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Tools needed for cognitive-physical training

This is an excerpt from Brain Health and Exercise by Ryan Glatt,Aimee Nicotera.

Our objectives in this next section will focus on identifying effective tools and methodologies, analyzing task-specific cognitive domains, and understanding and applying cognitive domain volume knobs.

We commence with an in-depth identification and analysis of various tools and methodologies essential for applying cognitive-physical dual-task techniques. This segment is not limited to tangible tools but extends to encompass conceptual frameworks and methodologies crucial for effective cognitive and physical integration.

A significant focus will be placed on analyzing the characteristics of tasks in relation to the four primary domains of cognition. This analysis is vital for understanding how different tasks can effectively target and enhance specific cognitive abilities.

A key concept explored in this section is the cognitive domain volume knobs. This concept serves as a framework for classifying and understanding the specific cognitive demands associated with different tasks. By mastering the adjustment of these volume knobs, practitioners can tailor cognitive challenges to individual requirements, thereby optimizing the efficacy of dual-task training.

Identifying Tools and Equipment: The Foundation of Cognitive-Physical Training

The integration of cognitive load into exercise regimens is a nuanced and sophisticated process, requiring a diverse array of tools and techniques. This book delves into identifying and using a comprehensive toolbox that facilitates the introduction of novel, variable, and appropriately challenging exercise techniques. Understanding and using these tools is crucial for any health and wellness professional (HWP) aiming to effectively merge cognitive and physical training.

• Speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) tools are invaluable for introducing coordination, aerobic conditioning, motor skills, and cognitive demands. ­Typical SAQ equipment includes cones, hurdles, floor dots, poles, and ladders. By creating diverse layouts with these tools, one can introduce variability and novelty into training sessions, thus enhancing open-skill training.
• Tools for external load encompass equipment such as bands, free weights, cable machines, and other functional training tools. They are instrumental in adding physical load and tension, which in turn stimulate motor learning. Using loaded movement training (with equipment such as kettlebells and clubs) or conventional loads (like dumbbells and barbells) introduces contextual novelty and specific cognitive benefits. ­However, it’s critical to balance cognitive load with external load to mitigate injury risk.
• The third category considers linear versus triplanar applications. The direction of movement, whether in the sagittal, frontal, or transverse plane, plays a crucial role. While traditional aerobic and resistance training often focuses on unidirectional movement, a multidirectional approach—common in dance, martial arts, and sports—can have intriguing implications for cognition and overall brain health.
• Dynamic and balance tools include unstable surfaces and implements with shifting mass. These tools introduce unpredictability and enhance proprioceptive input. This additional sensory information necessitates increased motor planning and reflexive responses, thereby elevating ­cognitive load.
• Sports tools include balls, bats, and rackets from various sports. These tools are excellent for fostering motor learning and visuospatial skills. These tools can be used beyond their traditional sporting context to enrich exercise sessions with cognitive demands. The focus is less on skill proficiency and more on the cognitive aspects of motor learning.
• Technological tools have a growing impact in the realms of wellness, ­fitness, and medicine. While this book does not extensively cover technology, it’s important to acknowledge that technology offers a range of benefits from cognitive stimulation and performance tracking to providing variable stimuli. The future holds promise for technology’s role in cognitive-­physical training, with a spectrum of tools ranging from low-tech to high-tech solutions.

Assessing Cognitive Demands in Training

In addition to physical demands, assessing cognitive demands is crucial. Tools like the NASA TLX are employed for this purpose, but there’s also a need to understand the specific demands of various cognitive domains. This understanding is based on the theory that neural circuits most active during certain tasks will be most engaged when those tasks are performed.

Identifying the primary engagement among the four cognitive functioning goals (CFGs) can help tailor the cognitive load to individual needs. While all cognitive domains are active to varying degrees during most tasks, recognizing the dominant domain is beneficial. To aid in this identification, we introduce a conceptual tool, the cognitive domain volume knobs, which serves as a visual metaphor for adjusting cognitive load in training.

This comprehensive exploration of tools and equipment, along with techniques for assessing cognitive demands provide a solid foundation for HWPs to effectively blend cognitive challenges with physical training. The ensuing chapters will delve deeper into each of these aspects, offering practical applications and expert insights to enhance both cognitive and physical health.

Cognitive Domain Volume Knobs

The concept of the cognitive domain volume knobs (figure 5.3) is an essential tool in the application of cognitive-physical techniques. As an HWP, having a visual aid or a printed reference of these volume knobs can be immensely beneficial while guiding clients through various cognitive-physical activities. This section aims to provide a detailed understanding of each volume knob, corresponding to the four primary cognitive domains, and indicate how they influence different tasks in exercise programming.

Each cognitive domain is uniquely activated by certain characteristics inherent in various tasks. Understanding these characteristics allows HWPs to tailor activities that optimally engage specific cognitive abilities.

Memory plays a pivotal role in tasks involving routines, procedures, complex instructions, and choreography. Such tasks may require recalling sequences (visual memory), remembering verbal instructions or lists (auditory memory), and retaining movement patterns during the cognitive phase of motor learning. This domain is crucial in exercises where consistent repetition and recall are essential.

The attention domain is engaged in tasks demanding focused concentration on sensory stimuli, whether in isolation or amid distractions. Attention-centric tasks can include listening for specific sounds, searching for visual cues, or shifting focus between internal and external elements. Exercises that require sustained or selective attention, such as reacting to cues in dynamic environments, are prime examples.

Executive functions are at play in tasks requiring high-level cognitive skills, such as organizing, planning, reasoning, and problem-solving. This domain is particularly engaged in activities that are open-skilled, require novel responses, or in the early learning stages. Tasks involving decision making, adapting to changing scenarios, or multitasking effectively stimulate this cognitive domain.

The processing speed domain is crucial in tasks where the rapid interpretation and response to stimuli are required. This includes activities with high temporal demands or those requiring quick reactions to visual, auditory, or sensory cues. The emphasis is on the speed of cognitive processing, which is how quickly an individual can perceive, interpret, and respond to information.

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