EEG alpha power during maintenance of information in working memory in adults with ADHD and its plasticity due to working memory training: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

The present study examined whether neural indices of working memory maintenance differ between young adults with ADHD and their healthy peers (Study 1), and whether this neural index would change after working memory training (Study 2).

METHODS

Study 1 involved 136 college students with ADHD and 41 healthy peers (aged 18-35 years) and measured their posterior alpha activity during a visual delayed-match-to-sample task using electroencephalography (EEG). Study 2 involved 99 of the participants with ADHD who were randomized into a standard-length or shortened-length Cogmed working memory training program or a waitlist control group.

RESULTS

The ADHD group tended to be less accurate than the peers. Similarly, the ADHD group exhibited lower posterior alpha power at a trend level compared to their healthy peers. There were no training effects on participants' performance and only marginal increases in posterior alpha power in training groups compared to the waitlist group.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering that the training effects were small and there was no load and dose effect, we conclude that the current study provides no convincing evidence for specific effects of Cogmed.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings provide unique insights into neuroplasticity, or lack thereof, with near-transfer tasks in individuals with ADHD.