Memory Maestros
The Memory Maestros (MM) study, commenced in 2012, investigated working memory in children recruited in Grade 1 from 44 schools across metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. MM has two components:
1. An observational cohort study, following 1802 children over 24 months, examining the relationship between working memory development and educational outcomes.
2. A nested population based RCT of a working memory intervention, involving 452 children with low working memory.
Conclusions from the MM study led to recommendations being provided to the Victorian Department of Education and Training about the efficacy of using adaptive working memory training interventions within schools and dissemination of information to departments within the Royal Children’s Hospital who provide support for children with learning difficulties.
| Year | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase | 1: Baseline and screening | 2: Intervention | 3: 6 month follow-up | 4: 12 month follow-up | 5: 24 month follow-up |
| Age | 6-7 years | 6-7 years | 6-8 years | 7-8 years | 8-9 years |
| N | 1802 | Substudy: 452 | Substudy: 452 | Substudy: 452 | Total: 1269 Substudy: 397 |
| RELEVANT LIFECOURSE DOMAINS | Anthropometrics | ||||
| Biosamples | |||||
| Demographics | Demographics | ||||
| Education and childcare | Education and childcare | ||||
| Family environment | Family environment | ||||
| Health services | Health services | ||||
| Mental health and behaviour problems | Mental health and behaviour problems | ||||
| Methodology | Methodology | ||||
| Neurocognitive development | |||||
| Other health information | Other health information | ||||
| Peer relationships | Peer relationships | ||||
| Pregnancy and birth | Pregnancy and birth | ||||
| Psychosocial wellbeing | Psychosocial wellbeing | ||||
| Sleep | Sleep | ||||
| Speech and language | Speech and language | ||||
| Temperament and personality | Temperament and personality | ||||
| Study Summary | |
|---|---|
| Study name | Memory Maestros |
| Study abbreviation | Memory Maestros |
| Current principal investigator/s |
Gehan Roberts Melissa Wake Susan Gathercole Lisa Gold Peter Anderson |
| Current project manager |
Jon Quach |
| Primary Institution/s |
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute - MCRI
|
| Collaborating Institution/s |
The Royal Children’s Hospital - RCH
University of York, England Deakin University |
| Major funding source/s |
National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC
|
| Study website | http://www.rch.org.au/ccch/for_researchers/Memory_Maestros_Study |
| Key reference for study |
|
| Study focus |
To determine if working memory can be improved with cognitive training using a school-based computerised working memory program among those with low working memory |
| Sampling frame |
Observational cohort: Children in grade 1 classrooms from 44 schools in metropolitan Melbourne (Australia) RCT: Those children from the observational cohort screened as having low working memory |
| Primary study type | Randomised Control Trial / Other trial |
| Primary participant (at recruitment) | Index child |
| Year commenced |
2012 |
| Is this study ongoing? | No - the study is complete |
| Year study ended | 2014 |
| Ongoing recruitment? | No |
| Sample size (N) |
1802 were recruited in the cohort, with a subset of 453 participants qualifying for the working memory intervention sub-sample |
| Survey data available? | Yes |
| Imaging data available? | No |
| Linkage to administrative dataset/s? | Yes, linkage to (at least one) administrative dataset completed |
| Biosamples available? | Yes |
| Are data available to others outside study team, with appropriate safeguards and structures in line with the cohort’s ethics and governance processes? | Yes |
| Are there any costs associated with data/sample access for approved requests? | There are usually no costs associated with access |
| Broadest type of participant consent available |
Extended consent (can be used for future ethically approved research related to this project) |
| Study Contacts | |
|---|---|
| Principal investigator/s |
Gehan Roberts Melissa Wake Susan Gathercole Lisa Gold Peter Anderson |
| Project manager |
Jon Quach |
| Study Contact |
Email: memorymaestros@mcri.edu.au |