Effects of hemoencephalographic biofeedback with virtual reality on selected aspects of attention in children with ADHD

Abstract

For children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a reduction of inattention by biofeedback has been shown in several studies. As evidenced by previous reports, biofeedback (BFB) with virtual reality (VR) allows for controlling distractors, providing an environment that captures participants' attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hemoencephalographic (HEG) BFB with VR in treating deficits in vigilance (assessed using the short form of the Mackworth Clock Task), visual search (the Visual Search Task), and divided attention (Multitasking Test) among children with ADHD. Data subjected to analysis were collected from 87 participants aged 9–15 years. Children were assigned to one of three groups (standard 2D BFB in the lab, VR BFB with a limited visual scene, VR BFB with a complex visual scene) and were subjected to ten HEG BFB sessions. Children in the VR BFB groups exhibited a bigger regional cerebral blood oxygenation slope during BFB and better performance in cognitive tests following the experiment compared to children in the 2D BFB group. The data obtained suggest that HEG BFB with VR may have a more beneficial effect in treating attention deficits compared to standard 2D HEG BFB. We believe that the strong effects of HEG BFB with VR stem from the increased commitment and motivation in individuals, rather than from manipulation with regard to visual scene complexity.