title: Computerized memory training leads to sustained improvement in visuospatial short-term memory skills in children with Down syndrome.
abstract: This study evaluated the impact of a computerized visuospatial memory training intervention on the memory and behavioral skills of children with Down syndrome. Teaching assistants were trained to support the delivery of a computerized intervention program to individual children over a 10-16 week period in school. Twenty-one children aged 7-12 years with Down syndrome were randomly allocated to either an intervention or waiting list control group. Following training, performance on trained and non-trained visuospatial short-term memory tasks was significantly enhanced for children in the intervention group. This improvement was sustained four months later. These results suggest that computerized visuospatial memory training in a school setting is both feasible and effective for children with Down syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Joni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D001245:Association Learning; D001307:Auditory Perception; D002648:Child; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D056344:Executive Function; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009039:Motion Perception; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012691:Serial Learning; D012984:Software