The use of cognitive mobile games to assess cognitive function of healthy subjects under various inspiratory loads

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this work was to determine if scoring mechanisms embedded in cognitive mobile games (CMG) designed for cognitive training are sensitive enough to detect changes in cognitive function induced by various acute respiratory loads in healthy subjects. Material and methods: Thirty healthy subjects participated in this study (25 ± 4 years old, 13 women). A set of three brief CMG was used to assess cognitive function (Rush Back, Must Sort, True Color) in control situation and at four different inspiratory loads (through a mouthpiece without resistance and with 10, 50 and 70% of the maximal inspiratory pressure). Results: Statistically significant decreases in CMG scores were observed in Rush Back (p = 0.032) and True Color (p = 0.002) when the subjects breathed through the mouthpiece without resistance compared to the control condition. A statistical difference was observed for Must Sort (p = 0.003) between baseline and 10% of Inspiratory Threshold Load (ITL). Significant differences for the three games were observed between the baseline and 50% of ITL and between baseline and 70% of ITL. Conclusion: CMG designed for cognitive training are sensitive in detecting transitional changes in cognitive function induced by low, medium and high acute respiratory loads in healthy subjects. This offers interesting new possibilities for the assessment and long-term follow-up of patients suffering from chronic respiratory disease, since this type of assessment could easily be completed independently by patients in their own homes, and could be combined with rehabilitation exercises as an evaluative measure.

Keywords

• Cognitive function
• Assessment
• Mobile games
• Acute modification