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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study provides the first demonstration that WM can be effectively trained in adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities.
Van der Molen
M J
MJ
Utrecht University, Department of General and Special Education, Utrecht, the Netherlands. M.J.vanderMolen@UvA.nl
Van Luit
J E H
JE
Van der Molen
M W
MW
Klugkist
I
I
Jongmans
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude; D003118:Color Perception; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D004519:Education, Special; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009426:Netherlands; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012691:Serial Learning; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning