Research, Brain Exercise Club

BrainRx and ReadRx are both developed by US-based LearningRx, in Colorado, USA. Launched in 2014 by our founder, Dr. Ken Gibson, the Gibson Institute performs pioneering research on cognitive training and development. They’ve put more than 35 years of brain training research, development, and testing into the programs.

Results for Ages 5 to 18

“Targeting the underlying cognitive skills necessary for learning, individual learning skills improved in clients who completed a LearningRx training program. A reduction in parent-reported academic difficulty ratings was found across all areas overall.”

This study investigated whether trainer-delivered cognitive training reduced parent-reported academic difficulties and oppositional behavior for school-age children with learning struggles compared with a no-contact control group. The results of this study indicate some transfer of training effects to functional benefits. This suggests broad generalization of benefits from targeted cognitive training to the academic skills. The implication of these findings is that a one-on-one cognitive training program with and without a reading component may be a useful adjunct to current intervention protocols for children with learning struggles.

Children Ages 8–14 Learning struggles

LearningRx Cognitive Training Effects in Children Ages 8–14: A Randomized Controlled Trial

LearningRx improves cognitive skills and IQ score for children and adolescents with learning struggles.
Randomized controlled trial led by Dick Carpenter, PhD of University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Christina Ledbetter, PhD of LSU Health Science Center compared the effects of 60 hours of ThinkRx cognitive training to a waitlist control group using the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities and the IH Toolbox Cognition Battery (attention only).
IQ score of LearningRx group increased by 21 points.
LearningRx group outperformed the control group on all measures. Differences were statistically significant except for the attention measure.

*Published in Applied Cognitive Psychology

Source: Carpenter, D., Ledbetter, C., & Moore, A.L. (2016). LearningRx cognitive training effects in children ages 8–14: A randomized controlled trial. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 30(5), 815–826. doi: 10.1002/acp.3257. Available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acp.3257/epdf

Children Ages 8–14 ADHD

Clinician-Delivered Cognitive Training for Children with Attention Problems: Effects on Cognition and Behavior from the ThinkRx Randomized Controlled Trial

LearningRx improves cognitive skills, IQ score, and cooperative behavior for children and adolescents with ADHD and attention problems
Randomized controlled trial led by Dick Carpenter, PhD of University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Christina Ledbetter, PhD of LSU Health Science Center compared the effects of 60 hours of ThinkRx cognitive training to a treatment-as-usual control group
Results showed statistically significant differences between groups on 5 outcome measures
IQ score of LearningRx group increased by 26 points
All LearningRx group members obtained clinically significant change indicating overall recovery
LearningRx group reported transfer to improved confidence, cooperative behaviors, and self-discipline

*Published in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment

Source: Moore, A.L., Carpenter, D.M., Ledbetter, C., & Miller, T.M. (2018). Clinician-delivered cognitive training for children with attention problems: Transfer effects on cognitive and behavior from the ThinkRx randomized controlled trial. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 14, 1671–1683. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S165418 Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6027847/

Children Ages 6–18 Learning struggles

Training the Brain to Learn: Beyond Vision Therapy

LearningRx improves cognitive skills and basic reading skills for children and adolescents with learning struggles.
Controlled trial led by Dick Carpenter, PhD of University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Compared the effects of 24 weeks of ThinkRx/ReadRx cognitive training to a propensity-matched control group as measured by the Woodcock-Johnson III.
The LearningRx group outperformed the control group on all 7 measures. Differences were statistically significant except for visual processing.

*Published in Vision Development & Rehabilitation

Source: Gibson, K., Carpenter, D.M., Moore, A.L., & Mitchell, T. (2015). Training the brain to learn: Beyond vision therapy. Vision Development and Rehabilitation, 1(2), 120–129. Retrieved from https://www.covd.org/page/VDR_1_2

Children Ages 8–14 Learning struggles

Comparing Two Methods of Delivering ThinkRx Cognitive Training to Children Ages 8–14: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Equivalency

LearningRx improves cognitive skills and IQ score for children and adolescents with learning struggles.
Randomized controlled trial led by Dick Carpenter, PhD of University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Christina Ledbetter, PhD of LSU Health Science Center compared delivery of 60 training hours solely by a clinician versus 50% delivered by a clinician and the other 50% through digital exercises
in a supervised computer lab.
Delivery method differences were not statistically significant except for longterm memory.
Both groups reported transfer to improved academic skills, self-esteem, relationships, and self-discipline.

