Comparing the efficacy of LORETA neurofeedback versus cognitive rehabilitation on working memory in children with learning disorders: A double-blind clinical trial.
- 1Department of Clinical Psychology, Azad University, Shiraz Branch, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Nowadays, researchers emphasize the use of inexpensive and low-risk methods as preferred treatments for disorders in children and adolescents. The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effects of LORETA neurofeedback (NF) and cognitive rehabilitation on the working memory of children with learning disabilities.Materials and methods
The present research design was a quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest with three-month follow-up. The population were all students with learning disorders and sample was 45 children aged between 7 and 10 with learning disabilities from schools in Shiraz. Three groups of 15 children were selected by convenience sampling. The intervention consisted of cognitive rehabilitation and LORETA NF training sessions. To measure outcomes, they used three assessment tools: the IVA (Integrated Visual Auditory Performance Assessment), Wechsler's Working Memory Test, and the Children's Clinical Assessment. Data were analyzed by MANCOVA using SPSS 28.Results
The study's results revealed that participants who received LORETA NF treatment showed more significant improvements in their working memory compared to those who underwent cognitive rehabilitation (P < 0.05). This improvement was evident not only immediately after treatment but also persisted through the follow-up period, suggesting that NF had a more lasting positive effect than cognitive rehabilitation (P < 0.05).Conclusion
The results suggest that LORETA NF training could be an effective intervention for improving working memory in children who have learning disabilities. Therapists and neuropsychologists can use the results of this study to improve the cognitive functions of affected students.
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BibTeX
@article{alamdarifar2026comparing,
title = {{Comparing the efficacy of LORETA neurofeedback versus cognitive rehabilitation on working memory in children with learning disorders: A double-blind clinical trial.}},
author = {Shayan Alamdarifar and Jala Kalantari},
journal = {Journal of education and health promotion},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.4103/jehp.jehp_327_25},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923819},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comparing the efficacy of LORETA neurofeedback versus cognitive rehabilitation on working memory in children with learning disorders: A double-blind clinical trial.
AU - Shayan Alamdarifar
AU - Jala Kalantari
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Journal of education and health promotion
DO - 10.4103/jehp.jehp_327_25
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923819
AB - Background Nowadays, researchers emphasize the use of inexpensive and low-risk methods as preferred treatments for disorders in children and adolescents. The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effects of LORETA neurofeedback (NF) and cognitive rehabilitation on the working memory of children with learning disabilities.Materials and methods The present research design was a quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest with three-month follow-up. The population were all students with learning disorders and sample was 45 children aged between 7 and 10 with learning disabilities from schools in Shiraz. Three groups of 15 children were selected by convenience sampling. The intervention consisted of cognitive rehabilitation and LORETA NF training sessions. To measure outcomes, they used three assessment tools: the IVA (Integrated Visual Auditory Performance Assessment), Wechsler's Working Memory Test, and the Children's Clinical Assessment. Data were analyzed by MANCOVA using SPSS 28.Results The study's results revealed that participants who received LORETA NF treatment showed more significant improvements in their working memory compared to those who underwent cognitive rehabilitation (P < 0.05). This improvement was evident not only immediately after treatment but also persisted through the follow-up period, suggesting that NF had a more lasting positive effect than cognitive rehabilitation (P < 0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that LORETA NF training could be an effective intervention for improving working memory in children who have learning disabilities. Therapists and neuropsychologists can use the results of this study to improve the cognitive functions of affected students.
SN - 2277-9531
SN - 2319-6440
ER -