Title:Inclusive Cognitive Commercial Training for Children: a Preliminary Evaluation of the Kokoro Kids App in Enhancing Visuospatial Abilities in Autistic and Neurotypical Children
Tags:autism spectrum disorder, cognitive training, commercial video game, mobile application and visuospatial abilities
Abstract:
This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of an inclusive cognitive training program using the Kokoro Kids app. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of specific games within the Kokoro Kids app in improving visuospatial abilities in both neurotypical and autistic children. The methodology involved 10 children aged 5 to 8 years, with five children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and five neurotypical children. Participants engaged with 11 Kokoro Kids games targeting visuospatial skills over a period of 15 consecutive days. Visuospatial abilities were assessed using 5 standardized subtests from the NEPSY-II and DTVP-3 batteries, administered before and after the training period. The overall findings indicated significant improvements in one NEPSY-II subtest, irrespective of the groups, suggesting positive visuospatial enhancements. Additionally, there were non-significant tendencies toward improvement in two of the other subtests in both groups. In terms of game performance, both groups showed varying degrees of accuracy improvement across game levels in 8 games, with progressive and constant difficulty. Future research should focus on expanding the sample size, and refining the methodological procedure, such as controlling for additional variables to better understand the impact of such digital cognitive training. Further investigation involving diverse populations is also recommended to enhance the inclusivity of the training.
Inclusive Cognitive Commercial Training for Children: a Preliminary Evaluation of the Kokoro Kids App in Enhancing Visuospatial Abilities in Autistic and Neurotypical Children
Inclusive Cognitive Commercial Training for Children: a Preliminary Evaluation of the Kokoro Kids App in Enhancing Visuospatial Abilities in Autistic and Neurotypical Children