Child Development Network

This page summarises some of the key research upon which Cogmed is based. Click on the titles to download the full article.

Improvements in Working Memory

Interventions Shown to Aid Executive Function Development in Children 4 to 12 years Old. Adele Diamond and Kathleen Lee. Science, Vol 333 Aug 2011 p 959.

This is a review by a seniour research academic in one of the top science journals.

Training of working memory in children with ADHD. Klingberg, T., Forsberg, H., Westerberg, H., & Hirvikoski, T. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Neuropsychology, November 2002

This study was the first demonstration that an individual’s WM capacity could be increased with intensive training. Until that time there was a general belief that WM capacity was fixed, and could not be increased.

Computerized training of working memory in children with ADHD – A randomized, controlled, trial Klingberg T, Fernell E, Olesen P, Johnson M, Gustafsson P, Dahlstrom K, Gillberg CG, Forssberg H, Westerberg H. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February 2005

This study examined children with ADHD who completed 20 hours of computerised WM training over a 5-week period. Results showed gains in working memory capacity, as well as other executive functions that were not the specific focus of training. 

Training and transfer effects of executive functions in preschool children. Thorell, L B, Lindqvist S, Bergman S, Bohlin G, Klingberg T. Developmental Science, December 2008

This study examines Cogmed training in children of preschool age. It demonstrates positive changes, although these may not be as marked, or as generalised, as changes in school-aged children. 

Computerized Working Memory Training Improves Function in Adolescents Born at Extremely Low Birth Weight. Gro C. C. Løhaugen, Ida Antonsen, Asta Haberg, Arne Gramstad, Torstein Vik, Ann-Mari Brubakk, and Jon Skranes. The Journal of Pediatrics, December 2010.

Children born prematurely are at higher than normal risk for having problems due to poor Working Memory. This study shows that adolescents who were born prematurely benefited from the Cogmed training.

Improvements in development and learning 

Adaptive training leads to sustained enhancement of poor working memory in children J. Holmes. D. Dunning, S. Gathercole. Developmental Science, April 2009

In this study, the research looked beyond WM changes, to how children improved in functional, day to day life. They focused particularly on school work.

Comparison with medication

Working memory deficits can be overcome: Impacts of training and medication on working memory in children with ADHD J. Holmes, S. Gathercole, M. Place, D. Dunning, K. Hilyon, & J. Elliot Applied Cognitive Psychology 2009

This study compared improvements in WM that result from medication (such as Ritalin) with the changes that resulted from Cogmed training. Results showed similar levels of improvement. In some cases the Cogmed changes were superior, as well as more persistent. The study did not compare changes in behaviour.

Changes in the brain

Increased prefrontal and parietal brain activity after training of working memory. Pernille J Olesen, Helena Westerberg & Torkel Klingberg. Nature Neuroscience, January 2004

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before, during and after Cogmed training (of healthy adult volunteers), this study demonstrated brain activity that was related to working memory increased in the middle frontal gyrus and superior and inferior parietal cortices of the brain. The changes in cortical activity could be evidence of training-induced plasticity in the neural systems that underlie working memory.

Similar changes were found also in the article Changes in cortical activity after training of working memory – a single-subject analysis H. Westerberg, T. Klingberg, Physiology and Behavior, May 2007

Changes in cortical dopamine D1 receptor binding associated with cognitive training Fiona McNab, Andrea Varrone, Lars Farde, Aurelija Jucaite, Paulina Bystritsky, Hans Forssberg, Torkel Klingberg Science, February 2009

Dopamine is a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) associated with Working Memory function. The medication Ritalin increases levels of dopamine in the frontal lobes. This study demonstrated increases cortical dopamine D1 receptors attributable to Cogmed training.

By Contrast, research about other 'Brain Training' suggests it is not effective

For children

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article5587314.ece

or for adults

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20822257

See Also

Role of Working Memory in Musical Ability (Sight Reading)