Effectiveness of a computerised working memory training in adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities

J Intellect Disabil Res. 2010 May;54(5):433-47. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01285.x.

Abstract

Background: The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a computerised working memory (WM) training on memory, response inhibition, fluid intelligence, scholastic abilities and the recall of stories in adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities attending special education.

Method: A total of 95 adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities were randomly assigned to either a training adaptive to each child's progress in WM, a non-adaptive WM training, or to a control group.

Results: Verbal short-term memory (STM) improved significantly from pre- to post-testing in the group who received the adaptive training compared with the control group. The beneficial effect on verbal STM was maintained at follow-up and other effects became clear at that time as well. Both the adaptive and non-adaptive WM training led to higher scores at follow-up than at post-intervention on visual STM, arithmetic and story recall compared with the control condition. In addition, the non-adaptive training group showed a significant increase in visuo-spatial WM capacity.

Conclusion: The current study provides the first demonstration that WM can be effectively trained in adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aptitude
  • Color Perception
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction*
  • Discrimination Learning
  • Education, Special*
  • Executive Function
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / psychology*
  • Intellectual Disability / therapy*
  • Intelligence*
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term*
  • Netherlands
  • Orientation
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual
  • Practice, Psychological
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Reaction Time
  • Serial Learning
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Verbal Learning