Integrated Visual And Auditory Continuous Performance Test Research Articles

Visual and auditory attention defects in children with intermittent exotropia

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that children with intermittent exotropia (IXT) have a higher rate of psychiatric abnormalities as they grow up, such as attention deficit. This study explored visual and hearing attention among children with IXT, and evaluated its association with clinical characteristics and cognitive development.MethodsForty-nine children with a diagnosis of IXT and 29 children with traditional development were recruited. The Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT) was used to measure the subjects’ full-scale response control quotient (FSRCQ), full-scale attention quotient (FSAQ), auditory response control quotient (ARCQ), auditory attention quotient (AAQ), visual response control quotient (VRCQ), and visual attention quotient (VAQ). The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) was used to assess their cognitive function. The differences between the scores of children with IXT and normal controls were analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that the FSRCQ, FSAQ, ARCQ, AAQ, VRCQ, and VAQ of children with IXT were all lower than those of normal controls with the same age (P < 0.05). The level of attention was significantly correlated with the age of strabismus onset (P < 0.05), but not with the degree of strabismus, stereopsis, or fusion control score. In addition, audiovisual attention was correlated significantly with their cognitive development level. The random forest classifier prediction model showed that age of strabismus onset was an important predictor of attention.ConclusionChildren with IXT have lower visual and auditory attention and control than their peers, and the age of onset of strabismus may be a major factor.

Cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis: Auditory and visual attention and inhibitory control

Background A growing body of evidence has been paid to the cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, studies concerning cognitive functions in MS have also yielded conflicting results. This study investigates the attention and inhibitory control functions in patients with MS and their relationship with other clinical features, such as depression and fatigue in these patients. Methods Participants included 80 patients with MS and 60 healthy controls. The attention and inhibitory control, fatigue, and psychiatric screening in all subjects were studied, respectively with the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results Patients with MS performed the IVA-CPT task more poorly than the healthy control group (p < 0.001). However, multiple regression analysis did not show any significant relationship between disease duration, FSS, and HADS on attention and inhibitory control. Conclusion Inhibitory control and attention are significantly impaired in patients with MS. Finding the basics of cognitive deficits in MS have potentially important clinical implications for developing better cognitive rehabilitation strategies.

A randomized, sham-controlled trial of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on the right orbital frontal cortex in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

This study aimed to find out the clinical and cognitive effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on the right orbital frontal cortex (OFC) in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 56 patients with ADHD were recruited as subjects and completely and randomly divided into the HD-tDCS group and the Sham group. A 1.0 mA anode current was applied to the right OFC. The HD-tDCS group received real stimulation, while the Sham group received sham stimulation in 10 sessions of treatment. ADHD symptom assessment (the SNAP-IV Rating Scale and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire) was carried out before treatment, after the 5th and 10th stimuli, and at the 6th week after the end of all stimulations, while the cognitive effect was assessed by the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT), the Stroop Color and Word Test (Stroop), and the Tower of Hanoi (TOH). Repeated-measure ANOVA was used to find out the results of both groups before and after treatment. A total of 47 patients completed all sessions and evaluations. Their SNAP-IV score, their PSQ score, the mean visual and auditory reaction times by IVA-CPT, the interference RT of Stroop Color and Word, and the number of completed steps of TOH did not change with intervention time before and after treatment (P > 0.0031). However, the integrated visual and audiovisual commission errors and the TOH completion time results of the HD-tDCS group were significantly decreased after the 5th intervention, the 10th intervention, and the 6th week of intervention follow-up compared to the Sham group (P < 0.0031). This study draws cautious conclusions that HD-tDCS does not significantly alleviate the overall symptoms of patients with ADHD but leads to significant improvements in the cognitive measures of attention maintenance. The study also attempted to fill in the gaps in research studies on HD-tDCS stimulation of the right OFC. ChiCTR2200062616.

