Cognitive Control and Metacognition Training
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Cognitive Control Training + Metacognition Coaching.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder. Basic parameters: 8 years — 11 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Developing Cognitive Control and Metacognition to Reduce the Functional Impact of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Autism
Overview
95 autistic children (ages 8-11yrs) will be randomly assigned to a novel computer-based Cognitive Control Training combined with Metacognition Coaching or to a comparison group that receives the intervention after a delay. Before and after intervention, electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to examine engagement of the target neural responses.
Detailed description
Effective interventions to reduce the functional impact of core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in school-aged children are critically needed. This study will test whether in-person computer training delivered individually by a coach engages an electroencephalographic (EEG) biomarker of cognitive control (N2 event-related potential \[ERP\] amplitude). Developing more effective cognitive control, metacognition, and working memory is predicted to enhance neural responses to conflicting information (i.e., a neural marker of effective cognitive control). The study will randomly assign 95 autistic children (ages 8-11yrs) to a novel computer-based Cognitive Control Training combined with Metacognition Coaching or to a waitlist control group. Before and after intervention, EEG will be used to examine engagement of the target neural responses. We expect the group assigned to Cognitive Control Training + Metacognition Coaching to exhibit significantly larger changes in N2 ERP amplitude in incongruent relative to congruent trials than the waitlist group. Before and after intervention, we will collect neural responses and behavioral measures of cognitive control and working memory.
Interventions
- Behavioral Cognitive Control Training + Metacognition Coaching
Computer training is delivered in person by a coach. Training consists of four games; each requires multiple aspects of cognitive control. Training levels progress in difficulty by increasing the number of items or simultaneous dimensions, decreasing the available response time, requiring greater accuracy, or adjusting the proportion of distractors or their complexity. Parameters that influence the difficulty of each level and passing criteria are fixed, but children progress from level to level
Primary outcome measures
- Flanker N2 ERP mean amplitude (primary measure of target engagement) [Time frame: Baseline (Pre Training/Waitlist Phase) and at 15-17 Weeks (Post Training/Waitlist Phase)]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- The Change Task - Stop Signal Reaction Time [Time frame: Baseline (Pre Training/Waitlist Phase) and at 15-17 Weeks (Post Training/Waitlist Phase)]
- Dimensional Change Card Sort t-score [Time frame: Baseline (Pre Training/Waitlist Phase) and at 15-17 Weeks (Post Training/Waitlist Phase)]
- List Sorting Working Memory Test t-score [Time frame: Baseline (Pre Training/Waitlist Phase) and at 15-17 Weeks (Post Training/Waitlist Phase)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Children should be 8 to 11 years of age
- Children should have an existing diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder, which will be confirmed using research measures and criteria
- Children must have general cognitive ability in the average range or above (above 80 using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-2 Full Scale IQ)
- Caregivers and children must be fluent in English or Spanish
Exclusion criteria
- Children must not have a known genetic condition related to autism (e.g., Fragile X)
- Children must not have medical conditions/injuries, exposure to substances, or significant deprivation with implications for the central nervous system or that require regular psychoactive medications that alter EEG responses (anticonvulsants, barbiturates) \*
- Children must not have seizures or a seizure disorder (other than history of febrile seizures)
- Children must not have significant sensory or motor impairment or major physical abnormalities that would limit the ability to participate in table top or EEG testing, or make responding during computer activities difficult
- Children must not have a failed screening for colorblindness
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06885684 · FP01034542