51. Cognitive mechanisms underlying Armoni: A computer-assisted cognitive training programme for individuals with intellectual disabilities
- Author
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José Gutiérrez-Maldonado, Claudia Peñaloza, Antonio Reverter-Guimeso, David Amela-Huemes, Sandra Perales-Josa, Marta Ferrer-García, Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar, Yolanda Macías-Cajal, and Universitat de Barcelona
- Subjects
030506 rehabilitation ,cognitive functions ,lcsh:BF1-990 ,Population ,People with mental disabilities ,Armoni ,Developmental psychology ,Intellectual disabilities ,cognitive training ,03 medical and health sciences ,entrenamiento cognitivo ,Cognition ,Visual memory ,Verbal fluency test ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,education ,funciones cognitivas ,asistido por ordenador ,General Psychology ,education.field_of_study ,05 social sciences ,Computer-Assisted Cognitive Training ,Discapacidades intelectuales ,Verbal reasoning ,Cognitive training ,Computer-assisted instruction ,lcsh:Psychology ,computer-assisted ,Ensenyament assistit per ordinador ,Discapacitats mentals ,Cognició ,Verbal memory ,0305 other medical science ,Psychology ,050104 developmental & child psychology - Abstract
Although a number of cognitive deficits have been described in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), few studies have examined the use of computer-assisted cognitive training programmes in this group of people. This study sought to determine the cognitive mechanisms underlying 16 activities included in Armoni, a computerized cognitive training programme for individuals with ID, in order to validate its use with this population. Fifty adults with ID from four residential care centres in Spain underwent neuropsychological testing tapping attention, verbal memory, visual memory, comprehension, visuoperception, visuoconstruction, naming ability, verbal fluency, verbal reasoning and motor function. In addition, they performed 16 activities included in the Armoni programme. The relationships between cognitive function and the computer-based activities were assessed using Spearman correlations. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were then used to explore how cognitive function predicted the performance of individuals with ID on the programme activities. Most programme activities correlated with visuoconstruction, comprehension and naming ability. Naming ability, visual memory, comprehension and visuoconstruction contributed the most to the predictive models regarding performance on the Armoni activities. Our findings support the validity of Armoni for cognitive training in individuals with ID.