Cogmed Working Memory Training

Tammy L. Stephens, Ph.D.Assessment Consultant/Representative contact:

Tammy.stephens@pearson.com

Agenda

Introduction

Overview of Cogmed

What is working memory?

Training effects

Cogmed Working Memory Training – a solution

Research

Demonstration

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a program that helps children and adults with attention problems to focus better: improving WM

Five days a week for five weeks of computer-based training sessions; supervised by a coach, trained by Cogmed

80% of Cogmed users see improvements – both in research and in clinical evaluations

Cogmed Overview

The effects are substantial and lasting

Backed by peer-review published research

Cogmed training works because it is focused, rigorous, and supported

Customers are private psychology/psychiatry practices and schools

Started in Sweden 2001; in the US since 2006; part of Pearson since 2010

Cogmed Overview

Cogmed Working Memory Training A proven intervention

What makes Cogmed work?

What is Working Memory?Working memory refers to a brain system that provides temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for such complex cognitive tasks as language comprehension, learning and reasoning.(Baddeley, 1992)

Associated with reading (Gathercole & Pickering, 2000) and mathematics (Geary et al., 2004)

10-15% of all students have working memory deficits (Alloway et al., 2009)

Children with poor working memory make poor academic progress •Of 300 children with poor working memory (Gathercole & Alloway, 2008):

o 83% scored poorly on either reading or math tests whilethe vast majority of these scored poorly in both areas

Signs of Working Memory Constraints

Is easily distracted when doing something not highly

interesting

Has trouble waiting his/her turn

Struggles with reading comprehension

Struggles doing math calculations in his/her head

Struggles with getting started

Struggles with completing a task

Difficulties when planning and organizing something

with multiple steps

Often seems restless and on the go

Loses belongings frequently

The Training Programs

Cogmed JM

Cogmed RM

Cogmed QM

Cogmed Coach Training

Coach support

Cogmed Training Web: start trainings and follow training

results

Material to support the coach in coaching

Support to coaches (technical and related to coaching)

The Cogmed method for improving working memory

How do you train your working memory with Cogmed?

5x a wk/5 wks

30-45 min per

session

Training Aide

Mouse/Headphones

The difficulty level will automatically adjust based on the performance of the users, so that they will always train on the limits of their working memory

capacity

Three versions of the software

All three versions of the Cogmed software share the same underlying design – the difference is in the user interface

An online tool for the Cogmed Coach to follow and analyze the

trainings

The Cogmed Training Web

Where did the user miss

trials? What time of the day did the training take place? How often is the user taking breaks?

Is the user training at his/her optimal level?

Improvements from Cogmed Working Memory Training

Double-blind placebo-controlled studies published in peer-reviewed journals, show that Cogmed training improves:

Attention

Impulse control

Mathematics

Following instructions

Over a dozen studies published on Cogmed to date, both by the Cogmed founders but also by fully independent research teams. More than 30 ongoing and 40 planned studies.

Published studies on Cogmed:Klingberg T, Forssberg H, Westerberg H (2002) Training of Working Memory in Children with ADHD. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 24(6): 781-791. Olesen P, Westerberg H, Klingberg T (2004) Increased prefrontal and parietal brain activity after training of working memory. Nature Neuroscience, 7(1): 75-79. Klingberg T, Fernell E, Olesen P, Johnson M, Gustafsson P, Dahlström K, Gillberg CG, Forssberg H, Westerberg H (2005) Computerized training of working memory in children with ADHD – a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(2): 177-186. Westerberg H, Jacobaeus H, Hirvikoski T, Clevberger P, Ostensson ML, Bartfai A, Klingberg T (2007) Computerized working memory training after stroke - a pilot study. Brain Injury, 21(1): 21-29. Westerberg H, Klingberg T (2007) Changes in cortical activity after training of working memory - a single-subject analysis. Physiology & Behavior, DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.05.041

Thorell L B, Lindqvist S, Bergman S, Bohlin G, Klingberg T (2009) Training and transfer effects of executive functions in preschool children. Developmental Science, 12(1): 106-113.

McNab F, Varrone A, Farde L, Jucaite A, Bystritsky P, Forssberg H, Klingberg T (2009) Changes in cortical dopamine D1 receptor binding associated with cognitive training. Science, 323: 800-802.

 

  Holmes J, Gathercole S, Dunning D (2009) Adaptive training leads to sustained enhancement of poor working memory in children. Developmental Science, DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00848.x Holmes J, Gathercole S, Place M, Dunning D, Hilton K, Elliott J (2009) Working memory deficits can be overcome: Impacts of training and medication on working memory in children with ADHD. Applied Cognitive Psychology, DOI: 10.1002/acp.1589. Mezzacappa E, Buckner J (2010) Working Memory Training for Children with Attention Problems or Hyperactivity: A School-Based Pilot Study. School Mental Health, DOI: 10.1007/s12310-010-9030-9. Lundqvist A, Grundström K, Samuelsson K, Rönnberg J (2010) Computerized training of working memory in a group of patients suffering from acquired brain injury. Brain Injury, 2010;24(10):1173-83. Dahlin K. (2010) Effects of working memory training on reading in children with special needs. Reading and Writing, DOI: 10.1007/s11145-010-9238-y. Beck S, Hanson C, Puffenberger S, Benninger K, Benninger W (2010) A Controlled Trial of Working Memory Training for Children and Adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2010: 39: 6, 825-836. Løhaugen GC, Antonsen I, Håberg A, Gramstad A. Vik T, Brubakk AM, Skranes J (2010) Computerized Working Memory Training Improves Function in Adolescents Born at Extremely Low Birth Weight. Journal of Pediatrics, PMID: 21130467.

Further information about the research behind Cogmed: http://www.cogmed.com/research

Children improve math and listening skills with working memory training

Forty-seven children screened for working memory deficits were assigned to the Cogmed training or low intensity training conditions.

Training took place in two UK schools.

The Cogmed group were associated with substantial and sustained gains in working memory, with age-appropriate levels achieved by the majority of children.

Mathematical ability also improved significantly 6 months following adaptive training.

WM is key to attention and learning

WM can be improved by training, using right tool & protocol: Cogmed

WM can be improved at all age levels

The improvement can be shown on three levels: fMRI/PET, neuropsychological testing and by rating scales

Improved working memory generalizes to behavioral improvement

Behavioral improvement is sustained

Effects of WM training are specific: WM and its derived functions are improved

Training effects are pronounced in populations with a WM constraint, not diagnostically driven

Summary of research findings

What do we hear?

Students say- They can concentrate better in class - They have a better flow with the school work- They remember better - They enjoy school more

Teachers say

- The student is calmer- The student concentrates more- The student performs better on academic tasks- The student has matured

Parents say

- The child communicates better - The child takes more initiatives on her/his own- The child self-initiates home work without nagging or reminders- The child is more independent

Demonstration

Why Cogmed makes sense for a school?

Used with students who struggle due to WM constraints

Cogmed training will improve WM substantially and lastingly

Allows student to absorb information effectively

Results in better math and reading comprehension performance

Acts as a primer for improved learning; building the platform for

learning

Use your Pearson neuropsychology and behavioral assessments to

identify students that may have working memory and attention

weaknesses

School Packages

Options Cost

Starter Package*•5 User IDs/1 coach•Remote training•One full year $ 980

Full implementation•30 User IDs/10 coaches•On-site, full day training•One full year $6000

*Ability to purchase another starter package after completion of first if desired.

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