Cognitive Empowerment across the life span: challenges and critical issues

The contribution of neuropsychology in reference to the empowerment of the cognitive functions is twofold: it concerns the possibility of early detection of prognostic markers of cognitive deficits or phenomena of decay, to contrast them; and the possibility of using specific intervention programs, through the stimulation or enhancement of preserved skills, with the intent to potentiate the “functional” cognitive activity. The idea at the basis of cognitive and neurophysiological empowerment is that, across the lifespan, based on the brain plasticity, the activation or reactivation of the networks which mediate these functions can foster a sort of cognitive “empowerment.” To support this functional process, one of the main challenges concerns the ability to adopt proficient strategies, both self- and hetero-induced. The former are based on a virtuous selfmanaged “learning approach” that should become the objects of further externally induced “reinforcement.” The strategies of the second type provide for the intervention of external aids, such as specific cognitive training. Unlike traditional methods, the latest techniques combine the execution of tasks with the pre-potentiation of specific neuronal circuits. Experiential learning is thus facilitated by the availability of a more receptive brain, as well as a “selectively stimulated brain.” The pre-enhancement of neuronal circuits is achieved thanks to new tools which act directly on the brain, by using magnetic and electrical stimulation, showing a positive impact not only on the fully preserved skills but also on the residual abilities (cognitive resilience effect).