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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
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Working memory training in autism: Near and far transfer
Safae Sedjari1, Mohammed El-Mir2, Zouhayr Souirti3
1Department of Psychology, Faculty of letters and human sciences Dhar El Mahraz, university Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fes, Morocco.
La Tunisie Medicale
|March 13, 2024
Summary
Working memory (WM) training significantly improved executive functions and reduced autism symptoms in young individuals. Age did not affect the positive outcomes of this intervention, suggesting its broad applicability.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Executive function deficits (EFs) are central to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Working memory (WM) is a key component of executive functioning, and its deficits are prominent in ASD.
- WM training offers a potential therapeutic avenue for improving EFs and core ASD symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of WM training on WM, cognitive flexibility, and planning in autistic individuals.
- To assess the impact of WM training on clinical symptoms of autism.
- To determine if age influences the effectiveness of WM training for remediation.
Main Methods:
- A single-group study involving 20 verbal autistic participants aged 6-21 years.
- Participants underwent 40 sessions of Cogmed WM training.
- Neuropsychological tests and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) were used for pre- and post-intervention assessments.
Main Results:
- 17 participants completed the training, showing significant improvements in WM, cognitive flexibility, and planning.
- WM training led to a significant reduction in clinical autism symptoms.
- ANOVA revealed no significant correlation between age and the intervention's effects.
Conclusions:
- WM training demonstrates a positive impact on executive functions in individuals with autism.
- This training is an effective therapeutic approach for managing core symptoms of ASD.
- WM training can be a valuable addition to the comprehensive management of autism.
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