Transdiagnostic Dimensional Profiling of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Using a Digital Platform to Assess Domain-General and Domain Specific Cognitive Functions
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 尚未招募
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 300
- 主要终点
- READING DECODING
研究概览
简要总结
In recent years, the growing awareness of the multifactorial nature of neurodevelopmental disorders has stimulated interest in transdiagnostic approaches aimed at investigating underlying etiological mechanisms beyond traditional diagnostic categories. In this context, the present study seeks to provide a transdiagnostic profiling of both domain-general cognitive functions (attention, working memory, executive control) and domain-specific functions (phonological awareness, rapid naming, vocabulary, reading) underlying the main neurodevelopmental disorders in a large sample of preschool and school-age children (3-11 years), through the use of CRAB (Computerized Reading-related Assessment Battery). CRAB is a digital platform specifically developed by SUPSI and the Université de Genève to integrate, within a single testing environment, the assessment of the main domain-general and domain-specific cognitive functions underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, participating families will receive an email containing a link to access the CRAB platform, which will not include their personal data but rather a code provided by the staff of IRCCS Medea. A screen will open displaying several game-like tasks designed to measure both domain-general and domain-specific cognitive functions, which must be completed by the participating subject. The main objective is to obtain a fine-grained and multidimensional mapping of cognitive profiles prior to the standard diagnostic process, in order to identify early patterns of (a)typical or at-risk functioning.
详细描述
Background:In recent years, the growing awareness of the multifactorial nature of neurodevelopmental disorders has stimulated interest in transdiagnostic approaches aimed at investigating underlying etiological mechanisms beyond traditional diagnostic categories. Dimensional models proposed within cognitive psychology and developmental neuroscience suggest that the difficulties underlying different neurodevelopmental disorders arise from the interaction of multiple cognitive, linguistic, and executive factors, rather than from isolated deficits. However, in clinical and educational practice, the assessment of these functions often remains fragmented, heterogeneous, and dependent on clinical judgment.
Within this context, the present study aims to provide a transdiagnostic profiling of a large sample of preschool and school-age children (3-11 years) through CRAB (Computerized Reading-related Assessment Battery). CRAB is a digital platform developed by the Université de Genève and SUPSI, specifically designed to integrate within a single testing environment the main domain-general cognitive functions (attention, working memory, executive control) and domain-specific functions (phonological awareness, rapid naming, vocabulary, reading) underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. The main objective is to obtain a fine-grained and multidimensional mapping of cognitive profiles prior to the standard diagnostic process, in order to identify early patterns of (a)typical or at-risk functioning.
The digital nature of CRAB allows for standardized, ecologically valid, and scalable administration, reducing barriers related to the availability of expert evaluators and the logistical limitations of traditional assessments. Moreover, the platform incorporates elements of gamification and a structured onboarding process to ensure engagement and task comprehension even among younger children-an aspect that is crucial for the quality of the collected data.
Adopting a transdiagnostic approach makes it possible to overcome the rigidity of categorical labels, promoting a dimensional and continuous view of the cognitive functions involved in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. This perspective aligns with the most recent international frameworks (such as RDoC - Research Domain Criteria), which propose investigating neurodevelopmental disorders along shared functional dimensions. The data collected through CRAB will make it possible to explore interindividual variability in cognitive developmental trajectories and to identify profiles of strengths and weaknesses that cut across different clinical conditions or performance levels.
Primary objective: The primary objective of this project is to obtain a fine-grained and multidimensional profiling of domain-general and domain-specific cognitive functions underlying the main neurodevelopmental disorders, prior to the standard diagnostic process. Data collected through the CRAB platform will be analyzed in association with the clinical diagnosis issued at the end of the standard diagnostic pathway, in order to characterize cognitive profiles and transdiagnostic patterns of functioning.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Observational
- 观察模型
- Case Only
- 时间视角
- Prospective
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 3 Years 至 11 Years（Child）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Age between 3 and 11 years;
- •First access to the NPIA service at IRCCS Eugenio Medea (Bosisio Parini);
- •Suspected neurodevelopmental or psychopathological disorder;
- •Completion of the standard clinical diagnostic pathway;
- •Availability of a compatible device (tablet or computer) for remote administration, if applicable.
排除标准
- •Age outside the specified range;
- •Failure to complete the diagnostic pathway;
- •Lack of access to a compatible device (for remote administration);
- •Severe sensory impairments (uncorrected blindness or deafness);
- •Motor impairments preventing use of digital devices;
- •Significant lack of understanding of the Italian language affecting task comprehension.
研究组 & 干预措施
NDD
Subjects with a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorder.
干预措施: Neuropsychological assessment (Diagnostic Test)
结局指标
主要结局
READING DECODING
时间窗: 6 months
the ability to read single words (pseudowords) fluently and accurately as ad hoc developed within CRAB;
RECEPTIVE VOCABULARY
时间窗: 6 MONTHS
the ability to select the picture that corresponds to a verbally presented target word (accuracy) as ad hoc developed within CRAB
PHONEME DELETION
时间窗: 6 MONTHS
the ability to repeat a (pseudo)word after cutting its first phoneme (accuracy) as ad hoc developed within CRAB
VISUAL ORTHOGRAPHIC
时间窗: 6 MONTHS
the ability to visually process both orthographic (letter-based) and non-orthographic (symbol-based) stimuli (accuracy) as ad hoc developed within CRAB
Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) - Color
时间窗: 6 MONTHS
the ability to access lexical information from visual targets (time and accuracy) as ad hoc developed within CRAB;
BARRAGE
时间窗: 6 MONTHS
visuo-spatial attention and search strategies by asking children to identify targets among distractors (accuracy) as ad hoc developed within CRAB
CORSI
时间窗: 6 MONTHS
visuo-spatial working memory by asking children to recall sequences of illuminated bloks in a 3D space (accuracy) as ad hoc developed within CRAB
Multiple Objects Tracking - MOT
时间窗: 6 MONTHS
sustained attention and working memory updating by asking children to follow moving target among distractors (accuracy) as ad hoc developed within CRAB.
次要结局
- identification of transdiagnostic cognitive clusters(6 months)