Abstract #5415

Working memory training and brain structural and functional correlates in children born preterm

Claire Kelly¹, Deanne Thompson^1,2,3, Jian Chen^1,4, Elisha Josev¹, Leona Pascoe¹, Megan Spencer-Smith^1,5, Chris Adamson¹, Chiara Nosarti⁶, Lex Doyle^1,2,7,8, Marc Seal^1,2, and Peter Anderson^1,2,5

¹Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia, ²Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, ³Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia, ⁴Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, ⁵Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, ⁶King's College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁷Newborn Research, The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, ⁸Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

In a randomised controlled trial, we investigated if adaptive, computerised working memory training using Cogmed was associated with greater neural changes compared with a placebo training program. Participants were a population-based cohort of 91 school-age children born <28 weeks’ gestation or <1000 g birthweight. Children had structural, diffusion and task-based functional MRI before and two weeks following five weeks of Cogmed or placebo. There was little evidence for larger changes in cortical morphometry, white matter microstructure, or brain functional activity following Cogmed compared with placebo. In our study, Cogmed did not benefit brain structure or function in preterm-born children.

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