In chapter 8 of Daniel Bor’s The Ravenous Brain, he talks about various mental illnesses (e.g. bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism) and how they’re related to consciousness and low working memory. In particular, Bor briefly discusses the topic of cognitive remediation, or “brain training” and how it has been shown to not only improve working memory, but alleviate some of the symptoms in those suffering from ADHD and schizophrenia (2012, p. 255).
The article “Treating schizophrenia: Game on” (Hayden, 2012) takes a look at research that was done by Michael Merzenich on brain training and its effect on patients with schizophrenia, and how he tried to gain FDA approval for the software he was using in the clinical trials. According to Sophia Vinogradov (who has already tested Merzenich’s software with schizophrenic patients), the goal of the treatment is “to improve fundamental neural processes so that the brain is freed to tackle higher-order cognitive demands such as working memory,” which may lead to better functioning in daily activities for those who suffer from schizophrenia.
Both Vinogradov and Merzenich found that after intensive training, there were improvements in global cognition; alongside other intervention programs, such as counseling and job placement, there was an improvement in the functioning of the patients that was evident six months after the training. But, it has also been shown that there is no difference between Merzenich’s software and other cognitive remediation approaches in relation to their effectiveness among patients with schizophrenia. In spite of this, it is my hope that other methods of treatment for schizophrenia and other mental illnesses will be researched so as to provide an alternative to the medicinal treatment of them, many that produce harmful and uncomfortable side effects and doesn’t improve the symptoms of the illnesses.
Bor, D. (2012). The Ravenous Brain: How the New Science of Consciousness Explains Our Insatiable Search for Meaning. New York: Basic, 2012. Print.
Hayden, E.C. (2012). Treating schizophrenia: game on. Nature, 483(7387). Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/news/treating-schizophrenia-game-on-1.10126
From my understanding, Merzenich's software is as effective as cognitive remediations that are currently being used, but hold the promise of less harmful and uncomfortable side effects. I wish you had elaborated more on how they're different, as in what each one composes of. It is great that they are producing methods to improve mental conditions such as schizophrenia rather than just creating another medicine or writing off another prescription. I believe it would be very beneficial for individuals who have families that have a history of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, to use these cognition training tasks as preventative measures to lesson the effect of any genetic factors. I never realized how closely working memory and schizophrenia are until I read Bor's chapter and I'm glad you emphasized that point in your blog. It is good to make aware that low working memory causes many of these people to loose their jobs due to growing incompetency from low working memory. Anything that helps increase the functionality of a schizophrenic is very important!
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