Cognitive enhancement and Mountain-therapy

Abstract

While the benefits of physical activity on health are firmly established, recent evidence points to the existence of a specific therapeutic value.
In Italy, a particular form of this approach has been developed, called Mountain-Therapy. It focuses on the positive effects of different motor activities carried out in the natural and cultural environment of the mountains. To this perspective belongs the Laboratory of Cognitive Enhancement and Mountain-Therapy, which is aimed at young people aged 11 to 15 with intellectual disabilities.
The natural environment of the mountains serves as a backdrop for such activities as orientation in space, the study of the local flora or the study of typical agricultural production cycles. Through such experiences, kids can learn how to deal with complex situations under the supervision of experienced
mediators. Cognitive objectives of the laboratory are, firstly, to transfer previously learnt cognitive strategies to a real environment, leaving the predetermined context that characterizes the educational work; and
secondly, to develop mental representations based on solid experiential foundations, thus adequate to support processes of abstract thinking and metacognitive reflection. Co-essential objectives are to help the kids consolidate more mature social skills and develop a sense of self, driven by the experience of self-efficacy and by the interaction with the group of peers.