Development and validation of a neurocognitive rehabilitation program and evaluation of its efficacy on reaction time, recognition of shape, and visual-spatial memory in high-functioning male adolescents with autism

Clinical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are diverse and include neurodevelopmental and cognitive impairments, as well as memory deficits, which are one of the most challenging areas for these individuals.

The present study aimed to develop and validate a neurocognitive rehabilitation program and evaluate its efficacy on reaction time, recognition of shape, and visual-spatial memory in high-functioning male teenagers with autism.

The study was conducted as a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures and a one-month follow-up session. The population included male teenagers with autism attending special schools in Tehran during the academic year 2022-2023. A total of 30 participants were selected from this population using convenient random sampling and assigned to experimental and control groups. The participants received ten one-hour sessions of intervention over a period of 1.5 months, and Sina cognitive software was used in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Independent t-test was used to compare the change scores between the two groups, and repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine the stability of the intervention's effectiveness.

The results showed a significant reduction in reaction time for simple reaction (t(28)=3.16, d=0.83, P=0.004) and selective reaction (t(28)=8.11, d=0.76, P<0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group in the post-test and follow-up stages. Moreover, the experimental group showed a significant improvement in pattern recognition (t(28)=10.67, d=0.893, P<0.001) and visual-spatial memory (t(28)=10.90, d=0.884, P<0.001) compared to the control group in the post-test and follow-up stages.

Computer-based cognitive exercises are effective in improving cognitive performance and memory in individuals with autism. If these exercises are combined with sensory and motor interventions, better and more sustainable results can be achieved.