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

info@pearsonclinical.co.uk

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