Predictors of cognitive control processing increments in preschoolers from poor homes after cognitive training interventions

SEGRETIN, MARIA SOLEDAD; LIPINA, SEBASTIAN J.; BENAROS, MARÍA SOL; HERMIDA, MARÍA JULIA; COLOMBO, JORGE A.

San Francisco (USA)

Congreso; Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society; 2008

Cognitive Neuroscience Society

Previous studies showed negative impact of poverty (UBN method) on executive performance in healthy preschoolers. Two (T1, T2) multimodular cognitive training interventions [T1: N= 237; T2 N=382) were applied in two new cohorts (3-5 years). Intervention Groups received individual (T1, T2) or group (T2) weekly sessions of training in tasks demanding inhibitory control, working memory, planning, and flexibility processing (Module 1). Three schemes were applied: 16, 25 or 32 sessions. Control Groups were involved in tasks with non-executive demands (same schemes). Both groups received iron and acid folic supplementation (Module 2). Teachers (Module 3) and parents (Module 4) received training and/or counselling, respectively. Intervention Groups significantly enhanced performance on trained and new tasks (Colombo and Lipina, 2005; Martelli et al., 2007; Segretin et al., 2007). In order to identify the role of independent variables on performance increments, Multinomial Regression Analyses were applied. Higher baseline ages predicted performance increments in verbal working memory (T1: rr=2.36, p=0.01, IC95%=1.19/4.66); spatial working memory (T2: rr=2.88, p