Comparing tomographic EEG neurofeedback and EMG biofeedback in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Abstract

Two types of biofeedback (BF), tomographic electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback (NF) and electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF), both with phasic and tonic protocols, were compared for treatment effects and specificity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirteen children with ADHD trained their brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and twelve trained activity of arm muscles involved in fine motor skills. In each training session, resting state 24-channel EEG and training performances were recorded. Both groups showed similar behavioral improvements and artifact reduction in selected conditions, with no significant advantages despite medium effect sizes on primary outcomes for NF. Only the EMG-BF group, however, showed clear improvement in training regulation performance, and specific motor coordination effects. The NF group tended to present individual normalization of trained frequency bands in the ACC during rest across training. The results provide evidence for some specific effects in our small sample, albeit only to a small extent.

• Authors: Stefano Maurizio, Martina Daniela Liechti, Hartmut Heinrich, Lutz Jäncke, Hans-Christoph Steinhausen, Susanne Walitza, Daniel Brandeis, Renate Drechsler
• Journal: Biological psychology (Biol Psychol) Vol. 95 Pg. 31-44 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1873-6246 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24211870 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Attention (physiology)
• Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (physiopathology, therapy)
• Biofeedback, Psychology (methods)
• Child
• Electroencephalography
• Electromyography
• Female
• Gyrus Cinguli (physiopathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Neurofeedback (methods)
• Treatment Outcome