Decreased Impulsiveness and MEG Normalization After AI-digital Therapy in ADHD Children: a RCT

Overview

Journal Npj Ment Health Res

Publisher Springer Nature

Date 2025 Jan 8

PMID 39779908

Authors

Danylyna Shpakivska Bilan

Irene Alice Chicchi Giglioli

Pablo Cuesta

Elena Canadas

Ignacio de Ramon

Fernando Maestu

Jose Alda

Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga

Jorge A Herrera

Alfonso Amado

Javier Quintero

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents with symptoms like impulsiveness, inattention, and hyperactivity, often affecting children's academic and social functioning. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as digital cognitive therapy, are emerging as complementary treatments for ADHD. The randomized controlled trial explored the impact of an AI-driven digital cognitive program on impulsiveness, inattentiveness, and neurophysiological markers in 41 children aged 8-12 with ADHD. Participants received either 12 weeks of AI-driven therapy or a placebo intervention. Assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention and magnetoencephalography (MEG) analyzed brain activity. Results showed significant reductions in impulsiveness and inattentiveness scores in the treatment group, associated with normalized MEG spectral profiles, indicating neuromaturation. Notably, improvements in inhibitory control correlated with spectral profile normalization in the parieto-temporal cortex. Improvements in inhibitory control, linked to normalized spectral profiles, suggest AI-driven digital cognitive therapy can reduce impulsiveness in ADHD children by enhancing neurophysiological efficiency. This emphasizes personalized, technology-driven ADHD treatment, using neurophysiological markers for assessing efficacy.

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