Cogmed is an online cognitive intervention program designed to target attention and working memory deficits associated with conditions such as ADHD and ADD, as well as challenges stemming from stroke, traumatic brain injury, and the lasting impacts of premature birth.

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Want to improve your working memory and attention skills?

Cogmed -  Improve Focus, Improve Learning

Cogmed is a scientifically researched and evidence-based program designed to improve working memory and attention. Working memory is key to the brain's processing capacity and is vital for concentration, reasoning, and learning. Cogmed is a web-based cognitive intervention related to attention and working memory that helps strengthen these deficiencies stemming from:

  • ✔ ADHD and ADD
  • ✔ Stroke and traumatic brain injury
  • ✔ Long-term effects of premature birth
  • ✔ Side-effects of cancer treatment

What is Working Memory?

Working memory is the ability to hold information in your thoughts and keep it active. Working Memory only has limited capacity and time for which you can hold information received from the senses. Are you suffering from the following?:

  • ✔ Starting to sweep the floor but then finding yourself washing the dishes.
  •  ✔ Repeatedly asking for directions on how to complete a task. 
  • ✔ Difficulty concentrating with music playing or background conversations.
  • ✔ Having trouble learning and applying new skills.
  • ✔ Making the same mistakes over and over.

Having good working memory and attention is important to be able to focus on and retain the relevant information needed for any given situation.Without good working memory and attention skills, you may experience difficulties with:

  •  ✔ Focussing your attention
  •  ✔ Shutting out distractions
  •  ✔ Following directions
  •  ✔ Learning new skills
  •  ✔ Completing complex tasks
 

How does Cogmed work?

Focus. Learn. Get things Done.

  • Step 1: Self Directed Training

    You can customize your training schedule to suit your needs. Sessions last 50 to 25 minutes, held 3 to 5 days per week for 5 to 14 weeks, depending on your selected protocol. You have the choice to complete the training intensively over 5 weeks with 50 -minute sessions five days per week, or opt for a more relaxed pace over 14 weeks with 25-minute sessions three days per week.

  • Step 2: Adaptive Exercises

    In every training session, learners engage in a series of scientifically proven exercises meticulously crafted to enhance attention and working memory. The program adapts the difficulty level dynamically according to each learner's performance, ensuring personalized challenges.

  • Step 3: Supported by Education Learning Specialist

    Throughout the duration of the program, learners will have regular check-ins with the Cogmed Coach who will monitor their progress throughout the program, and provide extra support where it's needed.

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Benefits of working memory and attention training:

  • Improved working memory

    The primary benefit of Cogmed is improved working memory capacity. Research has shown that completing the Cogmed program can lead to significant improvements in working memory skills, positively impacting various cognitive tasks such as attention, concentration, problem-solving, and learning.

  • Enhanced cognitive skills

    By improving working memory capacity, Cogmed training may also lead to improvements in other cognitive skills such as cognitive flexibility, task-switching, and cognitive control. These skills are important for managing complex tasks, adapting to new situations, and making decisions (which can have benefits in both academic and professional settings).

  • Improved academic performance

    Improved working memory capacity can lead to better performance in tasks that require memory and concentration such as reading comprehension, mathematical problem-solving, and learning new information. This can be particularly beneficial for students who may struggle with working memory deficits.

  • ADHD management

    Cogmed has been specifically designed to target working memory deficits often associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research has shown that completing the Cogmed program can lead to improvements in working memory and attention in individuals with ADHD which may help them manage their symptoms and improve their daily functioning.

  • Real-world benefits

    Improved working memory can have practical applications in everyday life. For example, it can help with remembering and following instructions, staying focused on tasks, managing time and deadlines, and organising and planning. These skills are important for academic, professional, and personal success.

  • Long-term effects

    Research has shown that the benefits of Cogmed working memory and attention training are durable, persisting beyond the training period and leading to long-term improvements in working memory, attention, and cognitive skills.

Scientifically Validated and Researched-based

Cogmed is a scientifically researched and evidence-based program designed to improve working memory and attention.

