Does Computerized Working Memory Training with Game Elements Enhance Motivation and Training Efficacy in Children with ADHD?

Abstract

This study examined the benefits of adding game elements to standard computerized working memory (WM) training. Specifically, it examined whether game elements would enhance motivation and training performance of children with ADHD, and whether it would improve training efficacy. A total of 51 children with ADHD aged between 7 and 12 years were randomly assigned to WM training in a gaming format or to regular WM training that was not in a gaming format. Both groups completed three weekly sessions of WM training. Children using the game version of the WM training showed greater motivation (i.e., more time training), better training performance (i.e., more sequences reproduced and fewer errors), and better WM (i.e., higher scores on a WM task) at post-training than children using the regular WM training. Results are discussed in terms of executive functions and reinforcement models of ADHD. It is concluded that WM training with game elements significantly improves the motivation, training performance, and working memory of children with ADHD. The findings of this study are encouraging and may have wide-reaching practical implications in terms of the role of game elements in the design and implementation of new intervention efforts for children with ADHD.

Cognitive training as a resolution for early executive function difficulties in children with intellectual disabilities

“…The potential benefits of computerised platforms within the area of cognitive training is further highlighted by a recent comparison of CWMT versus an alternative game based WM training program (Prins, Dovis, Ponsioen, ten Brink & van der Oord, 2011). A total of 51 children with ADHD (7 to 12 years) were randomly assigned to CWMT or a game based WM training program that incorporated clear goals and objectives within an overarching storyline.…”

Executive function training with game elements for obese children: A novel treatment to enhance self-regulatory abilities for weight-control

“…Executive function training. The intervention is a training of cognitive EF, embedded in a game-world (Prins, et al, 2011;Van der Oord et al, submitted). The game is called 'Braingame Brian', named after the main character of the game "Brian".…”

“…Adding game elements to a potentially boring task may enhance the intrinsic motivation because their addition makes the task more interesting and engaging (Dovis, Van der Oord, Wiers, & Prins, 2011).Moreover, also extrinsic reinforcement contingencies have a positive impact on the task performance and motivation of all children, but this is more pronounced in children with disturbed sensitivity to rewards (Dovis et al, 2011;Haenlein & Caul, 1987;Luman, Oosterlaan, & Sergeant, 2005). Disturbed sensitivity to rewards is also found in children with obesity.…”

“…Parents, teachers and clinicians have reported that children with ADHD, when playing a computer game, can sustain attention, concentrate for longer periods of time and behave less impulsively (Barkley, 2006). Studies also show enhanced cognitive performance on EF-tasks when gaming elements are added to these tasks (Dovis et al, 2011;Prins, Dovis, Ponsioen, Ten Brink & Van der Oord, 2011). In the current study, we use executive functioning training to which game-elements are added, in order to optimize children's motivational state and potentially optimize their cognitive performance during training.…”

Improving the Efficacy of Cognitive Training for Digital Mental Health Interventions Through Avatar Customization: Crowdsourced Quasi-Experimental Study (Preprint)

“…For example, Go/No-Go tasks require participants to inhibit responses under changing conditions (e.g., in a fast-paced task, press 'L' when a red box appears, but inhibit pressing L when a green box appears). Go-No-Go paradigms have been applied to the training of executive function [33], and research suggests that the paradigm can improve hyperactivity symptoms for children with ADHD [34] and reduce undesirable food intake when applied in the context of eating behaviour [35].…”