Can an old dog learn (and want to experience) new tricks? Cognitive training increases openness to experience in older adults.
Top Cited Papers
- 1 June 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Psychology and Aging
- Vol. 27 (2), 286-292
- https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025918
Abstract
The present study investigated whether an intervention aimed to increase cognitive ability in older adults also changes the personality trait of openness to experience. Older adults completed a 16-week program in inductive reasoning training supplemented by weekly crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Changes in openness to experience were modeled across four assessments over 30 weeks using latent growth curve models. Results indicate that participants in the intervention condition increased in the trait of openness compared with a waitlist control group. The study is one of the first to demonstrate that personality traits can change through nonpsychopharmocological interventions.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institute on Aging (R01 AG029475 and AG21178)
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