Cancer-related Learning Difficulties and Brain Training

Principle Researcher

Shelli Kesler, PhD, Assistant Professor (Research), Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

www.stanford.edu/people/skesler

University and Department

Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Study Title or Hypothesis

Cognitive Impairments in Pediatric Cancer

Lumosity games used

• By the Rules
• Monster Garden
• Memory Match
• Spatial Match
• Lost in Migration
• Bird Watching
• Speed Match
• Color Match

Brief Summary of Experiment

Children with a history of cancer and chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment are at increased risk for certain learning difficulties. This study enrolled children with leukemia or posterior brain tumor to test a program of online cognitive exercises designed to target executive, attention and memory skills.

For more information on this research, or to get involved, please visit http://ctx.stanford.edu/.

Preliminary results/trends

25 children completed the curriculum and demonstrated significant improvements in processing speed, visual memory and mental flexibility (p < .01).