*Published in Journal of Cognitive Enhancement

Source: Moore, A.L., Carpenter, D.M., Miller, T.M., & Ledbetter, C. (2019). Comparing Two Methods of Delivering ThinkRx Cognitive Training to Children Ages 8–14: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Equivalency. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 3(3), 261-270. doi.org/10.1007/s41465-018-0094-z

Children Ages 5–18 Learning struggles

LearningRx Cognitive Training for Children & Adolescents Ages 5–18: Effects on Academic Skills, Behavior, & Cognition

LearningRx improves parent-reported academic struggles and oppositional behavior for children and adolescents.
Controlled trial led by Edward Jedlicka, PhD of Lakeland University compared changes in parent-reported academic difficulty and oppositional behavior
between a ThinkRx group (n = 67), a ReadRx group (n = 53), and a no-contact control group (n = 58) using the Learning Skills Rating Scale.
Both LearningRx groups outperformed the control group on reduction in parent-reported academic difficulty and oppositional behavior ratings; and had
significantly improved cognitive skills as well.

*Published in Frontiers in Education

Source: Jedlicka, E. (2017). LearningRx cognitive training for children and adolescents ages 5–18: Effects on academic skills, behavior, and cognition. Frontiers in Education, 2(62). doi: 10.3389/feduc.2017.00062 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2017.00062/full

Adults Over Age 50 Memory

ThinkRx Cognitive Training for Adults over Age 50: Clinician Caregiver Partners in Delivery as Effective as Clinician-Only Delivery

LearningRx improved cognition and life skills for adults over age 50 with memory and attention complaints.
Two-group study led by Dick Carpenter, PhD of UCCS and Amy Lawson Moore, PhD of Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research to compare the cognitive and
transfer effects from two methods of delivering 78 hours of ThinkRx to adults ages 50–95 with subjective memory and attention problems (n = 292): clinician only delivery versus a combination of clinician/home partner delivery.
Participants in both LearningRx groups improved significantly on all six measures and reported transfer to real-life improvements. Differences between
methods of delivery were small, but clinician-only delivery overall led to greater cognitive gains.

Improvements Reported on Exit Surveys

Mood
Memory
Focus and attention
Work performance
Hobbies and sports
Driving
Problem-solving
Multi-tasking
Processing speed
Less anxiety
Confidence and hope
Outlook

*Published in Psychology and Neuroscience

Source: Moore, A.L., Carpenter, D.M., Miller, T.M., & Ledbetter, C. (2019). ThinkRx Cognitive Training for Adults over Age 50: Clinician-Caregiver Partners in Delivery as Effective as Clinician-Only Delivery. Psychology and Neuroscience, 12(2), 291-306.doi: 10.1037/pne0000162

Adults Ages 25–46 Traumatic Brain Injury

Cognitive Effects of ThinkRx Cognitive Rehabilitation Training for Eleven Soldiers with Brain Injury: A Retrospective Chart Review

LearningRx improved cognition and life skills for soldiers recovering from brain injury.
Pilot study led by Christina Ledbetter, PhD of LSU examining outcomes from 80 hours of ThinkRx supplemented with Brainskills for eleven soldiers in a warrior transition unit.
10 of 11 soldiers achieved overall recovery based on clinically-significant changes in general intellectual ability which increased an average of 13 points.
Soldiers reported transfer to real-life improvements including increased confidence and perseverance, improved attention, and improved memory.
Soldiers also reported returning to school and work and a higher tolerance for frustration.

