Target ADHD Executive Working Memory Replication Study

BEHAVIORAL

EWM Training

Training tasks will target Executive Working Memory areas of the brain. Task difficulty will be adaptively increased across the 5 weeks of training based on session-to-session performance.

BEHAVIORAL

Placebo Training

Computerized tasks with comparable engagement that do not tap executive working memory processes

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Functional Brain Scan using a Seimens 3T Skyra.

Time frame: Change in fMRI measurements from baseline assessment versus 5 weeks at the conclusion of training

fMRI measures of brain activation and functional connectivity - Conventional measures of 'brain activation' are estimated using GLM regression models that fit the fMRI BOLD timeseries data to a model of expected hemodynamic change as elicited by fMRI versions of the executive working memory training task trials. Functional connectivity is assessed using a form of cross-correlation analysis that quantifies how much the entire BOLD timeseries in different brain regions are similar to one another. Our a priori treatment target brain regions are the superior frontal sulcus and mid-lateral prefrontal cortex region of interest. Brain activity and functional connectivity specifically to these regions represent the primary outcome measures of the study.

Experimental executive working memory training tasks - Reaction Time

Time frame: Change in scores from baseline assessment versus 5 weeks at the conclusion of training

Reaction time (RT) from training tasks of executive working memory. These are experimental, non-published tasks that were tested in this project for the first time in Phase I: Updating (removal then replacement of stimuli by new information to be maintained in working memory), Shifting (refocusing selective attention on different stimuli held concurrent in working memory without altering contents), distractor Filtering (inhibiting irrelevant information) and Suppression (resolution of proactive interference from initial stimuli to be able to respond optimally to control trials). Trial structure and duration are similar across these tasks. The tasks record RT in milliseconds. Data from active experimental conditions will be log-transformed prior to statistical testing.

Experimental executive working memory training tasks - Performance Accuracy

Time frame: Change in scores from baseline assessment versus 5 weeks at the conclusion of training

Accuracy (defined as percentage of correct answers from the pool of available items) from training tasks of executive working memory. These are experimental, non-published tasks that were tested in this project for the first time in Phase I: Updating (removal then replacement of stimuli by new information to be maintained in working memory), Shifting (refocusing selective attention on different stimuli held concurrent in working memory without altering contents), distractor Filtering (inhibiting irrelevant information) and Suppression (resolution of proactive interference from initial stimuli to be able to respond optimally to control trials). Trial structure and duration are similar across these tasks. Data from active experimental conditions will be arcsine-transformed prior to statistical testing.

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Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?

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