Training sensory signal-to-noise resolution in children with ADHD in a global mental health setting
J Mishra, R Sagar, A A Joseph, A Gazzaley, M M Merzenich, J Mishra, R Sagar, A A Joseph, A Gazzaley, M M Merzenich
Abstract
Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have impaired focus on goal-relevant signals and fail to suppress goal-irrelevant distractions. To address both these issues, we developed a novel neuroplasticity-based training program that adaptively trains the resolution of challenging sensory signals and the suppression of progressively more challenging distractions. We evaluated this sensory signal-to-noise resolution training in a small sample, global mental health study in Indian children with ADHD. The children trained for 30 h over 6 months in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Training completers showed steady and significant improvements in ADHD-associated behaviors from baseline to post training relative to controls, and benefits sustained in a 6-month follow-up. Post-training cognitive assessments showed significant positive results for response inhibition and Stroop interference tests in training completers vs controls, while measures of sustained attention and short-term memory showed nonsignificant improvement trends. Further, training-driven improvements in distractor suppression correlated with the improved ADHD symptoms. This initial study suggests utility of signal-to-noise resolution training for children with ADHD; it emphasizes the need for further research on this intervention and substantially informs the design of a larger trial.
Conflict of interest statement
MMM is the President and Founder of Brain Plasticity Institute, Posit Science. AG is the co-founder and chief science advisor of Akili Interactive Labs. MMM has a patent for ‘Adaptive Set Discrimination Procedure' and JM, AG and MMM have a patent for 'Methods of Suppressing Irrelevant Stimuli' the ONTRAC program was developed based on these patents. RS declares no conflicts of interest.
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References
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