Cogmed UK 25 th April 2013
Cogmed UK
25th April 2013
Agenda
Introduction
Cogmed in brief
What is working memory
Cogmed Working Memory Training – a solution
Research and Training effects
Cogmed Working Memory Training in the UK
Q&A
Cogmed Working Memory Training is a program that helps children and adults with attention problems focus better: improving WM
Five days a week for five weeks of computer-based training sessions; supervised by a coach, trained by Cogmed
80% of Cogmed users see improvements – both in research and in clinical evaluations
The effects are substantial and lasting
Backed by peer-review published research
Cogmed training works because it is focused, rigorous, and supported
Customers are private psychology/psychiatry practices and schools
Started in Sweden 2001; in the UK since 2006; part of Pearson since 2010
Cogmed in Brief
What is working memory?
Working memory is key for academic performance
Working memory refers to a brain system that provides temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for such complex cognitive tasks as language comprehension, learning and reasoning.(Baddeley, 1992)
Associated with reading (Gathercole & Pickering, 2000) and mathematic(Geary et al., 2004) ability
10-15% of all students have working memory deficits (Alloway et al., 2009)
Children with poor working memory make poor academic progress •Of 300 children with poor working memory (Gathercole & Alloway, 2008):
o 83% scored poorly on either reading or maths teststhe vast majority of these scored poorly in both areas
The Development of Working Memory in ADHD
Working Memory
5
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
7,5 8,5 9,5 10,5 11,5 12,5 13,5 14,5 15,5
Age
Cor
rect
ControlADHD
Westerberg et al. (2004), Visuo-spatial working memory: a sensitive measurement of cognitive deficits in ADHD. Child Neuropsychology 10 (3) 155-61.
Signs of working memory constraints
Is easily distracted when doing something not highly interesting
Has trouble waiting his/her turn
Struggles with reading comprehension
Struggles doing maths calculations in his/her head
Struggles with getting started
Struggles with completing a task
Difficulties when planning and organising something with multiple steps
Often seems restless and on the go
Loses belongings frequently
Cogmed Working Memory Training - a solution
The Training Programmes
Cogmed RM
Cogmed QM
Cogmed JM
Cogmed Coach Training
Coach support
Cogmed Training Web: start trainings and follow training results
Material to support the coach in coaching
Support to coaches (technical and related to coaching)
The Cogmed method for improving working memory
How do you train your working memory with Cogmed?
Intense training
25 training sessions
30-45 min per session
No settings needed
The difficulty level will automatically adjust based on the performance of the users, so that they will always train on
the limits of their working memory capacity
Three versions of the software
All three versions of the Cogmed software share the same underlying design – the difference is in the user interface
Test site
• training.cogmed.com
Username: testPassword: test99
An online tool for the Cogmed Coach to follow and analyse the trainings
The Cogmed Training Web
Where did the user miss trials?
What time of the day did the training take place? How often is the user taking breaks?
Is the user training at his/her optimal level?
Research and Training effects
Improvements from Cogmed Working Memory Training
Double-blind placebo-controlled studies published in peer-reviewed journals, show that Cogmed training improves:
Attention
Impulse control
Mathematics
Following instructions
23 studies published on Cogmed to date, both by the Cogmed founders but also by fully independent research teams. More than 50 ongoing and 40 planned studies.
Children improve math and listening skills with working memory training
Forty-seven children screened for working memory deficits were assigned to the Cogmed training or low intensity training conditions.
Training took place in two UK schools.
The Cogmed group were associated with substantial and sustained gains in working memory, with age-appropriate levels achieved by the majority of children.
Mathematical ability also improved significantly 6 months following adaptive training.
WM is key to attention and learning
WM can be improved by training, using right tool & protocol: Cogmed
WM can be improved at all age levels
The improvement can be shown on three levels: fMRI/PET, neuropsychological testing and by rating scales
Improved working memory generalises to behavioral improvement
Behavioral improvement is sustained
Effects of WM training are specific: WM and its derived functions are improved
Training effects are pronounced in populations with a WM constraint, not diagnostically driven
Summary of research findings
Who can benefit? Anyone constrained by their working memory
1. Born with a deficit
2. Acquired a deficit through brain injury or disease
3. Developed a deficit through natural decline caused by age
Experiencing a bottleneck due to WM overload
Why Cogmed makes sense for Children / Adolescents
Used with students who struggle due to WM constraints – will improve
working memory substantially and lastingly
Parents and teachers report improvements with behaviour, social skills,
taking initiative, remembering instructions
Allows student to absorb information effectively
Results in better maths and reading comprehension performance
Acts as a primer for improved learning; building the platform for
learning
Why Cogmed makes sense for Adults
Used with adults who struggle due to WM constraints – will improve
working memory substantially and lastingly
Improved professional performance and attentional stamina
Improved focus and resisting distractions
Better able to plan activities and complete tasks
Results in improved ability to follow and contribute to complex
discussions
What do we hear?
