Adaptive Training of Working Memory

Research Question #4

The finding that only one of the two components of working memory is impaired in ADHD also has important implications for treatment because it suggests that such treatments should pinpoint the impaired mechanism as opposed to the intact mechanism. Accordingly, we have been involved in developing interventions for ADHD that can pinpoint this mechanism; and, we have been particularly interested in developing cognitive-based interventions involving adaptive working memory training. Working memory training interventions for ADHD have been proliferating because there is evidence that these interventions can be just as effective as medical treatments such as stimulant medication. However, we have recently published a study which shows that working memory training interventions tend to target the intact component of working memory, not the impaired component (Gibson, Gondoli, Johnson, Steeger, Dobrzenski, & Morrissey, in press), suggesting that the observed benefits of existing training interventions operate via compensatory pathways, not directly on the impaired aspect of working memory. Hence, there is great potential to increase the efficacy of these treatments by modifying the exercises so that they target the impaired component as opposed to the intact component of working memory. We have developed such an intervention in collaboration with Cogmed, Inc. - one of the leading companies in the area of working memory interventions; and, we have begun testing the efficacy of this intervention.