Clinical trial NCT06766149: CogniFit Computerized Cognitive Training in Primary School Students in Hong Kong
Official title: The Effects of Computerized Cognitive Training on Executive Function in Children in Hong Kong
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Executive Function (Cognition)
Keywords: executive function
children
computerized cognitive training
working memory
cognitive function
Lead sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Edge Development Centre
First posted: 2025-01-09
Enrollment: 180
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 6
Maximum age (years): 12
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: 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.


Eligibility criteria: 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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Executive Functiong - Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition (CPT 3)
timeFrame: Pre-intervention Assessment (within 4 weeks before the commencement of the intervention)
measure: Executive Functiong - Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition (CPT 3)
timeFrame: Immediate Post-intervention Assessment (within 4 weeks after the completion of the intervention)
measure: Executive Functiong - Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition (CPT 3)
timeFrame: Delayed Post-intervention Assessment (a 2-month follow up after the completion of the intervention)
measure: Executive Function - Number subtest of Children's Memory Scale (CMS)
timeFrame: Pre-intervention Assessment (within 4 weeks before the commencement of the intervention)
measure: Executive Function - Number subtest of Children's Memory Scale (CMS)
timeFrame: Immediate Post-intervention Assessment (within 4 weeks after the completion of the intervention)
measure: Executive Function - Number subtest of Children's Memory Scale (CMS)
timeFrame: Delayed Post-intervention Assessment (a 2-month follow up after the completion of the intervention)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Behavioural ratings on children's executive functions
timeFrame: Pre-intervention Assessment (within 4 weeks before the commencement of the intervention)
measure: Behavioural ratings on children's executive functions
timeFrame: Immediate Post-intervention Assessment (within 4 weeks after the completion of the intervention)
measure: Behavioural ratings on children's executive functions
timeFrame: Delayed Post-intervention Assessment (a 2-month follow up after the completion of the intervention)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hong Kong
country: Hong Kong
facility: The University of Hong Kong
Study officials:
References: