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Abstract
Recent electrophysiologic studies have found fairly consistent differences between
children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and age-matched control
subjects. The present study examined electroencephalogram (EEG) changes associated
with a double blind, placebo-controlled administration of methylphenidate among children
with ADHD.
Subjects were 10 children, ages 8 to 13, with a primary diagnosis of ADHD. Brain electrical
activity was recorded with 7 electrodes in the frontal, central, and midline areas
during baseline and cognitive activation conditions.
Repeated-measures ANOVAs indicate that children exhibiting a positive medication response
had reductions of theta and alpha as well as increased beta in the frontal regions,
while nonresponders showed the opposite pattern (p < .05). Significant correlations
between improvement on a vigilance task and changes in beta activity in the frontal
electrodes emerged as well.
These preliminary findings indicate that there are different electrophysiologic correlates
to methylphenidate among ADHD children who are medication responders and nonresponders.