A conventional cognitive training protocol involves structured, repetitive exercises designed to enhance specific cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. These training programs are delivered through paper-and-pencil tasks, computer-based exercises, and therapist-guided activities. Tasks used include working memory exercises (e.g., digit span recall), attention training (e.g., Stroop test, visual scanning), problem-solving activities (e.g., Tower of Hanoi), and language exercises (e.g., verbal fluency tasks), for 45 minutes per session, 3 times weekly, for 4 weeks.

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test used to assess processing speed, attention, and executive function in stroke survivors. It consists of two parts: TMT part A, where participants connect numbers in ascending order to measure processing speed and visual search, and TMT part B, where they alternate between numbers and letters (1-A-2-B, etc.) to assess cognitive flexibility and executive function. Longer completion times indicate greater impairment. The TMT is widely used to evaluate cognitive deficits following stroke, particularly in domains related to attention and task-switching.

The Stroop Test assesses cognitive control, attention, and response inhibition, which are often affected after a stroke. It requires participants to name the color of printed words while ignoring the actual word meaning (e.g., saying "blue" when the word "RED" is printed in blue ink). The test measures processing speed, selective attention, and executive function by evaluating the ability to suppress automatic responses. Poor performance on the Stroop Test may indicate deficits in cognitive control and attention regulation, which are common in post-stroke cognitive impairment.

The Digit Span Test, a subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), assesses attention, working memory, and verbal short-term memory. Participants are asked to repeat a series of numbers in the same order (forward digit span) or in reverse order (backward digit span). The backward span is particularly sensitive to working memory deficits, which are frequently observed in stroke survivors. This test is simple yet effective in evaluating short-term memory and cognitive processing capacity.

The Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) measures language function, executive control, and processing speed. It consists of two types: phonemic fluency, where participants generate words starting with a specific letter, and semantic fluency, where they list words within a given category (e.g., animals). The number of correct words generated within a time limit (usually 60 seconds) reflects cognitive function, with lower scores indicating language or executive dysfunction. This test is commonly used to assess cognitive deficits in post-stroke patients, particularly those affecting language and retrieval ability.