Working Memory Training for Improving Youth Health Behaviors

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Julia Felton, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Henry Ford Health System

Disqualifiers: Psychological disturbance, Suicidality, Substance use disorder, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 3 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

Duration: Approximately 5 weeks

72 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a computer-based program designed to boost working memory in young teens to help prevent substance misuse. Known as Working Memory Training, the program aims to improve decision-making by reducing delay discounting, which is the preference for smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones. Adolescents aged 11-15 who are comfortable using a computer and can commit to several sessions over a few weeks are eligible. The study focuses on those in underserved communities who have faced difficult childhood experiences. The results will help shape future efforts to prevent substance use among at-risk youth. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could significantly impact youth substance misuse prevention strategies.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What prior data suggests that this working memory training is safe for adolescents?

Research has shown that working memory training, like the one used in this trial, is generally safe for participants. Studies on programs such as Cogmed, a well-known tool for improving working memory, have found positive effects on thinking skills without major side effects. For instance, trials with young people, including those with ADHD, showed better attention and memory without serious problems.

Participants usually engage in structured, computer-based activities designed to boost thinking skills. These programs are made to be engaging and have been used in many settings, proving to be safe. Overall, this suggests that the training is well-tolerated and unlikely to cause harm. However, as with any program, individual experiences may differ, so participants should pay attention to how they feel during the sessions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a new way to improve health behaviors in young people through working memory training. Unlike traditional methods that might focus on education or behavioral therapy, this approach uses computer-based exercises to enhance working memory, potentially leading to better decision-making and reduced impulsivity. The training involves interactive tasks that engage both auditory and visual memory, offering a dynamic and engaging way to potentially influence behavior change. This innovative technique could provide a novel, non-invasive option for improving youth health habits, which is why the scientific community is keenly interested in its outcomes.

What evidence suggests that this working memory training is effective for improving youth health behaviors?

Research has shown that working memory training can effectively boost working memory in children and teenagers. For example, studies have found that this training helps individuals who rely on stimulants make better long-term decisions by reducing their preference for immediate rewards. This suggests that working memory training can improve decision-making. In this trial, participants will engage in Working Memory Training, which includes the use of Cogmed, a popular program known for its success in improving attention and thinking skills. This training is especially promising as a non-drug method to enhance focus and behavior in young people, including those at risk for substance misuse. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adolescents aged 11-15 who are willing to participate in a computer-based memory training program over 5-8 weeks. They must have internet access, a cell phone or email, and parental consent.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a teenager who speaks and understands English well.

Adolescent: Access to internet services, cell phone, and/or email

Adolescent: Willing to receive/send study-related text messages

Exclusion Criteria

Adolescent: Self-disclosure of current substance use disorder

I am a teenager struggling with thoughts of harming myself or feeling very disturbed.

Parent: Self-disclosure of current substance use disorder

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a computer-based working memory training program to improve delay discounting and prevent substance misuse

Approximately 5 weeks

10 sessions (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in delay discounting and substance use outcomes

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Working Memory Training

Trial Overview The study tests if working memory training can improve decision-making and reduce the likelihood of substance misuse among at-risk youth. It will also explore how these changes might prevent substance use initiation and escalation.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Working Memory Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The intervention is a computer-based training aimed at improving working memory in order to decrease delay discounting. Active training sessions include: Sequenced Recall of Digits - Auditory, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Digits - Auditory, Sequenced Recall of Digits - Visual, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Digits - Visual, Sequenced Recall of Words - Auditory, Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Words - Auditory, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Words - Visual. Participants will complete at least 10 sessions with each session taking approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Group II: Working Memory Active Control 1 Intervention

The comparison control condition is a multi-session control computer training condition that is designed to not engage working memory during computer-based engagement sessions: Sequenced Recall of Digits - Auditory, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Digits - Auditory, Sequenced Recall of Digits - Visual, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Digits - Visual, Sequenced Recall of Words - Auditory, Sequenced Recall of Words - Visual, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Words - Auditory, Sequenced Reverse Recall of Words - Visual. Participants will complete at least 10 sessions with each session taking approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Working Memory Training is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Cogmed Working Memory Training for:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Learning Disabilities
• Cognitive Impairment

Approved in United States as Cogmed Working Memory Training for:

• ADHD
• Learning Disabilities
• Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Approved in Canada as Cogmed Working Memory Training for:

• ADHD
• Learning Disabilities
• Cognitive Impairment

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Henry Ford Health System

Lead Sponsor

Trials

334

Recruited

2,197,000+

Wayne State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

318

Recruited

111,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 452 grade 1 children with low working memory, the Cogmed Working Memory Training program showed that about one-third of participants improved their working memory scores significantly after training, but similar improvements were also seen in children receiving usual teaching.

