Evaluating a new verbal working memory-balance program: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial study on Iranian children with dyslexia

BMC Neuroscience

Ehsan Pourghayoomi¹  Mehdi Ramezani¹  Mohammad Taghi Joghataei¹  Angela J. Fawcett²  Saeed Behzadipour³  Elham Shirazi⁴ 

[1] Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences;Department of Psychology, Swansea University;Mechanical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology;Mental Health Research Center, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences;

关键词: Dyslexia;    Working memory;    Balance;    Postural control;    Cerebellum;    Cognitive training;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12868-021-00660-1

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background It is important to improve verbal Working Memory (WM) in reading disability, as it is a key factor in learning. There are commercial verbal WM training programs, which have some short-term effects only on the verbal WM capacity, not reading. However, because of some weaknesses in current verbal WM training programs, researchers suggested designing and developing newly structured programs that particularly target educational functions such as reading skills. In the current double-blind randomized clinical trial study, we designed a new Verbal Working Memory-Balance (VWM-B) program which was carried out using a portable robotic device. The short-term effects of the VWM-B program, on verbal WM capacity, reading skills, and postural control were investigated in Iranian children with developmental dyslexia. Results The effectiveness of the VWM-B program was compared with the VWM-program as a traditional verbal WM training. In comparison with VWM-program, the participants who received training by the VWM-B program showed superior performance on verbal WM capacity, reading skills, and postural control after a short-term intervention. Conclusions We proposed that the automatized postural control resulting from VWM-B training had a positive impact on improving verbal WM capacity and reading ability. Based on the critical role of the cerebellum in automatizing skills, our findings support the cerebellar deficit theory in dyslexia. Trial registration: This trial was (retrospectively) registered on 8 February 2018 with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20171219037953N1).

【 授权许可】

Unknown