Effectiveness of motor-based cognitive rehabilitation on improvement of executive functions (cognitive flexibility, working memory, reaction time, response inhibition, sustained attention) in students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of motor-based cognitive rehabilitation on improvement of executive functions of children with ADHD. The research method was semi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design which was done on 15 ADHD children with age of 6-12 years old in Tabriz city using a purposeful sampling method. N-Back test was used to assess the working memory. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was used to assess the cognitive flexibility. Continuous performance test was used to assess sustained attention. Stroop test was used to assess response inhibition. Simple Reaction time test was used to assess Reaction time. Data were analyzed with repeated mixing covariance analysis and using SPSS.ver20.The result of the study showed that motor control cognitive rehabilitation was effective in improving executive functions (p < 0.01). These findings have further implications in the clinical interventions which have been thoroughly discussed.