NCT07147894

Executive Function Training for Children and Adolescents

Understanding Mediating and Moderating Factors That Determine Transfer of Working Memory Training in Adolescents

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 780 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Northeastern University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate how different approaches to executive function (like adding game-like features, varying the number of tasks, and providing coaching) can enhance executive function outcomes in adolescents with and without ADHD. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What components of executive function training contribute most to improving outcomes? * How do training components vary in their impacts on adolescents diagnosed with ADHD compared to those without a diagnosis? * What individual characteristics influence the effectiveness of executive function training? Researchers will test six different training setups to examine which setups are the most effective for different people. They will evaluate both how well participants follow the training schedule and whether there are changes in psychological and cognitive outcomes after training. Participants will complete: * 40 training sessions over 4 weeks * A set of tests and surveys before and after the training * Follow-up assessments and surveys 6 months after finishing the training

Conditions

• Cognitive Change

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Nongamified N-back training	This Single Task Training is an adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
BEHAVIORAL	Gamified N-back training	Participants train on a gamified version of the N-back task, specifically, players control an astronaut that collects resources (target stimuli) needed to feed a colony and keep the technology working, while avoiding non-targets and other obstacles.
BEHAVIORAL	Multiple Domain Training	Participants train on a gamified versions of the N-back task, Complex span, Set-shifting and Inhibitory control task.
BEHAVIORAL	Nongamified N-back training	This Single Task Training trains a visual, adaptive N-back task in which participants respond to colors and/or shapes.
BEHAVIORAL	Coaching Session	Participants in coaching conditions receive weekly, motivational coaching sessions via videoconference to (i) provide encouragement taking into account individual training performance and self-reported engagement (strength-based feedback), (ii) set realistic goals for training (time management, scheduling, and session completion plan, performance goals) while emphasizing autonomy and choice, and (iii) re-explain task and provide corrective feedback as needed.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-14
• Primary completion: 2028-06-30
• Completion: 2028-06-30
• First posted: 2025-08-29
• Last updated: 2025-12-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States