title: Comparing tomographic EEG neurofeedback and EMG biofeedback in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: Two types of biofeedback (BF), tomographic electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback (NF) and electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF), both with phasic and tonic protocols, were compared for treatment effects and specificity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirteen children with ADHD trained their brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and twelve trained activity of arm muscles involved in fine motor skills. In each training session, resting state 24-channel EEG and training performances were recorded. Both groups showed similar behavioral improvements and artifact reduction in selected conditions, with no significant advantages despite medium effect sizes on primary outcomes for NF. Only the EMG-BF group, however, showed clear improvement in training regulation performance, and specific motor coordination effects. The NF group tended to present individual normalization of trained frequency bands in the ACC during rest across training. The results provide evidence for some specific effects in our small sample, albeit only to a small extent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maurizio
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neuropsychology, Institute for Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuro-Urology, Spinal Cord Injury Center & Research, University of Zurich, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martina Daniela
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Liechti
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; Heckscher-Klinikum, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neuropsychology, Institute for Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jäncke
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology, Institute of Psychology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Steinhausen
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walitza
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: brandeis@kjpd.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brandeis
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: renate.drechsler@kjpd.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drechsler
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anterior cingulate cortex; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Controlled clinical study; EMG biofeedback; Neurofeedback training; Specific treatment effects; Standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA)