CONNECTED MINDS, STRONGER MINDS: INVESTIGATING THE USE OF CO-OPERATIVE TASK ENGAGEMENT TO IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN THE YOUNG AND OLD, AND THE ROLE OFINTER-BRAIN SYNCHRONY.

Malaysia’s rapidly aging population makes cognitive decline a priority concern. Cognitive decline reduces working memory, theory-of-mind (the ability to represent others’ beliefs), and inhibitory control, among other functions. Maintaining cognitive health protects quality-of-life and sustains a productive workforce in the young and old. Malaysia therefore needs to tackle the problem of increasing prevalence of cognitive decline. Tackling cognitive decline is challenging. ‘Brain-training’ tasks offer success only in domain-specific areas but not global cognition. Social exposure mitigates cognitive decline, but the mechanisms behind this are unclear. Brain stimulation reduces 'neural slowing' associated with cognitive decline by modifying neural oscillations, but this is impractical at large scales.

Social co-operation promotes inter-brain synchronisation of electroencephalogram (EEG) activity between partners, which predicts successful interaction and performance. The conditions triggering inter-brain synchronisation engage socio-cognitive functions including theory-of-mind, which are implicated in cognitive decline. Thus, co-operation may reduce cognitive decline through several mechanisms: First, inter-brain synchronisation could provide neural entrainment to buffer against age-related neural slowing; second, engaging socio-cognitive brain functions relevant to aging may limit their decline; and third, engaging in social activities may promote emotional and psychological wellbeing. Task co-operation may offer a way to synergise all these benefits cheaply, practically, and accessibly.

The results of this project could provide a foundation to develop the best approaches to utilise social interaction to improve cognitive health, and potentially buffer against the risk of cognitive decline in Malaysia’s growing aging population.