The major focus of my research has been the area of verbal short-term memory, and particularly understanding how it relates to broader language and memory processes. This falls within the broader area of working memory, and as a consequence I have also engaged in research on working memory deficits in children with ADHD and reading disability. I have an interest in improving cognitive function and have been involved in research on cognitive training in children with ADHD, and a number of studies looking at the impact of nutritional interventions on cognitive function in adults, including adults with dementia.
I have also developed an interest in the cognitive processes involved in computer programming (coding) and the notion of computational thinking.
23rd Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Conference & Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology: Program, Abstracts and Information
Making a non-drug treatment available to children with ADHD around the world
We have developed a non-drug treatment for children with ADHD (Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and made it available around the world. Our treatment is in the form of computer software which provides a fun "wizard in training" themed environment to help children train to improve important abilities such as memory, impulse control, and attention control. The training software was available commercially from 2013 to 2016 and has been available free-of-charge since January 2017. <br /><br />To date, many thousands of children have used the treatment and experienced benefits such as better control of their behaviour, better concentration in the classroom, and more effective completion of schoolwork. Parents and teachers have reported significant reductions in the typical symptoms of ADHD such as inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive behaviours. Crucially, we have provided a non-drug treatment alternative to parents, and we have a substantial amount of research evidence that supports the benefits of the treatment.
<p>Stimulant-based medication (such as Ritalin) is commonly used to treat the symptoms of ADHD, but this approach has many worrying side-effects and parents are concerned about long-term treatment using medication. We decided to develop a non-drug treatment alternative, starting in early 2006, in response to parent concerns and a NSW state government report confirming the lack of evidence-based alternatives to medication. <br /><br />Over the next 6 years we conducted research studies and simultaneously developed the world’s first evidence-based training system for the improvement of behavioural control in children with ADHD. The system is highly innovative as it brings together working memory and impulse-control training, and also incorporates attention training using objective attention levels obtained via a wireless brain electrical activity (EEG) recording device. Further, the training is presented in a game format, to promote engagement and compliance. A series of research studies conducted in Australia and China have reported the substantial behavioural and cognitive benefits of the treatment.<br /><br />Driven by a desire to make this treatment alternative available to as many children and families as possible, in 2012 an industry partner was secured to develop commercial-grade software, and research continued into the efficacy of the approach. In early 2013 the treatment was embodied as a commercially available software product with the licensee establishing distribution contracts in Australia, Canada, USA, Germany, UK, and China. <br /><br /></p><p>On a societal level, this program of research has resulted in demonstrable global benefit by bringing to market an affordable, research-supported, non-drug treatment program for children with ADHD. For example, over 5200 user accounts have been created on the software server. The software allows parents to provide scores on ADHD symptoms before and after completion of the program. Data from the server indicates that many end users of the product are reporting positive outcomes. Starting January 2017, the training system has been available free-of-charge to people from around the world while further licensing agreements are negotiated. The system has been provided to parents and children from various European countries, USA, Australia, China, Korea, Russia, and many other countries.<br /> <br /> On an individual level, completion of the training program has a substantial impact for the child via normalisation of behaviour, improved peer relationships, reduction of exposure to medication-based treatments, and improved academic performance. Importantly, the training outcomes also impact their family (via less disruptive behaviour; improved family harmony), their classroom teachers and peers (via less disruptive behaviour), and their school more broadly (via improved academic performance of the child). </p><br />Research studies currently underway are set to <br /><br /><ul><li>More closely assess the impact of the training in the classroom (in collaboration with Dr Jiang at Hangzhou College of Early Childhood Teachers’ Education at Zhejiang Normal University in China)</li><li>To look at the contribution of each of the training targets (i.e. memory, impulse control, attention control) to benefits with a view to customising training based on each particular child's needs (in collaboration with Prof Li at the Institute of Mental Health at Peking University in China)</li><li>Compare training outcomes to medication treatment-as-usual (in collaboration with Dr Qin at the Centre for Cognition and Sleeping (CCS), People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Nanning in China).<br /> </li></ul>
Beneficiary
Quantification
Description
Evidence
Description
Supervision
Available as Research Supervisor
Potential Supervision Topics
Verbal short-term and working memory
Cognitive processes underlying computer coding/ learning to code
Advisees
Graduate Advising Relationship
Degree
Research Title
Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy
Identifying and Differentiating Language Production Features of Father-Mother Early Literacy Engagement During Storybook Read Alouds to Toddlers
Doctor of Philosophy
Serial Recognition Task and its Role in Explicating Short-Term Memory
Josifovski, Natasha
Doctor of Philosophy
Attentional Bias for Threat and Anxiety: An Extended Research Program
Wei, Maryann
Master of Philosophy
An Investigation of the Underlying Cognitive Processes Associated with Computer Programming.
Zammit, Jessica
Doctor of Philosophy
An Investigation of the Cognitive Processes Underlying Facial Expression Recognition
Keough, Emily
Doctor of Philosophy
Topic in Short-Term/Working Memory
Barrington, Maryann
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
Attention restoration effects on Autobiographical memory specificity for individuals with depression.
Serrano, Anitta
Doctor of Philosophy
The relationship between cognitive function and treatment adherence in patients with chronic kidney disease-potential causes, impact on outcomes and trial of improvement strategies
Murali, Karumathil
Service
Outreach Overview
I have reviewed grants for the ARC, ESRC and journal submissions for over 25 different journals in cognition, language and development.
