Exploring the Role of Positive Affect and Mental Engagement in Enhancing Gains from Multi-Modal Cognitive Training in Middle-Aged Adults

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Positive movement experiences (e.g., exergaming) may enhance cognition, but evidence in midlife is limited. In a double-blind RCT, 233 adults (35-64) were randomized to a 10-day cognitive-motor Games intervention (n = 118) or a passive video control (n = 115) across five lab and five home sessions. Dual-task cost was assessed pre- and post-intervention, with engagement (affect, exertion, expectancy) modeled as predictors. Adherence was high (98.3%); exergaming elicited moderate- intensity (ΔM = 18.76 bpm, p < .001). Positive affect predicted reduced dual-task cost in one paradigm (β = -0.316, p = .025), whereas higher exertion predicted poorer outcomes. Expectancy, baseline activity, and streak predicted improvement, underscoring task-specific affective contributions to cognitive adaptation.