Brain stimulation and cognitive training in ADHD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A novel brain-based therapy for ADHD children using non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)combined with cognitive training
IRAS ID
221680
Contact name
Katya Rubia
Contact email
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN48265228
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Background: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined by age-inappropriate problems with inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity and one of the most common childhood disorders, affecting 5-10% of children. ADHD children have problems with inhibitory self-control, timing and attention, which can be measured in computer games and which underlie their impulsiveness and inattention. Neuroimaging studies show that these problems are due to poor brain activity in the right frontal cortex. The gold-standard treatment for ADHD is with stimulant medication which works for 70% of patients and which enhances the activity of this right frontal region. However, stimulants do not work for all, have side effects, are not preferred by parents and patients, and have not shown to work longer-term. For these reasons, non-drug treatments such as cognitive training, which also stimulate this frontal region, are preferred, but on its own seem not to work very well.
Objectives: We plan to combine cognitive training of inhibition, attention and timing, which enhances the activity of the right frontal cortex, with a non-invasive brain stimulation method called transcranial direct current stimulationthat stimulates the same right frontal cortex through weak electrical currents in 40 ADHD boys between 10-18 years. Brain stimulation of right frontal cortex when given together with inhibition training improves inhibition in healthy adults and in ADHD children, because it makes the brain region more susceptible to the training effects. The brain stimulation method is portable, painless, tolerable, inexpensive and safe. We expect that stimulation combined with computer game training will be better than the computer game training alone in improving ADHD symptoms and their performance in these tests.
Clinical benefits: The study will be a first step towards the development of a new, painless and safe non-drug treatment for ADHD which will ultimately benefit children afflicted with the disorder.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0983
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion