Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41318592›Full record

Articlenpj aging2025

The neural correlates of cognitive training-induced gains in aging: a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies.

Geng Li, Yang Liu, Chengzhen Liu, Yumin Liu, Jilan Ning, Huazhi Li, Antao Chen

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in npj aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Geng LiBrain Health Institute, National Center for Mental Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and School of Psychology, Shanghai, China.
Yang LiuSchool of Sports Science, Jishou University, Jishou, China.
Chengzhen LiuFaculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Yumin LiuSchool of Psychology, Research Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Jilan NingSchool of Psychology, Research Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Huazhi LiSchool of Psychology, Research Center for Exercise and Brain Science, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Antao ChenBrain Health Institute, National Center for Mental Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and School of Psychology, Shanghai, China. antao.chen@sjtu.edu.cn.

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 32171040the Research and Innovation Grant for Graduate Students from Shanghai University of Sport YJSCX-2025-007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cognitive training is a promising non-pharmacological approach to mitigate age-related cognitive decline, yet the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of 24 neuroimaging studies comparing cognitive training with control conditions in older adults. Outcomes included changes in cognitive function and task-related brain activation. Moderator and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the influence of participant characteristics, training parameters, and brain-behavior relationships. Cognitive training yielded moderate improvements in cognitive function (Hedges' g = 0.38) and increased activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) and bilateral precuneus. Age was a significant moderator of training efficacy, while training type and baseline cognitive status were not. Only precuneus activation correlated directly with improvements in cognitive function. Mediation analyses indicated that LIFG activation indirectly influenced cognitive function through bilateral precuneus engagement. These findings indicate that cognitive training supports cognitive improvements in older adults through increased activation of task-relevant and compensatory brain regions. Age may amplify neural responsiveness to training, supporting targeted interventions in older populations.

Identifiers

PMID41318592
PMCPMC12717087

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.