All articles tagged with #cognitive enrichment
A Rush University study of 1,939 older adults over ~8 years links lifelong cognitive enrichment—through reading, writing and language learning—to up to 38% lower Alzheimer's risk and 36% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment, independent of socioeconomic status, suggesting lifelong mental activity may delay dementia—even though causation isn’t proven.
Researchers are using tablet games to study parrots' interactions with touchscreens, aiming to design tech specifically for them. A study involving 20 pet parrots playing a Balloon Pop-style game on tablets revealed insights into their tactile interactions and preferences, such as using their tongues to tap the screen and benefiting from larger targets. The findings suggest that touchscreens can enrich parrots' lives and enhance their interactions with humans, potentially guiding the development of pet tech products and offering valuable insights to the wider research community and pet owners.
Scientists from the US Navy Marine Mammal Program have developed a video game system called Enclosure Video Enrichment (EVE) to test the cognitive abilities of California sea lions. The system, which uses a portable cart with a monitor and game controller, has been successful in providing cognitive enrichment for the sea lions, improving their weight maintenance and performance in health checks. The Navy's Marine Mammal Program has been caring for dolphins and sea lions since 1959, training them in reconnaissance and recovery tasks. Enrichment activities such as open-ocean swims, playtime with toys, and now video games, remain central to their care programs.