ERPs correlates of EEG relative beta training in ADHD children

Eighty-six children (ages 9-14) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) participated in this study. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in auditory GO/NOGO task before and after 15-22 sessions of EEG biofeedback. Each session consisted of 20 min of enhancing the ratio of the EEG power in 15-18 Hz band to the EEG power in the rest of spectrum, and 7-10 min of enhancing of the ratio of the EEG power in 12-15 Hz to the EEG power in the rest of spectrum with C3-Fz electrodes' placements for the first protocol and C4-Pz for the second protocol. On the basis of quality of performance during training sessions, the patients were divided into two groups: good performers and bad performers. ERPs of good performers to GO and NOGO cues gained positive components evoked within 180-420 ms latency. At the same time, no statistically significant differences between pre- and post-training ERPs were observed for bad performers. The ERP differences between post- and pretreatment conditions for good performers were distributed over frontal-central areas and appear to reflect an activation of frontal cortical areas associated with beta training.