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Putting Brain Training to the Test in the Workplace: A Randomized, Blinded, Multisite, Active-Controlled Trial

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  • Catherine Borness
  • Judith Proudfoot
  • John Crawford
  • Michael Valenzuela

Abstract

Background: Cognitive training (CT) is effective at improving cognitive outcomes in children with and without clinical impairment as well as older individuals. Yet whether CT is of any preventative health benefit to working age adults is controversial. Our objective was therefore to investigate the real-world efficacy of CT in the workplace, involving employees from across the working-age spectrum and addressing many of the design issues that have limited trials to date. Methods and Findings: 135 white collar employees of a large Australian public sector organization were randomised to either 16 weeks (20 minutes three times per week) of online CT or an active control (AC) program of equal length and structure. Cognitive, wellbeing and productivity outcome measures were analysed across three timepoints: baseline, immediately after training and 6 months post-training. CT effects on cognitive outcomes were limited, even after planned subgroup analyses of cognitive capacity and age. Unexpectedly, we found that our AC condition, which comprised viewing short documentaries about the natural world, had more impact. Compared to the CT group, 6 months after the end of training, those in the AC group experienced a significant increase in their self-reported Quality of Life (Effect Size g = .34 vs −.15; TIME×GROUP p = .003), decrease in stress levels (g = .22 vs −.19; TIME x GROUP p = .03), and overall improvement in Psychological Wellbeing (g = .32 vs −.06; TIME×GROUP p = .02). Conclusions: CT does not appear to positively impact cognition or wellbeing amongst white collar office workers; however, short time-out respite activities may have value in the promotion of psychological wellbeing. Given looming challenges to workplace productivity, further work-based interventional research targeting employee mental health is recommended. Trial Registration: This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12610000604000 (http://www.anzctr.org.au/TrialSearch.aspx).

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Borness & Judith Proudfoot & John Crawford & Michael Valenzuela, 2013. "Putting Brain Training to the Test in the Workplace: A Randomized, Blinded, Multisite, Active-Controlled Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(3), pages 1-8, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0059982
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059982
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adrian M. Owen & Adam Hampshire & Jessica A. Grahn & Robert Stenton & Said Dajani & Alistair S. Burns & Robert J. Howard & Clive G. Ballard, 2010. "Putting brain training to the test," Nature, Nature, vol. 465(7299), pages 775-778, June.
    2. Fredric D. Wolinsky & Henry W. Mahncke & Mark W. Vander Weg & Rene Martin & Frederick W. Unverzagt & Karlene K. Ball & Richard N. Jones & Sharon L. Tennstedt, 2009. "The ACTIVE Cognitive Training Interventions and the Onset of and Recovery from Suspected Clinical Depression," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(5), pages 577-585.
    3. Alla Katsnelson, 2010. "No gain from brain training," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7292), pages 1111-1111, April.
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    1. Lucia Tarro & Elisabet Llauradó & Gemma Ulldemolins & Pedro Hermoso & Rosa Solà, 2020. "Effectiveness of Workplace Interventions for Improving Absenteeism, Productivity, and Work Ability of Employees: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Elizabeth Stratton & Amit Lampit & Isabella Choi & Rafael A Calvo & Samuel B Harvey & Nicholas Glozier, 2017. "Effectiveness of eHealth interventions for reducing mental health conditions in employees: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-23, December.

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