*Published in Frontiers in Psychology

Source: Ledbetter, C., Moore, A.L., Mitchell, T. (2017). Cognitive effects of ThinkRx cognitive rehabilitation training for eleven soldiers with brain injury: A retrospective chart review. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(825). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00825 http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00825/full

At-Risk High School Students

The Efficacy of the LearningRx Cognitive Training Program: Modality and Transfer Effects

LearningRx improves memory and reasoning skills in at-risk high school students
Three million dollar NSF-funded randomized controlled trial led by Oliver Hill, PhD of Virginia State University compared outcomes on tests of memory,
reasoning, and math attitudes between ThinkRx one-on-one training, Brainskills (digital ThinkRx program), and homework assistance for 225 at-risk high school students
Significant differences between groups were found on measures of fluid reasoning and long-term memory
Training gains transferred to improved attitudes about math for the Brainskills group

*Published in Journal of Experimental Education

Source: : Hill, O.W., Zewelanji, S., & Faison, O. (2015). The Efficacy of the LearningRx Cognitive Training Program: Modality and Transfer Effects. Journal of Experimental Education: Learning, Instruction, and Cognition, 84(3), 600-620. doi: 10.1080/00220973.2015.1065218

Traumatic Brain Injury Ages 15–Adult

Neuroimaging Outcomes of a Cognitive Rehabilitation Training Program for mTBI

In addition to neuropsychological improvements, changes in functional connectivity and structure were documented using MRI for clients with mild
Traumatic Brain Injury following 60 hours of training with LearningRx.
In a multiple case study design led by neuroscientist Christina Ledbetter, PhD of LSU, 5 patients with mild brain injury were imaged and tested before and
after training.
There were statistically significant improvements in long-term memory, processing speed, logic & reasoning, auditory processing, and overall IQ
score; and there was clinically significant recovery for all 5 patients.
Transfer effects to real life benefits were found in improved focus and attention, mood and outlook on life, social relationships and communication
skills, work and school performance, and daily living skills like driving and managing finances.
There were 10 significant training induced changes in functional connectivity and 3 significant changes in structural connectivity (FA) correlating with
changes in IQ score.

*Published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Source: Moore, A.L., Carpenter, D., James, R.L., Miller, T.M., Moore, J.J., Disbrow, E., & Ledbetter, C. (2020). Neuroimaging and neuropsychological outcomes following clinician-delivered cognitive training for six patients with mild brain injury: A multiple case study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 14:229, 1-15. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00229/full

Assessment Child and Adult

Reliability and Validity of the Revised Gibson Test of Cognitive Skills, A Computer-Based Test Battery for Assessing Cognition across the Lifespan

The Gibson Test of Cognitive Skills (Version 2) is correlated with the Woodcock Johnson III as a valid and reliable method for assessing cognitive skills in
children and adults
Using a nationwide sample of 2,737 people ages 5 to 85, Amy Lawson Moore, PhD and Terissa Miller, MS Psy of Gibson Institute examined evidence of validity and reliability of the Gibson Test in measuring short-term memory, long-term memory, processing speed, logic and reasoning, visual processing, auditory processing, and Word Attack skills.
Strong evidence of reliability included test-retest reliability coefficients ranging from .69–.91 and split-half reliability coefficients ranging from .87 to .91. Strong evidence of validity included concurrent validity with the Woodcock Johnson III with coefficients ranging from .53 to .93.
Compared to 7 major digital cognitive tests, the GT is the only one that measures auditory processing (including blending, segmenting, and dropping)
and Word Attack skills. It has the second largest normative database among the available digital cognitive tests, and the largest one that includes children.

*Published in Psychology Research and Behavior Management

Source: Moore, A.L., & Miller, T. (2018). Reliability and validity of the revised Gibson Test of Cognitive Skills, a computer-based test battery for assessing cognition across the lifespan. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 11, 25–35. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S152781 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5813948/ video abstract: https://youtu.be/qFMois2UyCY

*Research and findings are from Research Results and Client Outcomes by LearningRx, 3rd ed.