Effect of computerized cognitive rehabilitation on executive function and problem-solving of students with a mathematic learning disability

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of computer-based cognitive rehabilitation on executive function and problem-solving of students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities. This is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design and a control group and two-month follow-up. The statistical population includes fourth grade elementary male students with learning disabilities in mathematics in Karaj during the 2019-2020 academic year, 40 people were selected by simple random sampling method and after matching with random replacement, they were divided into experimental (n=20) and control (n=20) groups. The subjects in the experimental group received the Captain's Log cognitive rehabilitation software Training Program (version 2018) individually for 10 sessions of 50 minutes, while the control group was not provided with this training program. To collect the research data the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) of Berg & Grant (1948), Tower of London Test (TOL) of Shallice (1982) were used. The data were analyzed with a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) test using the 24th version of SPSS. Computer cognitive rehabilitation caused the experimental group to spend less preservation time, and effort than the control group to achieve the pattern, and their cognitive flexibility increased; They also had less delay time, test time, and fewer errors to solve the problem, while their number of solved problems increased (p<0.01). The results of  the present research show a computerized cognitive rehabilitation training program can be used as an appropriate method for improving executive function and problem-solving among students with mathematics learning disabilities.