Enhancing cognitive function through ICT in low-SES Malaysian children

IF 2.1 4区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL

Acta Psychologica Pub Date : 2025-07-23 DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105326

Jason Wei Jian Ng , Santha Vaithilingam , Li-Ann Hwang , Kaveendra Vasuthevan , Jee Kei Chan , Mahendhiran S. Nair

{"title":"Enhancing cognitive function through ICT in low-SES Malaysian children","authors":"Jason Wei Jian Ng , Santha Vaithilingam , Li-Ann Hwang , Kaveendra Vasuthevan , Jee Kei Chan , Mahendhiran S. Nair","doi":"10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105326","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the impact of technology exposure on executive functions (EF), particularly cognitive flexibility, among children from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds in Malaysia. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the research evaluated the effects of the Program Titian Digital (PTD), an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiative, on students aged 9 to 12 years in two rural Tamil vernacular schools. The intervention group received structured ICT training, while the control group did not. Executive function was assessed using the Tower of London (ToL) task, a validated neuropsychological tool, at pre- and post-intervention stages. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate changes in planning skills, reaction times, and overall cognitive performance. Results showed significant improvements in the treatment group, supporting the neuroplasticity theory and highlighting the potential of ICT interventions to enhance cognitive development in vulnerable populations. These findings have important implications for educational policy and poverty alleviation strategies through cognitive empowerment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7141,"journal":{"name":"Acta Psychologica","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 105326"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta Psychologica","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825006390","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of technology exposure on executive functions (EF), particularly cognitive flexibility, among children from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds in Malaysia. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the research evaluated the effects of the Program Titian Digital (PTD), an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiative, on students aged 9 to 12 years in two rural Tamil vernacular schools. The intervention group received structured ICT training, while the control group did not. Executive function was assessed using the Tower of London (ToL) task, a validated neuropsychological tool, at pre- and post-intervention stages. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate changes in planning skills, reaction times, and overall cognitive performance. Results showed significant improvements in the treatment group, supporting the neuroplasticity theory and highlighting the potential of ICT interventions to enhance cognitive development in vulnerable populations. These findings have important implications for educational policy and poverty alleviation strategies through cognitive empowerment.

查看原文本刊更多论文

通过信息通信技术提高马来西亚低经济地位儿童的认知功能

本研究调查了技术暴露对马来西亚低社会经济地位（SES）背景儿童的执行功能（EF），特别是认知灵活性的影响。采用准实验设计，该研究评估了Titian Digital （PTD）项目（一项信息和通信技术（ICT）倡议）对两所农村泰米尔方言学校9至12岁学生的影响。干预组接受结构化的ICT培训，而对照组没有。在干预前和干预后的阶段，使用伦敦塔（ToL）任务（一种经过验证的神经心理学工具）评估执行功能。采用协方差分析（ANCOVA）来评估计划技能、反应时间和整体认知表现的变化。结果显示，治疗组有显著改善，这支持了神经可塑性理论，并强调了ICT干预在促进弱势群体认知发展方面的潜力。这些发现对教育政策和通过认知赋权的扶贫战略具有重要意义。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Acta Psychologica PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL-

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

5.60%

发文量

274

审稿时长

36 weeks

期刊介绍： Acta Psychologica publishes original articles and extended reviews on selected books in any area of experimental psychology. The focus of the Journal is on empirical studies and evaluative review articles that increase the theoretical understanding of human capabilities.