Training of Executive Functions Through the APP "The Apollo & Rosetta Adventures"
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 35
- 试验地点
- 3
- 主要终点
- Executive Function and Attention tasks
研究概览
简要总结
ADHD is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, with a strong impact on general functioning and in daily life. Executive Functions play an important role on this disorder, and numerous treatments have been developed over the years to try to contain its symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate whether the use of a video game, "The incredible adventures of Apollo and Rosetta", could enhance Fxecutive Functions and improve the impact of symptoms in children with ADHD. A longitudinal study was carried out with 35 subjects aged 8 to 11 years. They were assessed twice, at the beginning and after three months. 17 subjects were assigned to the experimental group, which downloaded and used the application systematically. 18 participants, on the other hand, were assigned to the wait-and-see condition, as a control group. Participants were administered four tests, while in contemporary, parents filled out two self-report questionnaires. A mixed between and within ANOVA was used to analyze the data. The results, although not showing significantly impactful effects, are promising and move in the direction of the research hypothesis. In fact, systematic use of this application appears to play a role in increasing executive functions and seems to act as a protective factor against any worsening.
详细描述
Introduction Executive Functions represent a series of coordinated and higher-order processes to allow the child to develop adequate self-regulation of behavior in order to implement adaptive behaviors. Executive deficits represent the most critical area in the 5-10 age group precisely because the development deficit of the prefrontal regions prevents the acquisition of skills which are then fundamental throughout the development to young adulthood.
The enhancement of Executive Functions for many children with atypical development is necessary to reduce subsequent developmental risks. Among the various training proposals, those that involve cognitive and motor processes are those that have shown the greatest benefits; it is also important that the child is motivated and experiences pleasure in carrying out these activities.
The use of APPs on tablets and computer games allows children to increase their motivation to play, eliciting the pleasure of doing fun exercises. The motivation to carry out the task allows the child to spend more time carrying out training to enhance Executive Functions and determines an improvement in cognitive skills.
The research group of the University of Feevale (Brazil) coordinated by Prof. Debora Nice Ferrari Barbosa has also created a new APP that stimulates Executive Functions in children, as demonstrated by their recent study on typical development. The video game is called "The adventures of Apollo and Rosetta" in which two characters face various missions in space in which they must avoid dangers or hit threatening objects according to the rules that are made explicit. The child must learn to remember rules, targets (working memory), stop automatic responses and manage distractions (inhibition) or change behavior patterns (flexibility).
The aim of the study is to verify whether the application of training via APP allows children with ADHD to improve performance in their Executive Functions and whether these improvements are generalized by reducing the symptoms of inattention and impulsivity.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Single (Investigator)
盲法说明
Collaborators of the investigator are blind about the two groups (trained vs not-trained) when administering the tasks before and after the training
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 8 Years 至 13 Years（Child）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Diagnosis of ADHD
排除标准
- •Other neurodevelopmental disorder
结局指标
主要结局
Executive Function and Attention tasks
时间窗: 12 months
To verify the effectiveness of the intervention, neuropsychological measures are collected, before and after the training. 1. the number of correct responses at Ranette test of the BIA-R (Marzocchi et al, 2021) to evaluate the response inhibition capacity (administration in paper format); 2. the decreased number of commission errors and the Reaction Time of correct responses at Horn Test (Marzocchi et al, 2013) to evaluate response inhibition and flexibility ; 3. the number of correct responses at Nepsy-II inhibition test (Korkman et al, 2007) to evaluate flexibility (administration in paper format); 4. the number of correct responses at CO-TT test by Marsura et al (2020) to evaluate the updating component of Working Memory.
次要结局
未报告次要终点
研究者
Gian Marco Marzocchi
Associate Professor
University of Milano Bicocca