The impact of learning on the hippocampal system is only beginning to be better understood. Lower grey matter in the hippocampus is a significant biomarker for numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders across people’s lifespan including disorders that specifically impact older adults such as Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast, the CON group displayed significant grey matter loss in the hippocampus, cerebellum and the DLPFC. Active control MUS training did, however, lead to a within-subject increase in the DLPFC, while both the VID and MUS training produced growth in the cerebellum. After training, a within-subject increase in grey matter within the hippocampus was significant only in the VID training group, replicating results observed in younger adults. Additionally, an active control group took a series of self-directed, computerized music (piano) lessons (MUS n = 12), while a no-contact control group did not engage in any intervention (CON n = 13). The video game experimental group (VID n = 8) engaged in a 3D-platform video game training over a period of 6 months. Older adults who were 55 to 75 years of age were randomized into three groups. In the current study, we tested the impact of 3D-platform video game training (i.e., Super Mario 64) on grey matter in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of older adults. ![]() ![]() Playing 3D-platform video games has previously been shown to promote grey matter in the hippocampus in younger adults. Maintaining grey matter within the hippocampus is important for healthy cognition.
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