Effects of surgical procedures and general anesthesia exposure within 2 hours in early childhood on neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age

Objective: To observe the effect of surgical procedures and general anesthesia exposure (<2 h) in early childhood on neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age. Methods: A total of 147 children aged 6-12 years old, who received surgery under general anesthesia (<2 h) at the age of 0-2 years in Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical Universityfrom June 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively enrolled in this study (from June 2018 to December 2021) as exposure group, including 76 males and 71 females, with a mean age of (8.8±1.6) years. All the cases were divided into single-exposure group (n=65) and multiple-exposure group (≥2 times, n=82) according to different times of anesthesia exposure. According to the cohort of exposure group, 160 healthy children of the same age with no history of surgery under general anesthesia were recruited from the community from June 2018 to December 2021 as the control group, including 87 males and 73 females, and aged (8.6±1.9) years. A variety of standardized neurological tests including Wechsler intelligence scale for children fourth edition (WSC-Ⅳ), integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT), Swanson Nolan and Pelham, version Ⅳ (SNAP-Ⅳ), children sensory integration capacity development rating scale (CSIC), and social living ability scale were performed in all subjects by a child health specialist who failed to know the details. The primary outcome was the full-scale IQ (FSIQ) in WISC-Ⅳ, and the secondary outcomes were IVA-CPT, SNAP-Ⅳ, CSIC, and social living ability scale. Results: The FSIQ of single-exposure, multiple-exposure and control groups was 105.4±14.1, 100.9±10.2 and 103.6±13.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (F=2.37, P=0.095). The FSIQ of different first age exposure groups (aged 0-6 months, 7-12 months and 1-2 years) was 99.8±10.2, 104.5±10.5 and 104.4±14.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (F=2.39, P=0.095). The FSIQ of different exposure duration groups (0-59 min, 60-119 min and control group) was 102.8±11.3, 103.0±13.7 and 103.6±13.5, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (F=0.13, P=0.882). As for the secondary outcomes, the scores of visual persistence quotient in single-exposure, multiple-exposure and control groups were 94.8±10.5, 94.0±10.9 and 100.6±17.7, with a statistically significant difference (F=6.96, P=0.001). In terms of locomotion in social living ability scale, the score of the three groups was 10.0±0.2, 10.2±0.6 and 10.4±0.7, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (F=10.61, P<0.001), but all were within the standard range. Conclusions: The surgical procedures and general anesthesia exposure within 2 hours in early childhood has no effect on the overall FSIQ in school age, but has a slight impacts on the visual persistence quotient of IVA-CPT and the locomotion score of social living ability scale.

The study of functional connectivity of attention cognitive impairment in children with nocturnal enuresis.

We aimed to explore the brain functional connectivity mechanism of attention cognitive impairment in children with nocturnal enuresis (NE). Children with NE often show attention cognitive deficit, but its brain mechanism remains unclear. Most previous studies have only focused on a single brain region, without involving the association among brain regions. In this study, 26 NE and 26 normal children were selected. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) were performed. The 12 key brain regions of the dorsal attention network (DAN), default mode network (DMN) and ventral attention network (VAN) were selected as areas of interest, and 66 groups of functional connectivity (FC) were analysed among these 12 brain regions. The correlation between FC and IVA-CPT in the two groups was analysed. The FC values showed that the groups with significant differences between NE and normal children were lFEF-aMPFC, rFEF-lIFG, rFEF-rIPS and lAG-VFC (P < 0.05), and the FC value of lAG-VFC was positively correlated with the Full-Scale Attention Quotient (FAQ). Our results showed that attention deficit in children with NE was associated with all three networks and was relative to the FC among the three attention networks. DAN was the brain network most related to attention cognition in children with NE, and most of the brain regions with abnormal connectivity in NE were related to the prefrontal lobe. The lAG was also an important brain region in attention impairment in NE.

Early Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Sertraline in Adolescents With First-Episode Major Depressive Disorder.

