title: 1Controlled evaluation of a neurofeedback training of slow cortical potentials in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although several promising studies on neurofeedback training in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been performed in recent years, the specificity of positive treatment effects continues to be challenged.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the specificity of a neurofeedback training of slow cortical potentials, a twofold strategy was pursued: First, the efficacy of neurofeedback training was compared to a group training program for children with ADHD. Secondly, the extent of improvements observed in the neurofeedback group in relation to successful regulation of cortical activation was examined. Parents and teachers rated children's behaviour and executive functions before and after treatment. In addition, children underwent neuropsychological testing before and after training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to parents' and teachers' ratings, children of the neurofeedback training group improved more than children who had participated in a group therapy program, particularly in attention and cognition related domains. On neuropsychological measures children of both groups showed similar improvements. However, only about half of the neurofeedback group learned to regulate cortical activation during a transfer condition without direct feedback. Behavioural improvements of this subgroup were moderately related to neurofeedback training performance, whereas effective parental support accounted better for some advantages of neurofeedback training compared to group therapy according to parents' and teachers' ratings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a specific training effect of neurofeedback of slow cortical potentials due to enhanced cortical control. However, non-specific factors, such as parental support, may also contribute to the positive behavioural effects induced by the neurofeedback training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland. renate.drechsler@kjpd.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drechsler
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Straub
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doehnert
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Steinhausen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brandeis