Cognitive Neurostimulation Program
Welcome to the Cognitive Neurostimulation Program — a therapeutic resource developed by Dr. Paula Diniz for seniors!
Memory Neurostimulation and Cognitive Exercices for Seniors
Therapeutic activities for daily life
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The exercises are especially intended for seniors experiencing various forms of cognitive decline whether due to the natural aging process, mild cognitive impairment or other conditions that affect mental clarity;
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Activities can be carried out individually or by groups;
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Ideal for use by family members or health professionals who care for the elderly;
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Each exercise is based on principles of neuroscience and neurological stimulation practices;
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The digital format allows for multiple printouts and reuse of exercises for individual or group use without loss of material.
Therapeutic Activities Based on Neuroscience
Activities stimulate specific brain areas for various cognitive functions such as:
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Memory
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Attention
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Language
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Concentration
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Reasoning
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Logic
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Temporal orientation
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Spatial orientation
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Visual recognition
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Recall
“More than just an exercise book, this is a tool of care—an invitation to reconnect with stories, emotions, and abilities that remain alive and accessible".
It was designed for:
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Individual use by the elderly or with the assistance of caregivers and healthcare professionals
Chapter Contents
INDEX
I-Preface
II-General Guidelines
III-General Cognitive Stimulation
1-Categories
2-Words by initial letter
3- Repeated items
4-Complete the word
5-Difference between pairs
6-Calculation
7-Hidden words
8-Orientation
9-Alphabetical order
10-Logical sequence
11-Object recall
12-Use classification
13-Which one is different?
14-Recognizing sounds
15-Logical connections
16-Everyday items
17-Complete popular proverbs
18-Task sequence
19-Answer
20-True or false
21-Organization of the days of the week
22-Match the pairs
23-Categories
24-Name as many as you can
25-Order of events
26-Recall a personal fact
27-Where do we find this?
28-Recent memory
29-Correct sense
30-Special dates
IV- Spatial Orientation and Memory
31-Items in a room
32-Familiar route
33-What is out of place?
34-Where is it found?
35-Recognition
36-Mind map
37-Where is it stored?
38-Object location
39-Right and left side
40-Items by room
V- Language and Communication
41 – Complete the sentences
42 – Name an item
43 – Sentences with chosen words
44 – Names of objects by initial letter
45 – Word by theme
46 – Match the synonyms
47 – Opposites
48 – Rewriting with different words
49 – Hidden word
50 – Create a short story
VI -Attention and Concentration
51 – Repeat the sequence
52 – What is repeated?
53 – Follow the instruction
54 – Countdown
55 – Find the different letter
56 – Find the matching pairs
57 – Complete the logical sequence
58 – Draw according to the instructions
59 – Count the even numbers
60– Words beginning with the same letter
VII- Reasoning and Logic
61 – What’s the next number?
62 – Which one doesn’t belong?
63 – Complete the analogy
64 – Choose the correct statement
65 – What comes before and after
66 – Mark the correct sequence
VIII- Temporal and Spatial Orientation
67 – Solve the problem
68 – Operation signs
69 – Related pairs
70 – What day is it today?
71 – What comes before and after?
72 – Morning, afternoon, or night
73 – Match weather to seasons
74 – Describe the route
75 – Where is each item?
76 – Complete the directions
77 – Locate yourself in time
78 – Rooms in the house
79 – Daily actions
IX- Vocabulary
80 – Name five kitchen objects
81 – Complete with the correct word
82 – Word generation
83 – Synonyms
84 – Object naming
85 – Attention and word recognition
86 – Rewrite the sentence correctly
87 – Fruits
88 – Opposite words
89 – Reading comprehension
90 – Find the item that doesn’t belong
X- Visual Recognition
91 – Complete the visual pattern
92 – How many letters?
93 – Matching pairs
94 – Observation
95 – Identify similarities between objects
96 – Find the repeated word
XI- Space for Affection and Autobiography
97 – Summary of your life story
98 – Letter to yourself
99 – Things you enjoy
100 – Things you are grateful for
Example of how brain stimulation works
🧠Brain Areas Activated in the “Hidden Words” Exercise
🔹 1. Frontal Lobe (especially the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex)
Responsible for:
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Selective attention
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Executive functions
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Decision-making (“this is a word, this is not”)
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Maintaining the task rule
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Inhibiting incorrect responses
This region controls “focus” and an “active mind” during the exercise.
🔹 2. Parietal Lobe (visual attention and spatial integration regions)
Involved in:
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Visual scanning of the letter sequence
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Guiding eye movements
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Visuospatial organization
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Mentally segmenting the string of characters
It helps the brain move along the line and identify possible “segments” that form words.
🔹 3. Left Temporal Lobe (superior temporal gyrus + Wernicke’s area)
Essential for:
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Linguistic processing
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Recognition of real words
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Accessing stored vocabulary (mental lexicon)
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Semantic association
This area “decides” whether the identified sequence makes linguistic sense.
🔹 4. Fusiform Gyrus (word recognition region – VWFA)
VWFA = Visual Word Form Area
Responsible for:
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Detecting the visual form of words
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Rapid recognition of orthographic patterns
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Processing letter sequences as linguistic units
This region allows the brain to see “milkp” and identify that “milk” might be present within it.
🔹 5. Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Active in:
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Error monitoring
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Adjusting attention
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Cognitive control
Important for verifying whether the detected word is truly present.
🔹 6. Coordinated Networks (not just isolated areas)
This exercise primarily activates three cognitive networks:
✔ Dorsal Attention Network
(focus, visual scanning, voluntary attentional control)
✔ Executive Control Network
(filtering valid words, maintaining the rule “find real words”)
✔ Language Network
(decoding and implicit reading)
About the Author
I’m Paula Diniz a physician and writer with dedication to the study of Neurology and Neuroscience.
I created this ebook with one clear purpose: to help older adults preserve their autonomy, memory, and dignity through simple, respectful, and effective cognitive exercises.
If you’re caring for a parent or a patient who is becoming forgetful, losing focus, or having difficulty with reasoning, this book was made to be your daily ally. Whether you're a caregiver, therapist, or family member, here you’ll find an accessible tool with real therapeutic value — a resource that can turn moments of care into meaningful, positive human experiences.
Each exercise was carefully designed to stimulate memory, attention, logical thinking, calculation, and other essential cognitive functions.
In this ebook, I offer my knowledge in the form of a practical tool — one that brings together therapeutic science and human connection to support cognitive health in aging with dignity.
Warm regards,
Dr.Paula Diniz