Maintenance effects of working memory intervention (Cogmed) in children with symptomatic epilepsy

- Assessed 3-month maintenance effects of Cogmed in children with epilepsy.
- Gains in attention and working memory were sustained at 3-month follow-up.
- Provides support for the sustainability of near-transfer effects following Cogmed.

PurposeTo extend previous research documenting the benefits of working memory (WM) intervention (Cogmed) immediately post-intervention in children with epilepsy by assessing the 3-month maintenance effects.MethodsParticipants involved in a previous randomized clinical trial (RCT) were invited to participate if they completed Cogmed within the last 3 months (n = 15) and additional participants (n = 13) were prospectively recruited. Standardized assessments of near-transfer effects (i.e., visual and auditory attention and WM) were completed prior to and immediately after intervention and at 3-month follow-up. An additional measure assessing the far-transfer effect of fluid reasoning was administered prior to intervention and at 3-month follow-up.ResultsParticipants exhibited gains in auditory and visual attention and WM immediately following intervention and gains were generally sustained at 3-month follow-up. Intervention did not improve visual-verbal WM or fluid reasoning. The clinical variables studied (i.e., age of seizure onset, seizure frequency, epilepsy duration, and overall intellectual functioning) did not elucidate reliable relationships with intervention.ConclusionsWorking memory training is possibly efficacious in improving related skills which are maintained for 3 months in children with active epilepsy. No transfer to fluid reasoning was documented. Further investigation by means of a large-scale RCT which includes a placebo and both objective and subjective measures of the impact of training on daily functioning is warranted.