Cortical Stimulation Associated with Tabletop Cognitive Activities and the Influence of Self-Perceived Challenge as Measured by Electroencephalography: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Positive associations are reported between "cognitively stimulating" activities and cortical stimulation and
between "cognitively challenging" activities and cortical stimulation. However, the basis for these has been largely subjective.
One aim of this pilot study was to determine whether tabletop cognitive activities, believed to be cortically stimulating, are
objectively based on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) coherence measured by electroencephalography (EEG). A
second aim was to compare LDLPFC coherence associated with Sudoku, perceived by most study participants to be the most
cognitively challenging activity they completed, with LDLPFC coherence associated with the activity each perceived to be
the least cognitively challenging.

Methods: Participants engaged for five minutes in an "at rest" condition and each of five presumptively "cognitively
stimulating" tabletop activity conditions. EEG data were collected throughout. Participants then ranked the cognitive
challenge they experienced completing each tabletop activity.

Results: Based on EEG LDLPFC coherence, not all activities were cortically stimulating. Sudoku, the activity rated "most
cognitively challenging" by most participants (n = 13/25), was the most cortically stimulating condition in Beta, High Beta,
Theta, Delta, and High Delta frequency bands.

Conclusion: With a growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of ongoing engagement in challenging cognitive
exercise for individuals across their lifespans, identifying cognitive activities that stimulate beneficial cortical activation and,
ultimately, cognitive function is needed.