Attention deficit in children with developmental coordination disorder: evidence from resting state EEG

Shuling Chen1, Xinran Wan1, Yu Yang1

  • 1School of Educational Sciences, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, China.

Acta Psychologica
|June 19, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) show distinct resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) patterns, specifically elevated theta power and theta/beta ratios. These findings suggest potential neurophysiological differences in brain activity during rest for individuals with DCD.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is frequently associated with attentional deficits.
  • Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) may offer insights into neurophysiological underpinnings of DCD.
  • Understanding brain activity patterns in DCD is crucial for diagnosis and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate resting-state EEG oscillatory activity in children diagnosed with DCD.
  • To compare EEG spectral profiles between children with DCD and typically developing controls.
  • To explore potential neural correlates of motor coordination deficits in DCD.

Main Methods:

  • Acquired five-minute resting-state EEG recordings from 23 children with DCD and 24 controls.
  • Utilized independent-samples t-tests for statistical comparison of EEG data.
  • Analyzed theta power, alpha power, and theta/beta ratios across different brain regions.

Main Results:

  • Children with DCD exhibited significantly higher theta power compared to controls.
  • Elevated theta/beta ratios were observed in the DCD group.
  • No significant differences in alpha power were found between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct patterns of theta oscillations may indicate atypical central nervous system activation in children with DCD.
  • While not a definitive biomarker, EEG spectral profiles offer potential insights into DCD neurophysiology.
  • Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore EEG's role in DCD research.