A fully remote randomized trial of digital cognitive training for cognitive control in adults

ISRCTN	ISRCTN10069297
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10069297
Sponsor	University of California, San Francisco
Funders	Neuroscape Network, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

Submission date: 11/08/2026
Registration date: 18/08/2026
Last edited: 13/08/2026

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Cognitive control refers to mental abilities that support attention, working memory, and goal-directed behavior. Individual differences in cognitive control are associated with variation in everyday functioning and cognitive performance. The aim of this study was to characterize cognitive control abilities in healthy adults and evaluate the effects of digital cognitive training interventions delivered remotely through mobile devices and computers on cognitive performance. The study also examined relationships between laboratory-based cognitive measures and real-world cognitive functioning.

Who can participate?
Healthy adults aged 18 to 65 years who were fluent in English, had access to a computer or mobile device with internet connectivity, and had normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing. Individuals with neurological or psychiatric disorders were excluded.

What does the study involve?
Participants completed the study entirely remotely using the Nexus online research platform. After providing consent and completing baseline assessments, participants were randomly assigned to one of four digital applications, including three cognitive training interventions and one active placebo control application. Participants completed approximately 40 minutes of training per day, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Before and after the intervention period, participants completed cognitive assessments and questionnaires measuring attention, working memory, cognitive control, stress, and related outcomes.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants contributed to research investigating cognitive control and digital cognitive training interventions. Risks were considered minimal and included possible mental fatigue, boredom, frustration during cognitive tasks, or discomfort when answering questionnaires.

Where is the study run from?
Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA. All study procedures were conducted remotely through the Nexus online platform.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2024 to February 2025

Who is funding the study?
National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (NIH)USA)

Who is the main contact?
Dr. Joaquin A. Anguera
Department of Neurology
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
joaquin.anguera@ucsf.edu

Contact information

Prof Joaquin Anguera
Principal investigator, Public, Scientific

675 Nelson Rising Ln
San Francisco
94158
United States of America

ORCID ID	0000-0002-7216-0674
Phone	+1 415 702 4322
Email	joaquin.anguera@ucsf.edu

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Allocation	Randomized controlled trial
Masking	Blinded (masking used)
Control	Active
Assignment	Parallel
Purpose	Basic science
Scientific title	A randomized controlled trial in adults comparing mobile-delivered cognitive training with an active placebo control application for improving cognitive control, attention, and working memory
Study acronym	UCSF MEC Study
Study objectives	The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of remotely delivered digital cognitive training interventions on cognitive control abilities in healthy adults. Secondary objectives are to characterize individual differences in cognitive control, examine relationships between laboratory-based and real-world measures of cognitive functioning, and compare the effects of different digital cognitive training approaches on attention, working memory, executive function, and related cognitive outcomes.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 20/02/2022, University of California San Francisco Institutional Review Board (675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, 94158, United States of America; +1 (415) 476-1814; IRB@ucsf.edu), ref: 22-36343
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Healthy adults
Intervention	Participants are randomly assigned to one of four digital intervention arms delivered remotely through the Nexus research platform (we used a block randomization approach using an online tool, with block size of 4): -Meditrain: a mindfulness-based digital cognitive training application designed to engage attention and self-regulation processes -Engage: an adaptive attention training application incorporating game-like elements designed to engage cognitive control processes -Coherence: an adaptive rhythm-based training application designed to engage attention, synchronization, and working memory processes -Worder (active placebo control): a word-search game designed to maintain participant engagement without specifically targeting cognitive control mechanisms Participants complete approximately 40 minutes of training per day, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Cognitive assessments and questionnaires are administered remotely before and after the intervention period to evaluate attention, working memory, cognitive control, stress, and related outcomes. Participants are allocated to intervention arms through random assignment using the Nexus platform.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Vigilance without distraction measured using response time variability in a custom mobile continuous performance task (CPT) at pre-training and post-training Participants’ ability to maintain an accurate mental representation of items in working memory either in presence or absence of distracting or interfering information measured using Response time variability in a delayed recognition working memory paradigm at Pre-Training and Post-Training Rhythmicity - a rhythm synchronization game designed to assess and engage attention, timing, coordination, and working memory through auditory and visual rhythmic tasks measured using variability of tapping relative to the target beat (STD) at pre-training and post-training
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	ACE-X (Explorer) - A battery of adaptive cognitive control assessments testing attention, working memory, and multitasking abilities measured using response time variability, response time, span count at pre-training and post-training
Completion date	02/02/2025

Eligibility

Participant type(s)
Age group	Mixed
Lower age limit	18 Years
Upper age limit	65 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	800
Total final enrolment	156
Key inclusion criteria	1. Adults aged 18–65 years 2. Access to a computer or mobile device with internet connectivity 3. Fluent in English 4. Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing 5. Able to provide informed consent 6. Willing to participate in a fully remote digital cognitive training study
Key exclusion criteria	1. Under 18 years of age 2. Self-reported neurological disorder 3. Self-reported psychiatric disorder 4. Inability to complete study procedures remotely 5. Inability to provide informed consent
Date of first enrolment	01/03/2024
Date of final enrolment	01/01/2025

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United States of America

Study participating centres

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No

Editorial Notes

13/08/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by University of California San Francisco Institutional Review Board.