New Research Evaluates The Impact Of Working Memory Training And Stimulant Medication On Kids With ADHD

Main Category: ADHD
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 21 Jul 2009 - 3:00 PST

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A study to be published in the August 2009 edition of Applied Cognitive Psychology sheds new light on how Cogmed Working Memory Training and stimulant medication address working memory impairments in children with ADHD. Working memory, acknowledged as one of the core deficits in ADHD, represents the brain's ability to hold and process critical information related to the present moment. This study represents the latest findings from a team of independent UK researchers whose ongoing work examines the impact of Cogmed's software-based training program on individuals with disorders of memory and attention.

Conducted at the University of York, the research was led by Joni Holmes, Ph.D., and Susan Gathercole, Ph.D. The study evaluated the effects of both working memory training and medication on 25 children with ADHD. Each child performed a battery of tests to assess different aspects of working memory twice before training, once when the children were taking their medication for ADHD and once when they were not. Tests measuring the same aspects of working memory were also administered immediately after the Cogmed training program, as well as six months after training as a follow up.

The results show that stimulant medication significantly increases visuo-spatial working memory, but that Cogmed training leads to significant improvements in all four critical measures of working memory; verbal and visuo-spatial short-term and verbal and visuo-spatial working memory. The training effects remained six months after training.

"We're only just beginning to understand the different ways we can boost working memory. As we continue our work with children with ADHD and those with low working memory, it is very promising to see the magnitude and sustainability of gains following training," said Holmes.

"This recent study illustrates the important and lasting effects Cogmed training can have on the underlying issues in ADHD," said Jonas Jendi, Cogmed's CEO. "We are of course pleased to note that the study finds that the Cogmed training brings the working memory capacity of these children into the normal range, and that the findings hold for all of the six-month testing period. For a family struggling with ADHD and the school challenges that follow from the disorder, this is a finding that resonates."

The study adds to a growing body of research showing that Cogmed Working Memory Training can lead to a range of lasting improvements for anyone with a working memory impairment, spanning from pre-school children, adolescents, working adults and seniors.

For more information on the study, please visit here.

For more information about the University of York, visit http://www.york.ac.uk.

For a summary of this study, and on other Cogmed studies, visit http://www.cogmedresearch.com.

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Cogmed