The individuals in the control group chose to participate in different group activities: ballroom dancing (5 participants), belly dancing (4 participants), chorus (16 participants), Spanish classes (8 participants) and chorus and Spanish classes (6 participants). The activities were offered once per week in 2 hours classes for 35 weeks and were held between April and November of 2013.

was offered in one weekly class for 2 hours for 35 weeks between April and November of 2013. The first 50 minutes were spent performing exercises with the abacus, with increasing difficulty. One or two of the following activities followed the abacus training: playing games, neurobic and group dynamics.

Training program based on abacus and other activities

Reasoning score change will be measured using the Z-score of Matrix Reasoning subtest of the BETA III

Attention score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Codes subtest of the BETA III and the Cogstate Identification Task

Speed of processing score change will be measured using the Z-score of the Cogstate Detection Task

Working memory score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate One Back and Two Back tasks

Verbal learning and memory score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate International Shopping List and International Shopping List - Delayed Recall tasks

Visual learning and memory score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate Continuous Paired Associate Learning, One Card Learning and Groton Maze Learning Test - Delayed Recall tasks

Executive function score change will be measured using the average of the Z-scores of the Cogstate Groton Maze Learning Test and Set Shifting Task

Evaluated using the self-concept scales of cognitive competence and self-learning

Evaluated using the control, autonomy, self-realization, and pleasure scale (CASP-19)