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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Apr;67(4):496-509.
doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16057. Epub 2024 Sep 11.

Transferability of an executive function intervention in children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial

Montse Blasco  1   2 , María García-Galant  1   2 , Júlia Ballester-Plané  1   2   3 , Olga Laporta-Hoyos  1   2   4 , Xavier Caldú  1   2 , David Leiva  5 , Roslyn N Boyd  6 , Els Ortibus  7   8 , Roser Pueyo  1   2 ; Clinic Practice Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Transferability of an executive function intervention in children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial

Montse Blasco et al. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the transfer effects of a home-based computerized executive function intervention on non-targeted cognitive functions (visual perception and memory), quality of life (QoL), and participation in children with cerebral palsy (CP), and to determine whether any improvements were maintained 9 months after the intervention.

Method: Sixty children with CP (aged 8-12 years) were randomly allocated to the intervention (15 females/15 males, mean age 10 years 4 months [SD = 1 years 8 months], age range 8-12 years) or waitlist (control) (15 females/15 males, mean age 10 years [SD = 1 years 9 months], age range 8-12 years) group. The intervention group underwent a home-based executive function intervention programme for 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 12 weeks. All participants were assessed before the intervention, immediately after and 9 months after the intervention was completed.

Results: After the intervention was completed, performance in immediate verbal memory, verbal learning, and visual perception (object and picture recognition) was significantly better in the intervention group than in the waitlist (control) group. No improvements were found in visual memory, visuospatial perception, QoL, or participation after the intervention. Scores at the follow-up showed that any beneficial effects were not maintained 9 months after the intervention was completed.

Interpretation: A home-based computerized executive function intervention produced transfer effects on memory and visual perception immediately after the intervention in children with CP, although any beneficial effects were not sustained at the 9-month follow-up.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Structure of the intervention.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Example of NeuronUP tasks included in the intervention.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Differences between intervention and waitlist groups in learning and memory. Estimated marginal differences are the intervention group estimated marginal mean minus the waitlist group estimated marginal mean; dark grey‐coloured box, significant differences; grey‐coloured box, non‐significant differences. Estimated marginal differences above zero indicate better performance in the intervention group than in the waitlist group. Abbreviations: NEPSY‐II, Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment, Second Edition; TOMAL, Test of Memory and Learning; WISC‐V, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition; WNV, Wechsler Non‐Verbal Scale of Ability.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Differences between intervention and waitlist groups in visual perception. Estimated marginal differences are the intervention group estimated marginal mean minus the waitlist group estimated marginal mean; dark grey‐coloured box, significant differences; grey‐coloured box, non‐significant differences. Estimated marginal differences above zero indicate better performance in the intervention group than in the waitlist group. Abbreviations: FRT, Facial Recognition Test; NEPSY‐II, Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment, Second Edition.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Differences between intervention and waitlist groups in quality of life (QoL) and participation. Estimated marginal differences are the intervention group estimated marginal mean minus the waitlist group estimated marginal mean; dark grey‐coloured box, significant differences; grey‐coloured box, non‐significant differences. Estimated marginal differences above zero indicate better performance in the intervention group than in the waitlist group. Abbreviation: CP, cerebral palsy; PEM‐CY, Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth.
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References

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