Individuals with an acquired brain injury and a structural deficit (confirmed by MRI or CT) and cognitive deficits in executive functions or attention (objectifiable or subjectively reported)
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Intervention group (IG): independent home training using the "Rhythm Workers" app (Bégel et al., 2018) for 4 weeks. Participants are required to train five times a week for 20-30 minutes each
Sponsors
Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: (1) acquired brain injury with a structural deficit (confirmed by MRI or CT), (2) an elapsed time since injury of at least three month, (3) cognitive deficits in executive functions or attention (objectifiable or subjectively reported), (4) willingness and ability to participate, and (5) complete informed consent form.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: (1) motor, hearing, or comprehension deficits that do not allow participation, (2) severe psychiatric disorder, (3) alcohol / drug abuse, (4) evidence for media addiction, (5) professional musicians, (6) pregnancy or planned pregnancy, breastfeeding women, (7) intensive neuropsychological therapy over the last three months (i.e. inpatient or day-clinic). Continuation of outpatient treatment will be registered.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The following measures are assessed at pre-, post-intervention, and three-month-follow-up: Executive functions: - For cognitive flexibility, we use the Trail Making Test (TMT) (Reitan, 1992) in a modified paper-pencil version according to Rodewald et al. (2012). Using the absolute processing times, an index is calculated according to the formula [(B - A)/A] (Periáñez et al., 2007). - For executive control, we use the Attentional Network Task (ANT) (Fan et al., 2002) and calculate a proportional score for the conflict effect [(RTincongruent – RTcongruent)/ RTcongruent] (Treffers-Daller et al., 2020; Urbanek et al., 2010). - For inhibitory control, we use a Simon task implemented as the incompatibility test of the software package Test of Attentional Performance (TAP) (Zimmermann & Fimm, 2014). A proportional score is calculated according to the formula [(RTincompatible - RTcompatible)/ RTcompatible]. - For working memory, we use the digit and block span backwards tasks (sum score) from the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-R; German Version) (Härting et al., 2000). Rhythmic abilities: We use the Battery for the Assessment of Auditory Sensorimotor and Timing Abilities (BAASTA) (Dalla Bella et al., 2017 & 2024). The following subtasks will be used: - For beat perception, we use the Beat Alignment Test (d prime) - For synchronization consistency, we use paced tapping to metronome and to music (Vector length) - For rhythmic-motor variability, we use synchronization-continuation task (CV of the ITI) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| - Compliance with the protocol refers to the degree to which participants fulfill the requested protocol targets. We assess this by comparing the required training duration with the cumulative training duration (i.e., of training sessions; self-reported and logged on the device) and continuous playing time (CPT) in minutes (i.e., time spent in active gameplay in game levels; logged on the device). - Game acceptance refers to the degree to which participants felt engaged when playing the game. We measure game acceptance by the level of enjoyment and frustration assessed after a gaming session. - Treatment satisfaction: At the post-treatment assessment, all participants are asked for a ranking on a 5-point Likert Scale on 4 items: (1) How comfortable do you feel about completing the tasks at home? (2) How comfortable do you feel about completing the tasks on the tablet? (3) Would recommend the Rhythm Workers app to a friend? (4) How satis?ed are you with the results of the treatment? - Subjective rating of "relevant domains" is assessed with a self-constructed questionnaire covering the areas of concentration, mental deceleration, executive functions, energy level, well-being, and quality of life. Participants are asked to rank the items on a 5-point Likert scale at pre-, post-test, and three-month-follow-up. Mean scores are calculated. | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactAlina S. Löser
Tagesklinik für Kognitive Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig
Outcome results
None listed