CogniFit Computerized Cognitive Training in Primary School Students in Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Executive Function (Cognition)

Treatments: Behavioral: CogniFit Computerized Cognitive Training; Behavioral: Cogmed Computerized Cognitive Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06766149

EA240316

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to address these gaps by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of CogniFit training in children. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of CogniFit training on executive functions among primary school students in Hong Kong.

Specific objectives include:

1. To assess the effectiveness of CogniFit training on improving executive functions, such as working memory, attention, and inhibitory control in children compared to a waitlist control group.
2. To assess the effectiveness of CogniFit training on improving executive functions, such as working memory, attention, and inhibitory control in children compared to an active control group that will receive Cogmed training.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) the CogniFit training group; 2) the Cogmed Group, and 3) the wailist controlled group.

Participants in the two computerized cognitive training groups (CogniFit/Cogmed Group) will receive training in the first phase of intervention, while the waitlist control group will CogniFit trainings in the second phase of intervention.

Participants who receive the computerized cognitive training will complete 24 sessions of training, 15-20 minutes each, conducted three times per week spanning 8 weeks. These programs comprise a range of game-like exercises targeting various cognitive skills, including working memory, attention, and inhibitory control, with automatic level advancement after each exercise.

To investigate the intervention effectiveness, children will be asked to complete a set of cognitive tests covering inhibitory control, attention, and working memory prior to the intervention (i.e., Time 1), immediately after the 8-week training (i.e., Time 2), and 2 months after the training (i.e., Time 3, a 2-month follow up). The assessment will take around 1 hour and it will be conducted at participants' schools. Also, parents will be asked to complete a questionnaire assessing children's behaviours at home and schools at 3 time points.

Enrollment: 180 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 6- 12
• Studying in Grade 1 to 6 in mainstream primary schools in Hong Kong

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to answer the first five questions in Raven's Progressive Matrices
• Hearing, visual, or physical impairments that might hinder participation in the training and assessment activities
• Current participation in a computerized cognitive treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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180 participants in 3 patient groups

CogniFit Group

Experimental group

Description:

The CogniFit training group will receive 24 sessions of training, 35 - 40 minutes each, conducted three times per week over a period of 8 weeks. Participants will be asked to complete a set of computerized tasks using CogniFit, a digital training programme which is proven to enhance cognitive ability of participants.

Treatment:

Behavioral: CogniFit Computerized Cognitive Training

Cogmed Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The Cogmed training group will receive 24 sessions of training, 35 - 40 minutes each, conducted three times per week over a period of 8 weeks. Participants will be asked to complete a set of computerized tasks using Cogmed, a digital training programme which is proven to enhance working memory and attentional control of participants.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cogmed Computerized Cognitive Training

Waitlist Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

The waitlist control group will not receive any intervention until the intervention arms complete their training. After completion of the assessment at Timepoint 3, Computerized Cognitive Training will be offered to this group.