Behavioral and Neural Target Engagement for ADHD Executive Working Memory Training
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- ADHD
- Sponsor
- Hartford Hospital
- Enrollment
- 62
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- The experimental executive working memory training tasks
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study will assess whether or not a novel executive working memory training intervention for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder can engage frontoparietal brain network treatment targets and behavioral performance.
Detailed Description
This proposal seeks support for a 2-year milestone-driven R61 initial test of target engagement in n=62 ADHD diagnosed adolescents randomized to a 'sham training' placebo or to train 4 times each week using 4 different EWM exercises that have been combined into the format of a typical cognitive training intervention. Exercise difficulty levels in the active intervention will increase across 5 weeks to continually challenge EWM ability. EWM training will use a novel, remotely-supervised 'at home' computerized training approach. If R61 EWM training target engagement milestones are met, a 3-year R33 phase will begin. The R33 will replicate target engagement in another randomized placebo-controlled trial of n=90 new ADHD adolescents and attempt to establish a convincing link between the hypothesized targets and ADHD symptom expression. It also will characterize ADHD brain activity or EWM ability changes relative to typical levels seen in an n=40 non-ADHD control group.
Investigators
Michael Stevens
Senior Research Scientist
Hartford Hospital
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Diagnosis of ADHD
- •English speaking
- •Right-handed
- •\>5th grade reading level
- •\>80 IQ level
Exclusion Criteria
- •Braces, metal or implant devices
- •Brain abnormality, neurological disorder
- •TBI or loss of consciousness\>30 minutes
- •Diagnosis of Psychosis, Bipolar Disorder, ASD, PTSD, OCD, SUD, Tourette's Disorder
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
The experimental executive working memory training tasks
Time Frame: Change in scores from baseline assessment versus 5 weeks at the conclusion of training
Will examine changes in performance accuracy on the 4 executive working memory training tasks. These are experimental, non-published tasks being tested in this project for the first time.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Functional Brain Scan using a Seimens 3T Skyra.
Time Frame: Change in fMRI measurements from baseline assessment versus 5 weeks at the conclusion of training
fMRI measures of brain activation and functional connectivity - Conventional measures of 'brain activation' are estimated using GLM regression models that fit the fMRI BOLD timeseries data to a model of expected hemodynamic change as elicited by fMRI versions of the executive working memory training task trials. Functional connectivity is assessed using a form of cross-correlation analysis that quantifies how much the entire BOLD timeseries in different brain regions are similar to one another. Our a priori treatment target brain regions are the superior frontal sulcus and mid-lateral prefrontal cortex region of interest. Brain activity and functional connectivity specifically to these regions represent the primary outcome measures of the study.