Exercising our bodies is a completely natural thing that helps us stay in shape and feel good. But we mustn’t forget that our brains also benefit from a certain type of training. The brain possesses remarkable abilities such as memory, attention, thinking, imagination, and spatial orientation—what we call cognitive functions. Every moment of our lives revolves around these functions. Training cognitive functions is excellent for prevention and helps keep the brain sharp. In addition, people who have suffered a brain injury need to begin training their cognitive functions as soon as possible and very intensively. Only in this way can the brain increase its chances of effective rehabilitation. Professors at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno recognized this fact, which led to the creation of the Treko project, focused specifically on training cognitive functions following any type of brain injury. This initiative has brought many benefits, not only as training for clients but also as excellent practical experience for psychology students.
Every student who wants to become a cognitive trainer must complete a three-month training program. They begin in a small group led by the project coordinator and, over time, start training clients independently. The course of cognitive training is tailored individually to the client’s specific needs. Therefore, during the first session, the student administers tests to the new client to assess the status of individual cognitive functions. Based on the results of these tests, the student then develops a plan of exercises focused on specific areas (memory, attention, planning, etc.), thereby increasing the chances of improvement. However, progress is not a matter of a few weeks of training; it is a long-term process. Clients attend individual or group training sessions depending on how independently they can work. During hospitalization, students also visit the hospital, as it is important to begin training as soon as possible. We’ve prepared an interview for you with the coordinator of the cognitive training project, Mgr. Martina Dörrerová, who told us more about it.
To start, I’d like to ask you for some basic information: when was the cognitive training project launched, who represents it, and how long has it actually been running?
The cognitive training project has been running at the Institute of Psychology of the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University (PsÚ) for at least 10 years. The idea was to offer cognitive training to patients even after they were discharged from the hospital, that is, on an outpatient basis. Gradually, a collaboration with Bohunice University Hospital (FN Bohunice) developed. At first, doctors from various departments (e.g., the Karim Department and certain neurology departments) would inform psychologists about which specific patients would benefit from continuing training even after their hospitalization ended. Then the Institute of Psychology stepped in, assembling a team of student trainers. At first, there were really only a handful of students. The goal, therefore, was to form groups of about three clients. Over time, we were able to deepen our collaboration with Bohunice University Hospital. It always depends on the doctor who refers the client. Thanks to this, we also see clients diagnosed with hemophilia, for example, who seemingly do not need cognitive training because it is not a brain disorder. For such clients, however, the focus is more on prevention—so they know that cognitive training exists and that they can turn to us if needed.
How long do you think it takes to see even the slightest improvement?
From experience, I know that it depends most on the client’s motivation and the specific type of brain impairment. However, we can generally say that the first measurable improvements in tests become apparent after six months to a year. Cognitive training is a slow process, but on the other hand, it’s accessible to clients.
How many times a week is ideal for a client to train?
The ideal frequency for sessions with a trainer is once a week. However, it’s important for the client to also practice at home. That’s why the Treko project aims to have clients train with students once a week and then practice six times a week at home. We strive to guide clients toward the greatest possible independence. We want them to realize that they themselves will do the bulk of the work.
What types of clients most frequently attend the training sessions?
It’s not accurate to say that we have a single most common diagnosis. Nor can we say that younger or older clients come to us more often. It’s really a mix. The current age range is from 16 to 82 years old. And it’s truly evenly distributed. As for diagnoses, there are perhaps slightly more people who have been in car accidents—that is, with various types of head trauma—but we also have clients who have suffered strokes, etc. We’re also seeing an increase in clients with degenerative brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. We also see clients with psychiatric diagnoses, such as schizophrenia or major depressive disorder. These clients usually participate in group training.
Which clients have the greatest chance of improvement through cognitive training?
Younger clients who come to us very soon after sustaining brain damage have a better chance of improvement.
Who can participate in this project as a trainer?
All students from the Department of Psychology or other psychology students. They can also participate after completing their studies.
How can a client get started with training with a student?
Since the project has been running for several years, clients find their way to us through various channels. This is a good thing, because they spread the word about this opportunity among themselves. Clients come to us not only from Bohunice University Hospital, but also from St. Anne’s Hospital and even from the Práh association. We’ve even had clients who found us through channels we don’t know about. But they simply know about us
How many students are actively involved in cognitive training with clients?
About 10.
Have you ever met a patient who surprised you with their rapid progress?
I’ve met a client who surprised me by managing to “erase” his cognitive deficit very quickly, despite extensive brain damage. In my experience, the client’s motivation really matters the most. When they’re motivated, everything goes relatively quickly. I also met a young woman who surprised me with her progress. Later, however, we learned that it wasn’t entirely due to the training, but rather to a change in her medication. The medication that was more beneficial for her (it had fewer side effects) allowed her brain to truly function to the best of its ability. Sometimes the effects of medication can slightly cloud cognitive abilities. Thanks to the change in medication, this young woman went from below-average test scores to average scores.
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Thank you, Ms. [Last Name], for the interview. If you have any questions, you can contact the Treko project at the following email addresses: kognitivnitrenink@centrum.cz. The website is currently under development.
Brain training doesn’t produce results overnight. But if we persevere with the training, we give our brain the opportunity to constantly practice the functions we need in our lives more than we actually realize.
