An EEG Investigation of the Attention-Related Impact of Mindfulness Training in Youth With ADHD: Outcomes and Methodological Considerations. Issue 7 (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sibalis, Annabel; Milligan, Karen; Pun, Carson; McKeough, Trish; Schmidt, Louis A.; Segalowitz, Sidney J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 23:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 733
• Page End: 743
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: ADHD -- attention mindfulness -- EEG -- youth; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054717719535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: The current study examined the impact of an activity-based mindfulness treatment on EEG indices of attention in youth with ADHD aged 11 to 17 years compared with a waitlist control group.Method : Pre- and post-treatment, EEG was recorded as participants completed a single-point focus rest task and two active attention tasks. Theta power, beta power, and theta/beta ratio (TBR) were calculated during each task.Results : A significant group by time by task interaction was found that indicated significant improvement in attentional ability, indexed by decreased TBR, for the treatment group but not controls.Conclusion : Findings support the benefit of mindfulness treatment for enhancing attentional control in youth with ADHD and extend the literature by providing evidence of these gains at a neural level. Findings also offer methodological support for the use of active attention tasks when examining mindfulness-related attentional gains in youth with ADHD. Directions for future research are discussed.