title: Resting state EEG oscillatory power differences in ADHD college students and their peers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among the most robust neural abnormalities differentiating individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) from typically developing controls are elevated levels of slow oscillatory activity (e.g., theta) and reduced fast oscillatory activity (e.g., alpha and beta) during resting-state electroencephalography (EEG). However, studies of resting state EEG in adults with ADHD are scarce and yield inconsistent findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  EEG profiles, recorded during a resting-state with eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions, were compared for college students with ADHD (n = 18) and a nonclinical comparison group (n = 17).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ADHD group showed decreased power for fast frequencies, especially alpha. This group also showed increased power in the slow frequency bands, however, these effects were strongest using relative power computations. Furthermore, the theta/beta ratio measure was reliably higher for the ADHD group. All effects were more pronounced for the eyes-closed compared to the eyes-open condition. Measures of intra-individual variability suggested that brains of the ADHD group were less variable than those of controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this pilot study reveal that college students with ADHD show a distinct neural pattern during resting state, suggesting that oscillatory power, especially alpha, is a useful index for reflecting differences in neural communication of ADHD in early adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Applied Psychology and Human Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. steven.woltering@mail.utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woltering
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Zhongxu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tannock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities