED: The obtained results confirmed the efficacy of cognitive enhancement training in improving Executive Functions, the primary target of the intervention, particularly in attention, verbal fluency, planning, inhibitory control, working memory, and flexibility. Furthermore, improvements were observed by all the informants in other cognitive functions, learning, and adaptive behaviors.
UNASSIGNED: Our study contributes to the understanding of BIF, emphasizing the efficacy of neuropsychological enhancement through personalized training for EF.

The potential of Marrubium vulgare to alleviate scopolamine (Sco)-induced deficits in spatial working memory has drawn considerable scientific interest. This effect is partly attributed to its potent antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI) activities. This study examined the effects of M. vulgare extract, standardized to marrubiin content, on recognition memory in healthy and Sco-treated rats. Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into four groups. The extract was orally administered for 21 days and Sco (2 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected for 11 consecutive days. Memory performance was assessed using the novel object recognition test. Levels of acetylcholine (ACh), noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (Sero), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) were evaluated in the cortex and hippocampus via ELISA. BDNF and CREB expression levels were assessed using RT-PCR. The results showed that M. vulgare significantly alleviated Sco-induced memory impairment, preserved cholinergic function in the hippocampus, increased NA levels in the brain, and restored pCREB expression in the cortex following Sco-induced reduction. In healthy rats, the extract upregulated BDNF, pCREB, and Bcl2 expression. Our findings indicate that the neuroprotective effects of M. vulgare may be linked to the modulation of cholinergic function, regulation of NA neurotransmission, and influence on key memory-related molecules.

UNASSIGNED: Employment is recognized as a fundamental human right, which correlates with better physical and mental health. Importantly, well-designed work, which considers the physical, social, and psychological impacts of work, can serve to enhance the cognitive abilities of workers. Although often overlooked, work for individuals with disabilities, including cognitive impairments, is equally important for their physical and mental well-being. What has not been established, however, is whether well-designed work can also enhance the cognitive abilities of individuals with cognitive impairments.
UNASSIGNED: Using a longitudinal study design, we investigated the impact of well-designed work on the cognitive abilities of 60 participants (operators) at the AMIPI Foundation factories, which employ individuals with cognitive impairments to produce electrical cables and harnesses for the automobile industry. The same operators were assessed at three different time points: upon hiring (n = 60), and after working in the factory for 1 year (n = 41, since 19 left the factory) and 2 years (n = 28, since 13 more left the factory). We used five cognitive tests evaluating: (1) finger and manual dexterity, bimanual dexterity, and procedural memory using the Purdue Pegboard; (2) sustained and selective attention using the Symbol Cancellation Task; (3) short- and long-term declarative verbal memory and long-term verbal recognition memory using Rey\'s Audio-Verbal Learning Test; (4) short- and long-term visual recognition memory using the Continuous Visual Memory Test; and (5) abstract reasoning using Raven\'s Standard Progressive Matrices.
UNASSIGNED: We observed improvements in procedural memory, sustained and selective attention, and short- and long-term visual recognition memory after working in the factory for 1 or 2 years. We did not observe improvements in finger or manual dexterity or bimanual dexterity, nor short- or long-term declarative verbal memory or verbal recognition memory, nor abstract reasoning.
UNASSIGNED: We conclude that, in addition to improving physical and mental well-being, well-designed manufacturing work can serve as a training intervention improving some types of cognitive functioning in individuals with cognitive impairments.

Nonmedical use of psychostimulants for cognitive enhancement is widespread and growing in neurotypical individuals, despite mixed scientific evidence of their effectiveness. Sleep benefits cognition, yet the interaction between stimulants, sleep, and cognition in neurotypical adults has received little attention. We propose that one effect of psychostimulants, namely decreased sleep, may play an important and unconsidered role in the effect of stimulants on cognition. We discuss the role of sleep in cognition, the alerting effects of stimulants in the context of sleep loss, and the conflicting findings of stimulants for complex cognitive processes. Finally, we hypothesize that sleep may be one unconsidered factor in the mythology of stimulants as cognitive enhancers and propose a methodological approach to systematically assess this relation.

OBJECTIVE: Compensatory strategies can be used to help mid-life and older adults successfully manage instrumental activities of daily living that rely upon prospective memory. This study compared the quality of digital and non-digital compensatory strategies in supporting accurate completion of naturalistic, real-world prospective memory tasks.
METHODS: Participants included 70 community-dwelling mid-life and older adults. In this cross-sectional study, participants were tested remotely via Zoom in their homes. They were tasked with completing four real-world prospective memory tasks and encouraged to use their typical compensatory strategies. Utilized strategies were categorized, counted, and assigned quality scores (rating of thoroughness and utility), and prospective memory performance was coded.
RESULTS: Participants who used any digital strategies utilized significantly more (ηp2 = .17) and better quality (ηp2 = .12) strategies than participants who did not use any digital strategies. However, the groups demonstrated equivalent prospective memory performance (ηp2 = .006). Within the digital group, participants\' digital and non-digital strategies were of similar quality (d = .14) and resulted in similar prospective memory task accuracy (d = .01).
CONCLUSIONS: Digital and non-digital strategies led to similar performance on naturalistic prospective memory tasks. Findings suggest that many different types of strategies can provide adequate prospective memory support to healthy mid-life and older adults. To inform development of compensatory strategy interventions, future studies should explore other factors that lead to successful prospective memory, such as the specific strategy type and task type match, across the continuum of cognitive impairment.

With a focus on its implications for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this review study seeks to investigate the possible advantages of martial arts training on attention and executive function. Common cognitive impairments seen in a variety of psychiatric diseases, such as depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, include difficulties in attention and executive function. Training in martial arts, which is known for its demanding physical and mental requirements, has drawn interest as a potential intervention for improving cognitive function. An overview of the most recent research on how martial arts training affects focus and executive function is given in this publication. The results demonstrate the potential of martial arts as a strategy for enhancing executive function and attention-related cognitive functions. The article also explores the implications of adding martial arts instruction to CBT therapies, arguing that doing so might be a beneficial supplementary strategy to improve treatment outcomes. With information on the possible advantages of martial arts training for attention and executive function, this review paper adds to the expanding corpus of research on non-pharmacological therapies for cognitive enhancement.

BACKGROUND: Spatial memory deficits and reduced neuronal survival contribute to cognitive decline seen in the aging process. Current treatments are limited, emphasizing the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This research explored the combined effects of intranasally co-administered galanin receptor 2 (GALR2) and neuropeptide Y1 receptor (NPY1R) agonists, recognized for their neural benefits, on spatial memory, neuronal survival, and differentiation in adult rats. After intranasal co-delivery of the GALR2 agonist M1145 and a NPY1R agonist to adult rats, spatial memory was tested with the object-in-place task 3 weeks later. We examined neuronal survival and differentiation by assessing BrdU-IR profiles and doublecortin (DCX) labeled cells, respectively. We also used the GALR2 antagonist M871 to confirm GALR2\'s crucial role in promoting cell growth.
RESULTS: Co-administration improved spatial memory and increased the survival rate of mature neurons. The positive effect of GALR2 in cell proliferation was confirmed by the nullifying effects of its antagonist. The treatment boosted DCX-labeled newborn neurons and altered dendritic morphology, increasing cells with mature dendrites.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that intranasal co-delivery of GALR2 and NPY1R agonists improves spatial memory, boosts neuronal survival, and influences neuronal differentiation in adult rats. The significant role of GALR2 is emphasized, suggesting new potential therapeutic strategies for cognitive decline.

Oxidative stress is a key contributing factor in neurodegeneration, cognitive ageing, cognitive decline, and diminished cognitive longevity. Issues stemming from oxidative stress both in relation to cognition and other areas, such as inflammation, skin health, eye health, and general recovery, have been shown to benefit greatly from antioxidant use. Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant, which has been outlined to be beneficial for cognitive function both in vitro and in vivo. Given the aforementioned promising effects, research into astaxanthin with a focus on cognitive function has recently been extended to human tissue and human populations. The present critical review explores the effects of astaxanthin on cognitive function and neurodegeneration within human populations and samples with the aim of deciphering the merit and credibility of the research findings and subsequently their potential as a basis for therapeutic use. Implications, limitations, and areas for future research development are also discussed. Key findings include the positive impacts of astaxanthin in relation to improving cognitive function, facilitating neuroprotection, and slowing neurodegeneration within given contexts.