BackgroundAdolescence is a period of high incidence for depression. However, there is a limited treatment option for the adolescent depression. For treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, HF-rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) appears therapeutically effective. The aim of the study is to explore the early effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in combination with sertraline in adolescents with first-episode major depressive disorder.MethodsA total of 100 teenage patients with first-episode depression were randomly divided into the study groups. Both groups were treated with sertraline. In addition, the study group was treated with ten sessions of add-on rTMS. The control group was given sertraline only. The depressive symptom and cognitive function were assessed by the Hamilton depression rating scale 17 version (HAMD-17), Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), Integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT), and THINC-it.ResultsThe number of early improvers after 2 weeks of treatment in the study group was statistically significant higher compared to the control group (95.83% vs 73.47%, χ2 = 9.277, P = 0.002). There was significant difference observed in responder rates (62.50% vs. 28.57%, χ2 = 11.262, P = 0.001) or in remission rates (31.25% vs. 6.12%, χ2 = 10.130, P = 0.001) between the two groups at 4 weeks. The score of HAMD-17 and CDRS-R in the study group were significantly lower than the control group (Fgroup = 12.91 vs 10.21, P < 0.05). Attention Quotient (listening, visual and full-scale) attention quotient of IVA-CPT in the study group were higher than those in the control group after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05). The study group showed higher score in Spotter than the control group after treatment (P < 0.05).DiscussionThis is the most extensive blinded, randomized clinical study to date examining the efficacy of 10-Hz add-on rTMS for first-onset adolescent depression. Our results support that add-on rTMS accelerates the efficacy of the antidepressants, improving the depressive symptoms and cold cognitive function in first-episode adolescent depression.Clinical Trial Registration[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [ChiCTR2100048534].

Comparative efficacy of targeted structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback in children with inattentive or combined attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the effects of three courses of different structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback on predominantly inattentive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD‐PI) and combined ADHD (ADHD‐CT).MethodsThirty‐eight ADHD‐PI and ADHD‐CT children were selected and completed three courses of different structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback according to their ADHD type. Before and after each course, relative power value of electroencephalography, including θ, β, α, SMR and their ratios (θ/β, θ/α), and eighteen integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA/CPT) quotients were obtained and compared. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, and p < .05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsAfter one course, θ, three IVA/CPT quotients in both types and two comprehensive quotients in ADHD‐CT changed significantly (all p < .05). After two courses, θ/α, θ/β and five IVA/CPT quotients in both types, θ and α in ADHD‐PI, four comprehensive quotients, and four respond control quotients in ADHD‐CT varied significantly compared to before treatment and after one course (all p < .05). After three courses, α, β, θ, θ/α, θ/β and ten IVA/CPT quotients in both types changed significantly compared to before treatment and after one course (all p < .05). In addition, six IVA/CPT quotients in both types after three courses were significantly higher than those after two courses (all p < .05).ConclusionDifferent structural patterns of electroencephalography neurofeedback targeted for ADHD‐CT and ADHD‐PI were both effective and feasible. Three courses of EEG neurofeedback were most effective.

Gray matter structural plasticity in patients with basal ganglia germ cell tumors: A voxel-based morphometry study

BackgroundBasal ganglia germ cell tumors (BGGCTs) are rare intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs) that often presents with cognitive impairment. ObjectiveTo assess structural brain plasticity in the presence of unilateral basal ganglia germ cell tumors (BGGCTs), and the correlation between gray matter volume (GMV) changes and cognitive tests. Materials and methodsWe applied voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to compare a sample of 41 patients with BGGCTs in the left (n = 22) or right (n = 19) and a sample of 16 patients as control group using a two-sample t-test, correcting for family-wise-errors. A battery of cognitive tests was administered to all BGGCTs patients prior to MRI. We used Pearson correlation analysis to assess the correlation between cognitive test scores and GMV changes. ResultsIn patients with left BGGCTs, whole-brain VBM analysis revealed a large cluster of voxels reflecting an increase in GMV in the left parahippocampal region (k = 529 voxels, T = 4.18, p < 0.01), right middle cingulate cortex (k = 172 voxels, T = 3.96, p < 0.01), and a decrease in volume in the left thalamus (k = 527 voxels, T = −4.88, p < 0.01), right inferior frontal gyrus (k = 495 voxels, T = −4.29, p < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the GMV were significantly correlated with the Integrated Visual and Auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) scale (r = 0.637, P = 0.002), abstract reasoning (r = 0.597, P = 0.011), Self-rating Depression Scale (SAS) scale (r = −0.623, P = 0.004) and memory recall (r = 0.648, P = 0.003). ConclusionThese results demonstrate that slow growing but destructive BGGCTs markedly and asymmetrically effect the GMV in left parahippocampal, left thalamus, right middle cingulate cortex, right inferior frontal gyrus and GMV changes were significantly associated with cognitive test.

Effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation Combined With Physical Exercise on Sustained, Selective, and Alternating attention in School-aged Girls Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objectives: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders in childhood. This study aims to assess the effect of cognitive rehabilitation combined with physical exercise on sustained, selective and alternating attention in ADHD children. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with a Pre-test/posttest design. The study population consists of all primary school girls with ADHD in Yazd, Iran. Of these, 40 aged 9-12 years were selected and randomly divided into four groups of cognitive rehabilitation, physical exercise, combined (exercise + rehabilitation), and control. The Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS) was used for initial assessment of children, Goodenough- Harris Drawing Test (GHDT) to measure intelligence score, Integrated Visual and Auditory-Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT) to assess sustained attention, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to measure alternating attention, and Stroop test to measure selective attention. For cognitive rehabilitation, My Brain application was used. The intervention was presented at 16 sessions, each for 60 minutes. Posttest assessment was performed 24 and 72 hours after the end of intervention. ANCOVA was used for data analysis. All analyses were performed in SPSS v. 20, considering a significance level of P&lt;0.05. Results: The results of ANCOVA showed that the combined group had significantly lower errors in sustained, selective and alternating attention tests compared to other groups. In the omission response variable, the mean score of the children in the combined group was significantly lower than in the control group (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive rehabilitation combined with physical exercises can improve different types of attention in children with ADHD.

Characterizing Underlying Cognitive Components of ADHD Presentations and Co-morbid Diagnoses: A Diffusion Decision Model Analysis

Objective: To Explore whether subtypes and comorbidities of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) induce distinct biases in cognitive components involved in information processing. Method: Performance on the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT) was compared between 150 children (aged 7 to 10) with ADHD, grouped by DSM-5 presentation (ADHD-C, ADHD-I) or co-morbid diagnoses (anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder [ODD], both, neither), and 60 children without ADHD. Diffusion decision modeling decomposed performance into cognitive components. Results: Children with ADHD had poorer information integration than controls. Children with ADHD-C were more sensitive to changes in presentation modality (auditory/visual) than those with ADHD-I and controls. Above and beyond these results, children with ADHD+anxiety+ODD had larger increases in response biases when targets became frequent than children with ADHD-only or with ADHD and one comorbidity. Conclusion: ADHD presentations and comorbidities have distinct cognitive characteristics quantifiable using DDM and IVA-CPT. We discuss implications for tailored cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Possible utilization of salivary IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio as a marker of chronic stress in healthy individuals.

IntroductionSeveral studies show that psychological stress reduces Th1/Th2 ratio in blood samples. However, evidence is scarce regarding the cytokine alterations during stress in saliva. We investigated the influence of chronic stress on Th1/Th2 ratio and cytokine profiles in the saliva of healthy individuals. Further, we examined the associations of the salivary cytokine levels with sleep and attention problems, which are closely related with psychological stress.MethodsSalivary levels of 27 cytokines were measured by multiplex bead array assays in 31 healthy young individuals (health science students and hospital staff consisting of 11 men and 20 women, mean age [standard deviation] =21.5 [0.8] years). The Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K10) and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) were administered to assess subjective chronic psychological stress and sleep problems. Further, participants were asked to wear Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for 3 days to assess the total sleep time. Attention problems were assessed by administering the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA‐CPT).ResultsThirteen cytokines with >80% detectable results were included in the main analyses. The IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio, which is a commonly used index for Th1/Th2 ratio, showed significant negative correlations with the K10 and AIS scores. None of the cytokines were significantly associated with sex, body mass index, sleep index measured by Actigraph, or IVA‐CPT scores.ConclusionChronic stress may be associated with alterations of the Th1/Th2 balance in salivary cytokine production. IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratio in saliva may serve as a potential biomarker of chronic stress in healthy individuals.

Neurochemicals of limbic system and thalamofrontal cortical network: Are they different between patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizure?