Children with elevated hyperactivity and/or inattention were less likely to benefit from the Cogmed training, indicating that this program may not be as effective for this subgroup, while no significant differences were found for children with low IQ or other emotional and behavioral symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Working Memory Training for Children With Low Working Memory. Spencer-Smith, M., Quach, J., Mensah, F., et al.[2021]

Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) significantly improved short-term memory performance in children with ADHD on tasks similar to the training activities, compared to a placebo group.

However, CWMT did not lead to improvements in broader ADHD symptoms, such as attentional problems, impulsivity, or academic performance in reading, spelling, comprehension, or mathematics.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Commentary: Working memory training and ADHD - where does its potential lie? Reflections on Chacko et al. (2014). Gathercole, SE.[2022]

Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) has shown statistically significant improvements in working memory and executive functions among over 280 child and adolescent trainees based on pre- and post-training assessments.

Feedback from families indicates positive changes experienced by trainees, although the study's one-group pre-test post-test design has limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parental Perceptions of the Efficacy of Cogmed Working Memory Training. Graham, AR., Benninger, WB.[2018]

In a study of 10 ADHD youth aged 8-14 undergoing a modified 30-session Cogmed working memory training, all participants adhered to the program, indicating its feasibility as an intervention.

The study found that youth with higher external motivation performed better in working memory tasks but had poorer academic outcomes and lower self-concept, suggesting that motivation type may influence the effectiveness of cognitive training in ADHD youth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examining the Impact of Motivation on Working Memory Training in Youth With ADHD. Sadeghi, M., McAuley, T., Sandberg, S.[2022]

The EPIREMED study aims to assess the long-term effects of the Cogmed cognitive training program on visuospatial processing in very preterm children, involving 166 participants aged 5½ to 6 years over an 18-month period.

The study seeks to demonstrate that early cognitive training can improve working memory and overall neuropsychological development, potentially leading to better learning outcomes and reduced behavioral issues in this vulnerable population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized EPIREMED protocol study on the long-term visuo spatial effects of very preterm children with a working memory deficit. Gire, C., Beltran Anzola, A., Kaminski, M., et al.[2021]

The Cogmed Working Memory Training program showed significant medium-sized improvements in verbal and visuospatial working memory in school-age children immediately after the intervention, and some long-term benefits for verbal working memory at 3-6 months post-training.

However, the training did not lead to improvements in far-transfer measures like attention, executive function, or academic achievement, indicating that while working memory can be enhanced, these gains may not extend to broader cognitive skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of cogmed working memory training program in improving working memory in school-age children with and without neurological insults or disorders: A meta-analysis. Bharadwaj, SV., Yeatts, P., Headley, J.[2022]

Cogmed training significantly improved working memory in adults with ADHD, with participants showing lasting benefits in both verbal and visuospatial memory capacities even 6 months after the training ended.

Despite these improvements in working memory, the study found that the benefits did not extend to enhancing nonverbal reasoning, executive function in daily life, or reducing ADHD symptoms, questioning the overall effectiveness of the program for broader ADHD treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Working Memory Training for Adults With ADHD. Dentz, A., Guay, MC., Parent, V., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3015021/

working memory training decreases delay discounting ... This study suggests that working memory training among stimulant-dependent individuals results in a decrease in discounting of delayed rewards consistent with ...

2. cogmed.com cogmed.com/

Cogmed Cogmed is the world's most proven digital tool for improving working memory and attention. The program's ability to grow cognitive capacity has been ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6121173/

Cogmed Working Memory Training Presents Unique ... Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT), an online cognitive training program developed for children, is an increasingly popular non-pharmacological intervention ...

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-health-behaviors-4-2024-b8946

Working Memory Training for Improving Youth Health ... Research shows that Cogmed Working Memory Training can improve working memory in children and adolescents, especially those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity ...

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21622965.2025.2490096?af=R

Teens train your brain! A mixed-methods feasibility trial of ... Remember the future: Working memory training decreases delay discounting among stimulant addicts. Biological Psychiatry, 69(3), 260–265 ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3744604/

Cogmed Working Memory Training for Youth with ADHD Two randomized controlled studies have demonstrated that CWMT led to improvements in neuropsychological outcomes and parent-rated ADHD symptoms.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1747938X18303658

The cognitive and academic benefits of Cogmed: A meta ... Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) is a commercial cognitive-training program designed to foster working-memory capacity. Enhanced working-memory ...

8. cogmed.com cogmed.com/training

Reclaim your attention with Cogmed Each training session you'll work for less than an hour on a set of neuroscientifically validated exercises, specifically designed to increase your attention. ‍.