Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Effect of Alpha Neurofeedback on the Executive Functions of the Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
razieh kiani zadeh 1
Manaz Estaki 2
Fariba Hasani 3
1 PhD Student of Psychology, Tehran central branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of neuropsychology, Tehran central branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)
3 Assistant Professor, Tehran central branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/mjms.2021.17820
Abstract
Abstract
Background and purpose: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) causes defect in the children’s psychological, emotional and cognitive processes. Therefore, the present study was conducted aiming to investigate the effect of alpha neurofeedback on the executive functions of the children with ADHD.
Material and methods: the research method was quasi-experimental in pretest, posttest design with control group and two-month follow-up stage. The statistical population of the study included male children with ADHD in 2020 who referred to psychiatry and psychology clinics in Mashhad. 14 primary school children with ADHD were selected through purposive sampling method and they were randomly accommodated into experimental and control groups (each group of 7). The children in the experimental group took 30 sessions of neurofeedback therapy during two-and-a-half months. Conners’ ADHDH questionnaires, parents form, and continuous performance test were used in the current study. The data from the study were analyzed through repeated measurement ANOVA via SPSS23 statistical software.
Findings: the results showed that alpha neurofeedback has significant effect on the executive function of the children with ADHD (p < 0.001) in a way that this therapy was able to lead to the improvement of the executive functions in these children.
Conclusion: according to the results of the present study, neurofeedback can be considered an efficient therapy to improve executive functions of the children with ADHD through offering biologic feedbacks and the people’s knowledge in mental and cognitive processes.
Keywords
ADHD
executive functions
alpha neurofeedback
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Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 63, Issue 5
January and February 2021
Pages 2914-2923