Can neurophysiological markers of anticipation and attention predict ADHD severity and neurofeedback outcomes?
Pascal-M Aggensteiner1, Björn Albrecht2, Ute Strehl3
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Abstract:
Neurophysiological measures of preparation and attention are often atypical in ADHD. Still, replicated findings that these measures predict which patients improve after Neurofeedback (NF), reveal neurophysiological specificity, and reflect ADHD-severity are limited.
Methods:
We analyzed children's preparatory (CNV) and attentional (Cue-P3) brain activity and behavioral performance during a cued Continuous Performance Task (CPT) before and after slow cortical potential (SCP)-NF or semi-active control treatment (electromyogram biofeedback). Mixed-effects models were performed with 103 participants at baseline and 77 were assessed for pre-post comparisons focusing on clinical outcome prediction, specific neurophysiological effects of NF, and associations with ADHD-severity.
Results:
Attentional and preparatory brain activity and performance were non-specifically reduced after treatment. Preparatory activity in the SCP-NF group increased with clinical improvement. Several performance and brain activity measures predicted non-specific treatment outcome.
Conclusion:
Specific neurophysiological effects after SCP-NF were limited to increased neural preparation associated with improvement on ADHD-subscales, but several performance and neurophysiological measures of attention predicted treatment outcome and reflected symptom severity in ADHD. The results may help to optimize treatment.
