Teaching Math Skills to Individuals With Fragile X Syndrome

Children with FXS are predisposed to manifesting a particular profile of intellectual strengths and weaknesses, including specific deficits in math, visual-spatial skills, executive functioning, and social skills. Until now, intensive behavioral interventions have not been targeted to syndrome-specific weaknesses. In the present study we will develop and evaluate behavioral strategies to aid skill acquisition in children with FXS.

There are no experimental data of skill acquisition using matching-to-sample techniques (or any other specific cognitive intervention) conducted with individuals with FXS. Further, no studies have been conducted to examine the possible underlying or mediating brain processes involved during matching-to-sample skill acquisition in children with FXS or any other neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous pilot data have indicated that the computerized match-to-sample procedure, even when conducted in time-limited sessions, may significantly help individuals with FXS learn new skills. We plan to utilize brain imaging methodology to compare functional connectivity networks for those who pass and those who fail the equivalence test. 30 subjects with FXS and 30 control subjects with idiopathic developmental disability will be enrolled in the study. All subjects will be enrolled at Stanford.