Cogmed has already helped more than 200,000 people improve their working memory and attention! Its effects were measured using the same tests and clinical rating scales that were used to diagnose the condition (e.g. ADHD).

Proven Effect on Working Memory and Attention

Cogmed is a personalized digital training program, designed to improve the brain systems responsible for attention and working memory.
Working memory is closely related to control of attention, and uses, in part, the same regions of the brain. Cogmed training is specifically developed to target these brain regions (1). It is the only digital tool that has been shown to improve attention in everyday life. The improvements are equivalent to two years of normal cognitive development of working memory in children.

Long-lasting Clinical Effect

Many clinical diagnoses are associated with cognitive impairments affecting working memory and attention. Through clinical, peer-reviewed studies, using neuropsychological testing, it has been shown that Cogmed training can significantly reduce these cognitive impairments in individuals (2).

This includes children and adults with ADHD, children who have received cancer treatment, children born prematurely and adults who have suffered a stroke. In many cases, the behavioral improvement remediates the cognitive function into the normal range (3, 4). The effect on the brain’s working memory systems is stronger from Cogmed training than after treatment with methylphenidate. Most importantly, research shows that the effects of Cogmed training are long-lasting (5).

Improves Academic Performance

Working memory is key for academic performance, including in mathematics. In a recent study of 572 typically developing children, randomized to training or teaching as usual, Berger et al. found that one year after Cogmed training, the difference in mathematical performance between the training group and control group was equivalent to 1 year of normal improvement in secondary school (6). This is about twice as large as the improvements seen after reducing the number of students in a classroom. Three years after the Cogmed training, the children in the training group had a 16 % higher chance of getting into the academically more advanced school-track compared to their control-group peers. 

Who is it for?

This program is aimed at students from the age of 4 years and up including adults with flexible Cogmed protocols.

Speak to us if you are unsure of your child's suitability:

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What is included?

Once you decide Cogmed is right for you or your child, you will have:

  • ✔ Access to web-based training application compatible with any Internet-enabled computer or tablet equipped with a modern web browser.
  • ✔ Start up consultation to familiarise you with the program
  • ✔ Choice of flexible protocols designed to accommodate different ages, abilities, and stamina levels.
  • ✔ An optional built-in reward system is available throughout the intervention to maintain motivation.
  • ✔ Access to 6 coaching sessions throughout the training duration with Cogmed Coach
  • ✔ Progress monitoring by Cogmed Coach
  • ✔ Email Support
  • ✔ Post training Consultation and feedback
  • ✔ Training fee: $1100

What technology is required?

  • ✔ The Cogmed platform operates smoothly on any modern browser accessible via a computer, tablet, or mobile phone with a stable Internet connection.
  • ✔ For an optimal experience, we recommend using browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari. Please note that Internet Explorer is not supported by the Cogmed platform.
  • ✔ Additionally, we advise students to utilize headphones and, if using a computer or laptop, a handheld mouse for improved usability.
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Works Cited

  1. Olesen PJ, Westerberg H, Klingberg T (2004) Increased prefrontal and parietal activity after training of working memory. Nat Neurosci 7:75-79.
  2. Spencer-Smith M, Klingberg T (2015) Benefits of a working memory training program for inattention in daily life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 10:e0119522.
  3. Klingberg T, Fernell E, Olesen PJ, Johnson M, Gustafsson P, Dahlstrom K, Gillberg CG, Forssberg H, Westerberg H (2005) Computerized training of working memory in children with ADHD--a randomized, controlled trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:177-186.
  4. Bigorra A, Garolera M, Guijarro S, Hervas A (2015) Long-term far-transfer effects of working memory training in children with ADHD: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry.
  5. Conklin HM, Ashford JM, Clark KN, Martin-Elbahesh K, Hardy KK, Merchant TE, Ogg RJ, Jeha S, Huang L, Zhang H (2017) Long-Term Efficacy of Computerized Cognitive Training Among Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pediatr Psychol 42:220-231.
  6. Berger EMF, E.; Hermes, H.; Schunk, D.; Winkel, K.; (2020) The impact of working memory training on children’s cognitive and noncognitive skills. In: SSRN.