Cognitive Flexibility and Metaphorical Cognition in Aging: Unlocking Cognitive Adaptability Through Virtual Reality

Cognitive Flexibility (CF) and Metaphorical Cognition (MC) are essential for adaptive reasoning, problem-solving, and abstract thought. While CF enables individuals to shift between cognitive sets and update mental representations, MC supports the creation and interpretation of abstract connections between concepts. Despite their distinct roles, both rely on overlapping cognitive mechanisms, including inhibitory control, conceptual recategorization, and predictive model updating. This perspective examines the potential connections between CF and MC in aging and considers the role of Virtual Reality (VR)-based interventions in supporting these cognitive processes. By leveraging multisensory, immersive environments, VR can facilitate cognitive engagement through dynamic and ecologically valid experiences that require both flexible thinking and abstract reasoning. We argue that VR-based interventions can strengthen core cognitive mechanisms (such as dual-process reasoning, suppression of literal meaning, and metaphor-based learning) by simulating real-world scenarios that promote continuous cognitive adaptation. Furthermore, we highlight how VR’s capacity for embodied experiences can bridge sensorimotor processing with higher-order cognition, reinforcing CF and MC in a manner aligned with predictive processing models. By framing VR as a tool for cognitive adaptability, we propose that these technologies hold significant potential for cognitive training in aging. This perspective lays the groundwork for future empirical research, emphasizing the need to investigate how immersive technologies can reshape executive functions and figurative thought in later life.