1. Cogmed
Dyslexia Action Summer Conference
28th June 2012
Shelley Hughes
Pearson Assessment

2. Agenda
1. Introduction
2. The Context of Cogmed
3. Cogmed Working Memory Training – a
solution
4. Research and Training effects
5. How to access Cogmed

3. The Context of Cogmed

4. What is working memory?
Working memory is the ability to
keep information in your mind
for a short period of time
(seconds)
and
be able to use this information
in your thinking
Key feature: It has a limited capacity that varies greatly
between individuals

5. A Model of Working Memory
Central Executive
Visuo-spatial
Sketchpad Phonological Loop
Baddeley & Hitch (1974)

6. Working memory is key for academic
performance
Working memory refers to a brain system that provides temporary storage
and manipulation of the information necessary for such complex cognitive
tasks as language comprehension, learning and reasoning.
(Baddeley, 1992)
Associated with reading (Gathercole & Pickering, 2000) and mathematic
(Geary et al., 2004) ability
10-15% of all students have working memory deficits
(Alloway et al., 2009)
Children with poor working memory make poor academic progress
•Of 300 children with poor working memory (Gathercole & Alloway, 2008):
o 83% scored poorly on either reading or maths tests
the vast majority of these scored poorly in both areas

7. When do we use working memory?

8. The Development of Working Memory
8
7
6
Working memory
arbetsminne
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
ålder
Age

9. The Development of Working Memory
in ADHD
Control
Working Memory
ADHD
95
85
75
65
Correct
55
45
35
25
15
5
7,5 8,5 9,5 10,5 11,5 12,5 13,5 14,5 15,5
Age
Westerberg et al. (2004), Visuo-spatial working memory:
a sensitive measurement of cognitive deficits in ADHD.
Child Neuropsychology 10 (3) 155-61.

10. Working Memory problems are
seen in:
Learning difficulties Genetic disorders
Dyslexia (Pickering) Down syndrome (Jarrold et al 1999)
Reading difficulties (Cain et al 2004) William syndrome (Jarrold et al 2001)
SLI (Ellis Weismer et al 1999)
Maths difficulties (Geary et al 2004) Brain Injury
Paediatric (Levin et al 2002)
Behavioural disorders Adult (Park 2001)
ADHD (Martinussen et al 2005)
Heart problems and disease
Hypertension (Raz et al 2003)
Stroke (Robertson et al 2007)

11. Signs of working memory constraints
 Is easily distracted when doing something not highly interesting
 Has trouble waiting his/her turn
 Struggles with reading comprehension
 Struggles doing maths calculations in his/her head
 Struggles with getting started
 Struggles with completing a task
 Difficulties when planning and organising something with multiple
steps
 Often seems restless and on the go
 Loses belongings frequently

12. Cogmed Working Memory Training – A Solution

13. Historical Context
Combines Neuroscience, Game Development
and Psychology
Founded in 2001 by brain researchers at the
Karolinska Institute
2002 – first research publication
2003 – first paying customers in Sweden
2006 – First available in the UK
2007 – Officially available in the US and worldwide
2009 – First UK research publications
2010 – Become part of Pearson
Worldwide over 200 practices
Over 30 Countries
In Sweden around 800 schools

14. Cogmed in Brief
Cogmed Working Memory Training is a program that helps children
and adults with attention problems focus better: improving WM
Five days a week for five weeks of computer-based training sessions;
supervised by a coach, trained by Cogmed
80% of Cogmed users see improvements – both in research and in
clinical evaluations
Backed by peer-review published research
The effects are substantial and lasting
Cogmed training works because it is focused, rigorous, and
supported

15. The Cogmed method for improving working
memory
The Training Programmes
 Cogmed RM
 Cogmed QM
 Cogmed JM
Cogmed Coach Training
Coach support
 Cogmed Training Web: start trainings and follow training
results
 Material to support the coach in coaching
 Support to coaches (technical and related to coaching)

16. How do you train your working memory with
Cogmed?
 Intense training
 25 training sessions
 30-45 min per session
 No settings needed
The difficulty level will automatically adjust based
on the performance of the users, so that they will
always train on the limits of their working memory
capacity

17. Three versions of the software
Cogmed JM Cogmed RM Cogmed QM
Pre-school children School-age children Adolescents and
adults
All three versions of the Cogmed software share the same
underlying design – the difference is in the user interface

18. The Cogmed Training Web
An online tool for the Cogmed Coach to follow and analyse trainings
Is the user training at
his/her optimal level?
Where did the user miss trials?
What time of the
day did the training
take place? How
often is the user
taking breaks?

19. The Programs
Internet based
http://www.training.cogmed.com/
Login: test
Password: test99 or test44
NB: currently not supported on iPads

20. Research and Training effects

21. Improvements from Cogmed Working
Memory Training
Double-blind placebo-controlled studies published in peer-
reviewed journals, show that Cogmed training improves:
 Attention
 Impulse control
 Mathematics
 Following instructions
23 studies published on Cogmed to date, both by the
Cogmed founders but also by fully independent research
teams. More than 50 ongoing and 40 planned studies.

22. Summary Of Research Findings
WM is key to attention and learning
WM can be improved by training, using right tool and protocol: Cogmed
WM can be improved by training in all age ranges
Training-related improvement can be shown on three levels of assessment: fMRI/PET,
neuropsychological testing and rating scales
Improved WM generalizes to improvements in daily functioning
Improvements in WM and behavioural outcomes are sustained at 6 months post training
Effects of WM training are specific: WM and its derived functions are improved, but there
is no across-the-board-improvement
Training effects have substantial real world impact on individuals impaired by their WM
capacity

23. Research
Cogmed is the most widely used working
memory training program in research.
To learn more about the research behind
Cogmed: www.cogmed.com/research
References available
Cogmed Coach Training UK 2012

24. Who can benefit?
Anyone constrained by their working
memory
1. Born with a deficit
2. Acquired a deficit through
brain injury or disease
3. Developed a deficit
through natural decline
caused by age
Experiencing a bottleneck due to WM
overload

25. Why Cogmed makes sense for Children /
Adolescents
 Used with students who struggle due to WM constraints – will
improve working memory substantially and lastingly
 Parents and teachers report improvements with behaviour, social
skills, taking initiative, remembering instructions
 Allows student to absorb information effectively
 Results in better maths and reading comprehension performance
 Acts as a primer for improved learning; building the platform for
learning

26. Why Cogmed makes sense for Adults
 Used with adults who struggle due to WM constraints – will
improve working memory substantially and lastingly
 Improved professional performance and attentional
stamina
 Improved focus and resisting distractions
 Better able to plan activities and complete tasks
 Results in improved ability to follow and contribute to
complex discussions

27. What do we hear?
- They can concentrate better in class Students say
- They have a better flow with the school work
- They remember better
- They enjoy school more
- The student is calmer
Teachers say - The student concentrates more
- The student performs better on academic tasks
- The student has matured

28. What do we hear?
- The child communicates better
Parents say - The child takes more initiatives on her/his own
- The child self-initiates home work without
nagging or reminders
- The child is more independent
-I am able to manage my life better Adults say
-Able to return to work after a period of absence
-I am able to manage my time better
-I am more comfortable in Social settings

29. How to Access Cogmed

30. Cogmed in the UK
Product Maximum 2012 Price Number of
Number of Coaches
IDs per
organisation /
account
Cogmed Small 20 £400 2
Subscription
Cogmed 40 £600 4
Medium
Subscription
Cogmed Large 60 £800 6
Subscription
Additional Staff £150
Training

31. What does your licence include?
 Annual subscription (opt out at any point)
 Coach training for the number of coaches according to your
subscription level
– ½ day at centralised location
– Attend any time in subscription year
 Access to training web – a unique view of the user’s
progress
 Coach support
 Material to support the coach

32. Contact
www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/cogmed
Trial access to the programs
Research links
Webinars
Training dates
Cogmed Conference – 9th October 2012
Email: info@pearsonclinical.co.uk
Tel: 0845 630 8888

34. Thank you!
Q&A