Neural Dynamics for Facilitating ADHD Diagnosis in Preschoolers: Central and Parietal Delta Synchronization in the Kiddie Continuous Performance Test

Abstract

The present study aimed to characterize children at risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during preschool age and provide early intervention. The continuous performance test (CPT) and electroencephalography (EEG) can contribute additional valuable information to facilitate diagnosis. This study measured brain dynamics at slow and fast task rates in the CPT using a wireless wearable EEG and identified correlations between the EEG and CPT data in preschool children with ADHD.Forty-nine preschool children participated in this study, of which 29 were diagnosed with ADHD and 20 exhibited typical development (TD). The Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) and wireless wearable EEG recordings were employed simultaneously. Significant differences were observed between the groups with ADHD and TD in task-related EEG spectral powers (central as well as parietal delta, P <0.01), which were distinct only in the slow-rate task condition. A shift from resting to the CPT task condition induced overall alpha powers decrease in the ADHD group. In the task condition, the delta powers were positively correlated with the CPT perseveration scores, whereas the alpha powers were negatively correlated with specific CPT scores mainly on perseveration and detectability (P < 0.05). These results,

Task-Rate-Related Neural Dynamics Using Wireless EEG to Assist Diagnosis and Intervention Planning for Preschoolers with ADHD Exhibiting Heterogeneous Cognitive Proficiency

“…Throughout the entire K-CPT procedure, subjects must adjust and respond well depending on the varying task rate; that is, respond appropriately to the tasks with shorter and longer ISIs. Usually, in the context of children with ADHD, the reaction times may be longer (e.g., inattentive type) or shorter (e.g., hyperactive type) compared to healthy controls (HCs) in the shorter ISIs condition, while subjects may make more omission and commission errors in the longer ISIs condition [ 46 ]. The responses were used to compute scores reflecting various attention aspects.…”

“…The wireless EEG acquisition device used eight semi-dry electrodes called hygroscopic sponge electrode sensors to record signals. The hygroscopic sponge sensors exhibited several superior characteristics [ 46 ]. First, the skin-contacting part was made of a soft sponge, which provided comfort during EEG acquisition.…”

“…For artifact removal, first, 0.5 Hz high-pass and 50 Hz low-pass basic finite impulse response filters were applied to improve EEG signal quality. Second, EEG experts and the clinician identified and eliminated the components corresponding to muscle artifacts related to the participants’ restless movements during the experiment by independent component analysis (ICA) [ 46 , 49 ], and the signals were processed using ICLabel in EEGLAB toolbox, which provides automated independent component classification [ 50 ]. After the ICA process, the components of brain signals related to artifacts including eyes and muscle activities were eliminated.…”

Atypical functional connectivity during rest and task‐related dynamic alteration in young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: An analysis using the phase‐locking value

“…In this study, a novel eight-channel wearable portable EEG, Mindo BR8 [43][44][45] was used, which incorporates a wireless EEG device and a laptop. The hygroscopic sponge sensors used here satisfy the comfort during EEG recording and the convenience for preparation; furthermore, the system can provide superior conductivity to acquire EEG signals, the quality of which is equivalent to that of the NeuroScan.…”

“…The hygroscopic sponge sensors used here satisfy the comfort during EEG recording and the convenience for preparation; furthermore, the system can provide superior conductivity to acquire EEG signals, the quality of which is equivalent to that of the NeuroScan. 44 Procedure and EEG recording Figure 1 45 illustrates the EEG recording procedure. Participating children were induced to sit in a steady, comfortable chair in a quiet room; after they relaxed totally, resting power was recorded for 1 min while the participant's eyes were open.…”