What key scientific principle must a truly effective cognitive program constantly adjust to keep the user challenged at the edge of their ability?

Answer

Adaptive difficulty

Adaptive difficulty is the core scientific principle that both laboratory protocols and effective commercial cognitive programs strive to capture. This principle dictates that the program must dynamically adjust the challenge level based on the user's performance in real time. If a game or exercise becomes too easy, it ceases to promote change because the brain is no longer sufficiently taxed to build new neural pathways or reinforce complex skills effectively. Therefore, for self-directed exercise to build new cognitive abilities rather than just reinforce existing ones, the program must constantly push the user just outside their current comfort zone, requiring sustained mental effort at the current limit of their competence.

What key scientific principle must a truly effective cognitive program constantly adjust to keep the user challenged at the edge of their ability?

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