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EEG Connectivity in ADHD Compared to a Normative Database: A Cohort Analysis of 120 Subjects from the ICAN Study

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Abstract

This study explores how EEG connectivity measures in children with ADHD ages 7–10 (n = 140) differ from an age-matched nonclinical database. We differentiated connectivity in networks, Brodmann area pairs, and frequencies. Subjects were in the International Collaborative ADHD Neurofeedback study, which explored neurofeedback for ADHD. Inclusion criteria were mainly rigorously diagnosed ADHD and a theta/beta power ratio (TBR) ≤ 4.5. Using statistical and machine learning algorithms, connectivity values were extracted in coherence, phase, and lag coherence at all Brodmann, subcortical, and cerebellar areas within the main networks in all EEG frequencies and then compared with a normative database. There is a higher rate of dysregulation (more than ± 1.97SD), in some cases as much as 75%, of the Brodmann pairs observed in coherence and phase between BAs 7, 10, and 11 with secondary connections from these areas to BAs 21, 30, 35, 37, 39, and 40 in the ADHD children as compared to the normative database. Left and right Brodmann areas 10 and 11 are highly disconnected to each other. The most dysregulated Brodmann Areas in ADHD are 7, 10, and 11, relevant to ADHD executive-function deficits and provide important considerations when developing interventions for ADHD children.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following Saybrook University students for their help in developing clean EEGs for evaluation: Alison Ooms, Emily Thomas, Jillean Veroneau, Rebekah Walker, and Kristin Williams, as well as Seattle-based clinician, Sal Barba.

Funding

Dr. Cynthia Kerson has received NIMH funding for the ICAN study, Dr. Roger deBeus has received research funding from NIMH. Dr. Roley-Roberts has received research funding from LB692 Nebraska Tobacco Settlement Biomedical Research Development Program, American Psychological Foundation, Foundation for Education and Research in Biofeedback and Related Sciences, Foundation for Neurofeedback and Neuromodulation Research, NIMH, NIGMS, and NIH. Dr. Arnold has received research funding from Supernus Pharmaceuticals (USA), Roche/Genentech Phanaceuticals (Switzerland), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (Japan), Axial, and YoungLiving Essential Oils (USA) and National Institute of Health (USA, R01 MH 100144), has consulted with Pfizer Parmaceuticals (USA), and been on advisory boards for Otsuka (Japan) and Roche/Genentech (Switzerland).

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Author notes

  1. Cynthia Kerson and Joel Lubar are co-primary authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Psychophysiology, Saybrook University, Pasadena, USA

    Cynthia Kerson

  2. APEd (Applied Psychophysiology Education), Napa, USA

    Cynthia Kerson

  3. Southeastern Neurofeedback Institute, Pompano Beach, Florida, USA

    Joel Lubar

  4. University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC, USA

    Roger deBeus

  5. Department of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Biostatistics, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA

    Xueliang Pan

  6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ohio State University, Nisonger Center, Columbus, USA

    Robert Rice & L. Eugene Arnold

  7. Integrated Systems Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA

    Theodore Allen & Maha Yazbeck

  8. Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA

    Shlok Sah, Yajat Dhawan & Wei Zong

  9. Department of Psychiatry, Creighton University, CHI Health, Behavioral Health, Omaha, USA

    Michelle E. Roley-Roberts

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Contributions

CK., JL, AGL, MR-R., and RdB. wrote the main manuscript and prepared all figures and graphs. PX(J). provided statistical analyses. TA., MY., SS, YD., and WZ. prepared statistical and machine learning Monte Carlo analyses. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Cynthia Kerson.

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Authors have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

This study is part of the ICAN study, which received IRB approval through Ohio State University. IRB # 2013H0417.

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Kerson, C., Lubar, J., deBeus, R. et al. EEG Connectivity in ADHD Compared to a Normative Database: A Cohort Analysis of 120 Subjects from the ICAN Study. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 48, 191–206 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-022-09569-9

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