tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post8980195606581029906..comments2009-06-25T12:23:25.057-04:00Derichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16617204535017208765noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-25872754380264248802009-06-25T12:23:25.057-04:002009-06-25T12:23:25.057-04:00Thank you so much for that Deric. It seems the improved speed and accuracy on EF tests after 6 months and a year were due to rules and strategies (about how to perform the tasks) which the subjects had learned during the initial trials - rather than permanently enhanced executive function. What a shame! <br /><br />I&#39;m no expert, just interested. Thanks also for many other links, especially &quot;Stress pathways that impair prefrontal cortex&quot; on 2nd June - I&#39;ve downloaded every article in that issue.Anthonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-3957382784194677382009-06-25T07:31:43.051-04:002009-06-25T07:31:43.051-04:00By this time, you are more of an expert than I am. I have now put the PDF of the original article here:<br />http://dericbownds.net/uploaded_images/TransCran.pdfDerichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16617204535017208765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-41490778893459418622009-06-25T01:23:32.023-04:002009-06-25T01:23:32.023-04:00Thank you for that Deric, but the studies you refer to show &quot;exercise-dependent&quot; heightened frontal activity, DA expression and D1 quantity, which fall off when the exercises are dropped, rather like exercising a muscle at the gym. <br /><br />I could be misreading the abstract (I don&#39;t have access to the article) but Dockerty seems to be claiming her method induces permanent improvement in capacity, which, in terms of therapy, would be revolutionary: <br /><br />&quot;This gain of function was sustained in a follow-up 6 and 12 months after training. In conclusion, the specific coupling of stimulation and training phase interventions may support the treatment of cognitive disorders involving frontal lobe functions.&quot;Anthonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-15271876456430708742009-06-24T22:26:15.381-04:002009-06-24T22:26:15.381-04:00It is claimed that working memory exercises in general, such as the n-back exercises I have mentioned in several posts, improve executive function.Derichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16617204535017208765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22093933.post-54355554838440090752009-06-24T21:01:17.377-04:002009-06-24T21:01:17.377-04:00Hi Deric. Great blog. I just surfed in here Googling &quot;simple syntax&quot; &quot;serious syntax&quot; &quot;fancy syntax&quot; (I&#39;m reading Tomasello&#39;s book &quot;Origins of human communication&quot;). The study in the above paper (Dockery et al, Enhancement of Planning Ability by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) <br />is the first intervention I&#39;ve come across that seems to actually improve executive function. Are you aware of any others?Anthony Colenoreply@blogger.com