The current study investigated the efficacy of a game-based process specific intervention for improving attention and working memory in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The Caribbean Quest (CQ) is a 'serious game' that consists of five hierarchically structured tasks, delivered in an adaptive format, targeting different aspects of attention and/or working memory. In addition to game play, the intervention incorporates metacognitive strategies provided by trained educational assistants (EAs), to facilitate generalization and far transfer to academic and daily skills. EAs delivered the intervention to children (ages 6-13) during their regular school day, providing children with instruction in metacognitive strategies to improve game play, with participants completing approximately 12 hours of training over an 8 to 12 school week period. Pre- and post-test analyses revealed significant improvement on measures of working memory and attention, including reduced distractibility and improved divided attention skills. Additionally, children showed significant gains in performance on an academic measure of reading fluency, suggesting that training-related gains in attention and working memory transferred to classroom performance. Exit interviews with EAs revealed that the intervention was easily delivered within the school day, that children enjoyed the intervention, and that children transferred metacognitive strategies learned in game play into the classroom. Preliminary results support this game-based process specific intervention as a potentially effective treatment and useful tool for supporting cognitive improvements in children with FASD or ASD, when delivered as part of an overall treatment plan.

Therapies that help restore abilities in individuals with brain damage are being investigated to help individuals with FAS. These methods focus on rehabilitation and exercises for the brain which improve specific cognitive capacities. We present Cognitive Carnival, a computer game therapy based on cognitive exercises, designed to improve the child's motivation and engagement of the tasks. Three minigames were developed, each based on improving one of three cognitive prinicples: executive function, continuous performance, and working memory. These minigames will be used in controlled therapy sessions with neuropsychologists for children with FAS to determine their effectiveness as a rehabilitative tool.Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a disorder that is caused by the ingestion of alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol is a teratogen (substance that is toxic to the developing brain) and can result in abnormal brain development (brain damage). Children with FAS are faced with numerous obstacles, including significant problems with executive functions, attention, memory, and language. These conditions impede children with FAS from succeeding in school and living normal lives.

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