Executive Function Training for Children and Adolescents

Purpose

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate how different approaches to executive function (like adding game-like features, varying the number of tasks, and providing coaching) can enhance executive function outcomes in adolescents with and without ADHD. The main questions it aims to answer are: - What components of executive function training contribute most to improving outcomes? - How do training components vary in their impacts on adolescents diagnosed with ADHD compared to those without a diagnosis? - What individual characteristics influence the effectiveness of executive function training? Researchers will test six different training setups to examine which setups are the most effective for different people. They will evaluate both how well participants follow the training schedule and whether there are changes in psychological and cognitive outcomes after training. Participants will complete: - 40 training sessions over 4 weeks - A set of tests and surveys before and after the training - Follow-up assessments and surveys 6 months after finishing the training

Condition

  • Cognitive Change

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 12 Years and 17 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • 12-17 years old. - Child must have a caregiver (parent/guardian) who is available to participate as a training aide. - Child and parent/caregiver are able to understand/speak adequate English or Spanish to follow and participate in study procedures - Both child and parent/guardian are willing to give informed consent/assent, be randomized to either intervention condition, and be willing to follow the assigned study protocol. - ~50% of the participants: Meet criteria for ADHD DSM-5 diagnosis.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Child is taking ADHD medication/stimulants. - Child has been formally identified as intellectually disabled. - Abnormal visual acuity or hearing challenges that are prohibitive to participating in the intervention/assessment. - History of organic mental disorders (conditions or disturbances that may be caused by injuries and/or neurodegenerative diseases affecting brain tissues), psychosis, history of autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, or active substance use or suicidal ideation (such individuals will be referred to psychiatric services). - Major sensory or motor impairment that would preclude valid cognitive testing. - Participants with color blindness, if they are unable to discriminate the task relevant stimuli. - Populations considered vulnerable such as wards and those with neurological or other health conditions that may prevent the ability to give informed consent.

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Participants will be assigned to one out of six training conditions. The training conditions are as follows: (1) Nongamified n-Back; (2) Gamified n-Back; (3) Multiple Domain Training; (4) Nongamified n-Back + Motivational Coaching; (5) Gamified n-Back + Motivational Coaching; (6) Multiple Domain Training + Motivational Coaching
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
Single (Participant)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Non Gamified N-back Training 		Participants train on a non gamified version of the N-back task.
  • Behavioral: Nongamified N-back training
    This Single Task Training is an adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
  • Behavioral: Nongamified N-back training
    This Single Task Training trains a visual, adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
Experimental
Gamified N-back Training 		Participants train on a gamified version of the N-back task.
  • Behavioral: Nongamified N-back training
    This Single Task Training is an adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
  • Behavioral: Gamified N-back training
    Participants train on a gamified version of the N-back task, specifically, players control an astronaut that collects resources (target stimuli) needed to feed a colony and keep the technology working, while avoiding non-targets and other obstacles.
  • Behavioral: Nongamified N-back training
    This Single Task Training trains a visual, adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
Experimental
Multiple Domain Training 		Participants train on N-Back, Complex Span, Set Shifting (Polyrules), and Inhibitory Control.
  • Behavioral: Multiple Domain Training
    Participants train on a gamified versions of the N-back task, Complex span, Set-shifting and Inhibitory control task.
Experimental
Non Gamified N-back Training with Coaching 		Participants train on a non gamified version of the N-Back task and will receive weekly, motivational coaching sessions via videoconference.
  • Behavioral: Nongamified N-back training
    This Single Task Training trains a visual, adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
  • Behavioral: Coaching Session
    Participants in coaching conditions receive weekly, motivational coaching sessions via videoconference to (i) provide encouragement taking into account individual training performance and self-reported engagement (strength-based feedback), (ii) set realistic goals for training (time management, scheduling, and session completion plan, performance goals) while emphasizing autonomy and choice, and (iii) re-explain task and provide corrective feedback as needed.
Experimental
Gamified N-back Training with Coaching 		Participants train on a gamified version of the N-back task and will receive weekly, motivational coaching sessions via videoconference.
  • Behavioral: Gamified N-back training
    Participants train on a gamified version of the N-back task, specifically, players control an astronaut that collects resources (target stimuli) needed to feed a colony and keep the technology working, while avoiding non-targets and other obstacles.
  • Behavioral: Nongamified N-back training
    This Single Task Training trains a visual, adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
  • Behavioral: Coaching Session
    Participants in coaching conditions receive weekly, motivational coaching sessions via videoconference to (i) provide encouragement taking into account individual training performance and self-reported engagement (strength-based feedback), (ii) set realistic goals for training (time management, scheduling, and session completion plan, performance goals) while emphasizing autonomy and choice, and (iii) re-explain task and provide corrective feedback as needed.
Experimental
Multiple Domain Training with Coaching 		Participants train on gamified N-back training, Complex Span, Set Shifting, and Inhibitory Control and also receive weekly, motivational coaching sessions via videoconference.
  • Behavioral: Multiple Domain Training
    Participants train on a gamified versions of the N-back task, Complex span, Set-shifting and Inhibitory control task.
  • Behavioral: Coaching Session
    Participants in coaching conditions receive weekly, motivational coaching sessions via videoconference to (i) provide encouragement taking into account individual training performance and self-reported engagement (strength-based feedback), (ii) set realistic goals for training (time management, scheduling, and session completion plan, performance goals) while emphasizing autonomy and choice, and (iii) re-explain task and provide corrective feedback as needed.

Recruiting Locations

Northeastern University
Boston 4930956, Massachusetts 6254926 02115
Contact:
Jinlin Liu, MA

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Northeastern University

Study Contact

Audrey Carrillo, MA
(626) 482-8091
a.carrillo@northeastern.edu