Students say- They can concentrate better in class - They have a better flow with the school work- They remember better - They enjoy school more
Teachers say- The student is calmer- The student concentrates more- The student performs better on academic tasks- The student has matured
What do we hear?
-I am able to manage my life better-Able to return to work after a period of absence-I am able to manage my time better-I am more comfortable in Social settings
Adults say
Parents say- The child communicates better - The child takes more initiatives on her/his own- The child self-initiates home work without
nagging or reminders- The child is more independent
Cogmed Working Memory Training in the UK
The Licence for the UK
Cogmed Coach Training for 2, 4 or 6 staff* (1/2 day at a separate venue),
per year **dependant on package.
All three versions of the product – Cogmed JM, RM & QM.
Coach support:
Cogmed Training Web: start trainings and follow training results
Material to support the coach in coaching
Support to coaches (technical and coaching)
Annual licence for continuity
Reminders will be sent to customers to opt out or continue with
subscription
Additional training sessions can be purchased for an additional £150
Qualification level = CL3 for purchase; other staff may train as coaches
**For extra large packages please contact us
Pricing for a 1 year annual site license
Product Id’s Price Number of coaches
Small License 20 £400 (£20 per id)
2
Medium License 40 £600 (£15 per id)
4
Large License 60 £800 (£13.30 per id)
6
Extra large Unlimited Id’s
Additional staff training
£150
Contact
www.cogmed.uk.com
Customer Services – 0845 630 88 88
Cogmeduk
Cogmeduk
@Cogmeduk
Upcoming training days…
• 3rd May London• 14th June London
More dates to be announced soon.
Q & A
Thank you
14 studies published on Cogmed to date:Klingberg T, Forssberg H, Westerberg H (2002) Training of Working Memory in Children with ADHD. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 24(6): 781-791.
Olesen P, Westerberg H, Klingberg T (2004) Increased prefrontal and parietal brain activity after training of working memory. Nature Neuroscience, 7(1): 75-79.
Klingberg T, Fernell E, Olesen P, Johnson M, Gustafsson P, Dahlström K, Gillberg CG, Forssberg H, Westerberg H (2005) Computerized training of working memory in children with ADHD –a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(2): 177-186.
Westerberg H, Jacobaeus H, Hirvikoski T, Clevberger P, Ostensson ML, Bartfai A, Klingberg T (2007) Computerized working memory training after stroke - a pilot study. Brain Injury, 21(1): 21-29.
Westerberg H, Klingberg T (2007) Changes in cortical activity after training of working memory - a single-subject analysis. Physiology & Behavior, DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.05.041
Thorell L B, Lindqvist S, Bergman S, Bohlin G, Klingberg T (2009) Training and transfer effects of executive functions in preschool children. Developmental Science, 12(1): 106-113.
McNab F, Varrone A, Farde L, Jucaite A, Bystritsky P, Forssberg H, Klingberg T (2009) Changes in cortical dopamine D1 receptor binding associated with cognitive training. Science, 323: 800-802.
Holmes J, Gathercole S, Dunning D (2009) Adaptive training leads to sustained enhancement of poor working memory in children. Developmental Science, DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00848.x
Holmes J, Gathercole S, Place M, Dunning D, Hilton K, Elliott J (2009) Working memory deficits can be overcome: Impacts of training and medication on working memory in children with ADHD. Applied Cognitive Psychology, DOI: 10.1002/acp.1589.
Mezzacappa E, Buckner J (2010) Working Memory Training for Children with Attention Problems or Hyperactivity: A School-Based Pilot Study. School Mental Health, DOI: 10.1007/s12310-010-9030-9.
Lundqvist A, Grundström K, Samuelsson K, Rönnberg J (2010) Computerized training of working memory in a group of patients suffering from acquired brain injury. Brain Injury, 2010;24(10):1173-83.
Dahlin K. (2010) Effects of working memory training on reading in children with special needs. Reading and Writing, DOI: 10.1007/s11145-010-9238-y.
Beck S, Hanson C, Puffenberger S, Benninger K, Benninger W (2010) A Controlled Trial of Working Memory Training for Children and Adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2010: 39: 6, 825-836.
Løhaugen GC, Antonsen I, Håberg A, Gramstad A. Vik T, Brubakk AM, Skranes J (2010) Computerized Working Memory Training Improves Function in Adolescents Born at Extremely Low Birth Weight. Journal of Pediatrics, PMID: 21130467.
Further information about the research behind Cogmed: http://www.cogmed.com/research