Visuospatial Working Memory Capacity in the Brain After Working Memory Training in College Students With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Issue 7 (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Woltering, Steven; Gu, Chao; Liu, Zhong-Xu; Tannock, Rosemary
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 25:Issue 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1010
• Page End: 1020
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: ADHD -- working memory -- treatment -- randomized controlled trial -- EEG -- contralateral delay activity; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054719879487
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: ADHD has been associated with persistent problems of working memory. This study investigated the efficacy of an intensive and adaptive computerized working memory treatment (CWMT) at behavioral and neural levels.Method: College students ( n = 89; 40 females) with ADHD were randomized into a standard-length CWMT (45 min/session, 25 sessions, n = 29), shortened-length CWMT (15 min/session, 25 sessions, n = 32), and a waitlist group ( n = 28). Both CWMT groups received treatment for 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Lab sessions before and after CWMT assessed electroencephalography (EEG) indicators of working memory, behavioral indicators of working memory performance, and ADHD symptomatology.Results: No evidence was found for neural or any other behavioral transfer effects of improvement for the CWMT treatment groups over the active control or waitlist group.Conclusion: Our study does not provide evidence for the benefits of CWMT at neural or behavioral levels.