title: Effects of memory strategy training on performance and event-related brain potentials of children with ADHD in an episodic memory task.
abstract: Evidence for memory problems in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is accumulating. Attempting to counter such problems, in the present study children with ADHD aged 8-12 years underwent a six-week metacognitive memory strategy training (MST) or one of two other active trainings, either a metacognitive attention-perceptual-motor training (APM) or placebo training consisting of playing board games (PLA). Effects of the training on episodic memory and underlying brain processes were investigated by comparing performance and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) on pre- and post-training sessions in an old/new recognition task between the three training groups. Potential far transfer effects of the memory strategy training were investigated by measuring performance on neuropsychological attention and memory-span tasks and parent-rated ADHD symptoms. The metacognitive memory strategy training led to significantly improved memory performance and enhanced amplitude of left parietal P600 activity associated with the process of memory recollection when compared to PLA, but APM training evoked similar improvements. Memory performance gains were significantly correlated with the memory-related ERP effects. Preliminary far transfer effects of MST training were found on attention and working memory performance and on parent-rated ADHD symptoms, although these results need replication with larger and better IQ-matched groups.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jonkman
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Petra P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Hurks
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tamara M J
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Schleepen
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Cognitive training; Event-related brain potentials; Memory strategy; Parietal cortex