The major focus of my research has been the area of verbal short-term memory, and particularly understanding how it relates to broader language and memory processes. This falls within the broader area of working memory, and as a consequence I have also engaged in research on working memory deficits in children with ADHD and reading disability. I have an interest in improving cognitive function and have been involved in research on cognitive training in children with ADHD, and a number of studies looking at the impact of nutritional interventions on cognitive function in adults, including adults with dementia.
I have also developed an interest in the cognitive processes involved in computer programming (coding) and the notion of computational thinking.
23rd Australasian Society for Psychophysiology Conference & Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology: Program, Abstracts and Information
Making a non-drug treatment available to children with ADHD around the world
We have developed a non-drug treatment for children with ADHD (Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and made it available around the world. Our treatment is in the form of computer software which provides a fun "wizard in training" themed environment to help children train to improve important abilities such as memory, impulse control, and attention control. The training software was available commercially from 2013 to 2016 and has been available free-of-charge since January 2017. <br /><br />To date, many thousands of children have used the treatment and experienced benefits such as better control of their behaviour, better concentration in the classroom, and more effective completion of schoolwork. Parents and teachers have reported significant reductions in the typical symptoms of ADHD such as inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive behaviours. Crucially, we have provided a non-drug treatment alternative to parents, and we have a substantial amount of research evidence that supports the benefits of the treatment.
<p>Stimulant-based medication (such as Ritalin) is commonly used to treat the symptoms of ADHD, but this approach has many worrying side-effects and parents are concerned about long-term treatment using medication. We decided to develop a non-drug treatment alternative, starting in early 2006, in response to parent concerns and a NSW state government report confirming the lack of evidence-based alternatives to medication. <br /><br />Over the next 6 years we conducted research studies and simultaneously developed the world’s first evidence-based training system for the improvement of behavioural control in children with ADHD. The system is highly innovative as it brings together working memory and impulse-control training, and also incorporates attention training using objective attention levels obtained via a wireless brain electrical activity (EEG) recording device. Further, the training is presented in a game format, to promote engagement and compliance. A series of research studies conducted in Australia and China have reported the substantial behavioural and cognitive benefits of the treatment.<br /><br />Driven by a desire to make this treatment alternative available to as many children and families as possible, in 2012 an industry partner was secured to develop commercial-grade software, and research continued into the efficacy of the approach. In early 2013 the treatment was embodied as a commercially available software product with the licensee establishing distribution contracts in Australia, Canada, USA, Germany, UK, and China. <br /><br /></p><p>On a societal level, this program of research has resulted in demonstrable global benefit by bringing to market an affordable, research-supported, non-drug treatment program for children with ADHD. For example, over 5200 user accounts have been created on the software server. The software allows parents to provide scores on ADHD symptoms before and after completion of the program. Data from the server indicates that many end users of the product are reporting positive outcomes. Starting January 2017, the training system has been available free-of-charge to people from around the world while further licensing agreements are negotiated. The system has been provided to parents and children from various European countries, USA, Australia, China, Korea, Russia, and many other countries.<br /> <br /> On an individual level, completion of the training program has a substantial impact for the child via normalisation of behaviour, improved peer relationships, reduction of exposure to medication-based treatments, and improved academic performance. Importantly, the training outcomes also impact their family (via less disruptive behaviour; improved family harmony), their classroom teachers and peers (via less disruptive behaviour), and their school more broadly (via improved academic performance of the child). </p><br />Research studies currently underway are set to <br /><br /><ul><li>More closely assess the impact of the training in the classroom (in collaboration with Dr Jiang at Hangzhou College of Early Childhood Teachers’ Education at Zhejiang Normal University in China)</li><li>To look at the contribution of each of the training targets (i.e. memory, impulse control, attention control) to benefits with a view to customising training based on each particular child's needs (in collaboration with Prof Li at the Institute of Mental Health at Peking University in China)</li><li>Compare training outcomes to medication treatment-as-usual (in collaboration with Dr Qin at the Centre for Cognition and Sleeping (CCS), People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Nanning in China).<br /> </li></ul>
Beneficiary
Quantification
Description
Evidence
Description
Supervision
Potential Supervision Topics
Verbal short-term and working memory
Cognitive processes underlying computer coding/ learning to code
Advisees
Graduate Advising Relationship
Degree
Research Title
Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy
Identifying and Differentiating Language Production Features of Father-Mother Early Literacy Engagement During Storybook Read Alouds to Toddlers
Doctor of Philosophy
Serial Recognition Task and its Role in Explicating Short-Term Memory
Josifovski, Natasha
Doctor of Philosophy
Attentional Bias for Threat and Anxiety: An Extended Research Program
Wei, Maryann
Master of Philosophy
An Investigation of the Underlying Cognitive Processes Associated with Computer Programming.
Zammit, Jessica
Doctor of Philosophy
An Investigation of the Cognitive Processes Underlying Facial Expression Recognition
Keough, Emily
Doctor of Philosophy
Topic in Short-Term/Working Memory
Barrington, Maryann
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
Attention restoration effects on Autobiographical memory specificity for individuals with depression.
Serrano, Anitta
Doctor of Philosophy
The relationship between cognitive function and treatment adherence in patients with chronic kidney disease-potential causes, impact on outcomes and trial of improvement strategies
Murali, Karumathil
Service
Outreach Overview
I have reviewed grants for the ARC, ESRC and journal submissions for over 25 different journals in cognition, language and development.