86 Chapter 2 Paper Country Target group N % male Age, mean (SD) Age range Intervention arms Intervention characteristics Assessments Variables measured Findings relevant for current review De Vries et al. 2015 The Netherlands Children with autism spectrum disorder 121 89.3 10.53 (1.35) 8-12 years 1. Braingame Brian, working memory training version. 2. Braingame Brian, flexibility training version. 3. Mock-training version of Braingame Brian. 1-3. Twenty-five 45-minute sessions over a 6-week period (5 sessions each week and the training period included one spare week). Pre, post and 6-weeks FU. Visual-spatial working memory and cognitive flexibility were both measured twice, either resembling or being different from the training tasks (representing near and far transfer effects, respectively); other far-transfer measures: inhibition, sustained attention, executive functioning (total, shift, working memory scores), social behaviour, ADHD symptoms, and quality of life; amount of parental support, number of completed sessions. Children in all conditions improved in working memory, cognitive flexibility, sustained attention and parent-rated executive functioning, social behaviour, ADHD symptoms and quality of life. There were no significant differential intervention effects. Dickinson & Place, 2014 England (UK) Children with autism 100 79.0 9.88 (1.87) 5-15 years 1. Nintendo Wii with ‘Mario and Sonics at Olympics’ + standard school physical education programme. 2. Control group receiving only the standard school physical education programme. 1. Three 15minute sessions per week, for one academic year, in addition to the regular curriculum consisting of two 30–45-minute physical exercise lessons per week. 2. Two 30–45minute physical exercise lessons per week. Pre and post. BMI, aerobic fitness, speed/agility and aerobic capacity, explosive leg strength, abdominal strength and endurance, hip flexibility. At the end of one year, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements on all tests other than flexibility when compared to the control group.
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