Understanding What Makes Working Memory Training Work for Teens with ADHD or Brain Injury
Official title: Understanding Mediating and Moderating Factors that Determine Transfer of Working Memory Training
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11411193 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study with teens and young adults will test how different ways of training memory and thinking skills work best, especially for those with ADHD or brain injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $751,292 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH111742-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411193 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young adults (including 0-11 and 21+ years in the dataset annotations) with ADHD or acquired brain injury who are willing to participate in memory training activities.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not exposed to cognitive training or who do not meet the study’s age or condition criteria may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project brings together a large group of adolescents to see which features of cognitive training help improve working memory and executive functions. Participants will be randomly assigned to different training formats, including gamified programs, multi-domain training, coaching, and a standard non-gamified approach, using the same set of outcomes. By collecting a big, open dataset, the study aims to clarify what parts of training drive improvement and how reliable those effects are across ages, sex, and ADHD status. The effort is designed to bridge the gap between research findings and real-world practice, with careful attention to rigor and reproducibility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide more effective, evidence-based cognitive training options for adolescents and young adults with ADHD or acquired brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show mixed results; this project aims to provide clearer evidence through a large, standardized dataset.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seitz, Aaron R — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Seitz, Aaron R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.