Cognition enhances cognition: A comprehensive analysis on cognitive stimulation protocols and their effects on cognitive functions in animal models

Brain plasticity is involved in the regulation of neural differentiation as well as in functional processes related to memory consolidation, learning, and cognition during healthy life and brain pathology. Modifications in lifestyle, like poor diet, insufficient physical exercise and cognitive stimulation are associated with an increased risk of neurodegeneration; however, there is a paucity of research regarding the impact of individual factors on dementia risk or progression. Cognitive stimulation is a group of techniques and strategies, including cognitive enrichment (CE) and cognitive training (CT), aimed to maintain or improve the functionality of cognitive abilities, such as memory, learning, cognitive flexibility, and attention. The present scoping review focuses on cognitive stimulation by investigating its neuroprotective and therapeutic role on these cognitive functions in rodents. A methodical bibliographic search of experimental studies on rats and mice was conducted on PubMed and Scopus databases up to June 3, 2024. A pool of 29 original research articles was considered as relevant to the topic of the present work. Evidence shows that CE but above all CT influence cognitive performance and brain structure in rodents with specific differences with respect to the quality and quantity of stimulation. There would appear to be greater effects in restoring damage than in preserving or improving a functioning condition. These results provide a theoretical basis to be considered in the therapeutic setting, although further systematic studies would be necessary to identify and characterize the cognitive stimulation protocols which hold the greatest and task-transferable impact on cognitive functioning and maintenance.