Clinical Trial: Computerized Working Memory Training in Very-low-birth-weight Children at Preschool Age

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Computerized Working Memory Training Evaluated With Clinical Assessments and Quantitative EEG in Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) Children at Preschool Age

Brief Summary: The main aim of this prospective interventional study is to compare quantitative EEG findings and cognitive and neuropsychological test results before and after training with the Cogmed JM program in a group of very-low-birth-weight children in preschool age, i.e. ages 5-6 years. The investigators hypothesize that the children in the study may respond positively to the computerized training and improve working memory, but probably to different degrees depending on the underlying neurological condition. The investigators also hypothesize that training may benefit additional executive functions.

Detailed Summary:

Children born preterm are at increased risk of neurological disabilities due to perinatal brain damage. During the last ten years an increasing number of especially extremely low birth weight (ELBW: BW ≤ 1000g) children has survived, and one might wonder whether this has lead to increased amount of brain pathology and impairments among survivors. Major impairments including cerebral palsy, mental retardation and impaired vision and hearing are most common in children born extremely preterm (gestational age below 28 weeks). In addition to this, a large part of survivors after preterm birth will experience motor problems, cognitive dysfunctions, psychiatric and behavioural problems of varying severity.

In our previous research we have found significant deficits in working memory in very preterm born children, and this seems to have a strong influence on cognitive functioning. During the last years, several studies have shown that working memory skills can be trained, and training working memory to improve cognition and executive functions is regarded as one of the major steps forward in neuroscience in recent years.

The working memory training program version for preschoolers, Cogmed JM, has recently been launched. Healthy preschoolers trained on working memory improved significantly on trained tasks but also on non-trained tests of spatial and verbal working memory, as well as transfer effects on attention. The preschool version of the program has not yet been administered to preterm born or other neurologic high risk children in this age group.

The main aim of this prospective interventional study is to compare quantitative EEG findings and cognitive and neuropsychological test results before and after training with the Cogmed JM program in a group of very-low-birth-w
Sponsor: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Current Primary Outcome: working memory capacity [ Time Frame: 6 months ]

Automated Working Memory Assessment (AWMA)(visual working memory); digit span (from WISC-IV); Repetition of scentences (from NEPSY battery); Remembering and oral story (from NEPSY battery); Remembering faces (from NEPSY battery)


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • behavioral function [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
    Vineland adaptive behaviour scales (survey form)
  • executive function [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
    The ADHD Rating Scale-IV (parents report)
  • anxiety as judged by parents [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
    The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED- parent report); Preschool Anxiety Scale (parent report)


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Dates:
Date Received: January 10, 2012
Date Started: April 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: February 27, 2014
Last Verified: February 2014