St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
This study will evaluate a new way to help childhood medulloblastoma survivors improve their thinking and memory skills. Many survivors experience long term challenges with attention and working memory because of the tumor and its treatments. The study uses real time neuroimaging technologies such as real time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) and real time functional near infrared spectroscopy (rt-fNIRS) make it possible to monitor and display a participant's brain activity as it occurs. Neurofeedback uses this activity to provide individuals with immediate visual information about how specific brain regions are functioning, potentially enabling them to learn strategies to modulate or improve brain activity linked to thinking skills. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives feedback from a brain area involved in working memory, and the other receives feedback from a different brain region as a comparison. Over three visits, participants complete brain scans, neurofeedback sessions, and thinking and memory tests. The main goal is to see if this type of brain training is practical, safe, and comfortable for survivors. The study also looks at whether the training may help improve brain activity and working memory performance. Primary Objective(s): • To evaluate the feasibility of real time Hemo-NFB neurofeedback training in medulloblastoma survivors. Secondary Objective(s): • To estimate the initial efficacy of Hemo-NFB neurofeedback to up-regulate the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and improve WM performance.
Survivors of childhood medulloblastoma often have lasting problems with attention, working memory, and processing speed due to the tumor and its treatment (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy). These changes commonly affect attention, working memory, and processing speed, which can interfere with school and daily activities Because current treatment options for cognitive problems are limited, researchers are studying new methods to support survivors. This study evaluates real time neuroimaging technologies such as real time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) and real time functi…
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 10 and ≤ 25 years at the time of enrollment. * English as a primary language. * Current St. Jude participants who received treatment for medulloblastoma with upfront craniospinal radiotherapy (proton or photon), inclusive of SJMB12 participants and those treated as per SJMB12 at least 2 years from completion of treatment of their medulloblastoma. * Demonstrate working memory impairment based on age-appropriate questionnaire electronically administered pre-enrollment. Specifically, scores \>57 on the Working Memory Index of the BRIEF (places the individual in the to…
Real time fMRI neurofeedback targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to train participants to increase DLPFC activity.
Real time fMRI neurofeedback using the primary auditory cortex as a control region with identical procedures.