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Neurofeedback Training Versus Perceptual-motor Exercises Interventions in Visual Attention for Children With
Neda Ghadamgahi Sani1, Malahat Akbarfahimi1, Shadi Akbari2
1Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Both neurofeedback and perceptual-motor exercises effectively improve attention in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Perceptual-motor exercises are recommended due to added benefits in motor skills and social interaction.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder impacting attention and learning.
- Non-pharmacological interventions are sought for managing ADHD symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of neurofeedback and perceptual-motor exercises for visual attention in children with ADHD.
- To evaluate the impact of these interventions on attention and motor proficiency.
Main Methods:
- 40 medicated children with ADHD (aged 5-12) were randomized into neurofeedback or perceptual-motor exercise groups.
- Visual attention was assessed using the Continuous Performance Test (CPT).
- Motor proficiency was evaluated with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test (BOT).
Main Results:
- Both neurofeedback and perceptual-motor exercises significantly improved reaction time, omission errors, and commission errors in the CPT (P<0.001).
- No significant difference in attention improvement was found between the two groups (P>0.05).
- Perceptual-motor exercises led to significant improvements in motor proficiency (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Neurofeedback and perceptual-motor exercises are effective non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD symptoms.
- Perceptual-motor exercises offer additional benefits for motor proficiency, purposeful activities, and social interaction, making them a potentially more suitable option.
- Both interventions demonstrate efficacy with no reported side effects.
Introduction:
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood psychiatric disorders characterized by poor attention and subsequently lower learning abilities than normal children. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of neurofeedback and perceptual-motor exercises as two common nonpharmacological treatments for visual attention.
Methods:
A total of 40 combined medicated ADHD children (aged 5-12 years) were randomly allocated into two groups: neurofeedback training and perceptual-motor exercises. Visual attention and motor proficiency were assessed before and after the treatment by continuous performance test (CPT) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test (BOT), respectively.
Results:
According to repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), both groups showed significant improvement in three attention-related areas of CPT, including reaction time, omission, and commission errors (P<0.001), while the difference between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). However, in the perceptual-motor exercises group, motor proficiency improved significantly (P<0.01).
Conclusion:
Neurofeedback training intervention, as well as perceptual-motor exercises, are effective in improving ADHD symptoms, and given the similar effect of both interventions and their lack of side effects, perceptual-motor exercises appear to be the more appropriate option for reducing symptoms of ADHD, because of its additional effect on motor proficiency, rich content of purposeful activities, and social interactions.
Highlights:
Neurofeedback training intervention promote attention in ADHD;Perceptual-motor exercises improve ADHD symptoms;Perceptual-motor exercises has an additional effect on motor proficiency.
Plain Language Summary:
The effectiveness and cost of interventions is an important issue. The result of this study revealed although neuro-feedback training intervention as well as perceptual-motor exercises are effective in improving ADHD symptoms, perceptual-motor exercises seem more appropriate option for reducing symptoms of ADHD, due to its additional effect on motor proficiency.
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