Editorial Perspective: How to optimise frequency band neurofeedback for ADHD
Annet Bluschke1, Veit Roessner1, Christian Beste1
1Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Summary
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children and adults. Theta/beta neurofeedback shows promise for optimizing treatment of executive control dysfunctions in ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychiatry
Background:
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent paediatric neuropsychiatric disorder.
- ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity, and deficits in cognitive domains like working memory and executive functions.
- These executive function deficits can persist into adulthood, negatively impacting daily life.
Discussion:
- Multimodal treatment for ADHD includes pharmacological interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and parent/teacher training.
- Neurofeedback has emerged as a popular intervention option for ADHD.
- This article explores neurofeedback, specifically theta/beta neurofeedback, for optimizing executive control dysfunctions in ADHD.
Key Insights:
- Children with ADHD exhibit heterogeneity in executive function impairments.
- Executive function deficits in ADHD can lead to significant long-term challenges.
- Theta/beta neurofeedback offers a potential avenue for targeted intervention.
Outlook:
- Further research into neurofeedback efficacy for ADHD is warranted.
- Optimizing neurofeedback protocols may enhance treatment outcomes for executive control.
- Integrating neurofeedback into multimodal ADHD treatment plans could improve patient management.