ObjectiveThalamofrontal cortical network and limbic system are proposed to be involved in psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). This study aimed to investigate neurochemical changes in prefrontal cortex, thalamus, and limbic circuits in patients with PNES and IGE. We also analyzed the interaction between cognitive functions and neurochemical changes in both groups. MethodsHydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was used to measure N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), glutamate–glutamine (Glx), and myo-inositol (MI). The voxels were placed on the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and thalamus. Attention and inhibitory control, as well as general intelligence status, were investigated using the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), respectively, in patients with PNES and IGE, as well as healthy volunteers. ResultsThe 1H-MRS showed a decreased ratio of NAA/Cr in the right and left thalamus, right DMPFC, and right ACC in patients with IGE and PNES. Furthermore, a decrease of the NAA/Cr ratio in the left DMPFC and an increase of NAA/Cr ratio in the right DLPFC were observed in patients with PNES compared with the controls. The patient groups had a decreased ratio of Cho/Cr in right ACC compared with the healthy subjects. Moreover, the NAA/Cr ratio in the left thalamus and left DMPFC was correlated with seizure frequency in patient groups. Reduced NAA/Cr ratio in the right ACC and left DLPFC were also correlated with poor IVA-CPT scores. ConclusionThis study highlighted the dysfunction in prefrontal-thalamic–limbic circuits and impairment in neurocognition in patients with PNES and IGE.

Attention and inhibitory control deficits in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizure

This study aimed to evaluate the attention and inhibitory control functions in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) and psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) and compare the results with the healthy control subjects. A total of 30 patients with GGE, 30 patients with PNES, and 32 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The severity of attention and inhibitory control deficit, general intelligence status, and psychopathology screening in all subjects were respectively investigated with the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and the Symptoms Checklist 90-revised (SCL-90-R). Patients with PNES had severe impairments in all performed tasks compared with the control group and the group with GGE (p < 0.01), whereas patients with GGE had significantly lower attention quotient versus healthy subjects (p < 0.01). The full-scale attention quotient (FSAQ) and full-scale response control quotient (FSRCQ) in patients with PNES were significantly lower in comparison with GGE (47.83 ± 32.68, 60.18 ± 35.35, p < 0.01), respectively. Multiple regression analysis did not demonstrate any significant effect of seizure frequency or epilepsy duration on attention and inhibitory control deficits, but patient's intelligence quotient (IQ) showed a significant effect on FSAQ and FSRCQ (β: 0.997, p < 0.001; β: 0.933, p < 0.001, respectively). Attention and inhibitory control are significantly impaired in patients with GGE and PNES. The cognitive deficits in patients with GGE and PNES have potentially important clinical implications in planning their neuropsychological rehabilitation.

&lt;p&gt;A virtual reality application for assessment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in school-aged children&lt;/p&gt;

Background and objective: The development of objective assessment tools for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become a hot research topic in recent years. This study was conducted to explore the feasibility and availability of virtual reality (VR) for evaluating symptoms of ADHD.Methods: School-aged children were recruited. The children with ADHD or without ADHD were assigned into the ADHD group or Control group, respectively. They were all evaluated using the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT), and a VR test.Results: The correct items, incorrect items, and the accuracy rate of the VR test of the children with ADHD were significantly different with those of the children in the Control group. The correct items, incorrect items, total time, and accuracy of the VR test were significantly correlated with the scores of IVA-CPT (auditory attention and visual attention), CPRS (impulsion/hyperactivity and ADHD index), and CBCL (attention problems and social problems), respectively.Discussion: The results supported the discriminant validity of the VR test for evaluating ADHD in school-age children suffering from learning problems. The VR test results are associated with the commonly used clinical measurements results. A VR test is interesting for children and therefore it attracts them to complete the test; whilst at the same time, it can also effectively evaluate ADHD symptoms.

Prenatal and concurrent cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco effects on adolescent cognition and attention

BackgroundPrenatal cocaine/polydrug exposure (PCE) may increase vulnerability to substance use disorders due to associated cognitive deficits. We examined whether neurocognitive deficits in executive functions and attention observed in PCE children persisted to adolescence when compared to non-cocaine/polydrug (NCE) children, and whether adolescent substance use (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana) was also associated with neurocognitive deficits. Methods354 (180 PCE, 174 NCE) adolescents in a longitudinal study from birth were administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children - IV (WISC-IV), and the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA/CPT) at age 15.5. Assessments of prenatal exposure to cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco and measures of use at age 15.5 were taken. Confounding factors measured included lead, the caregiving environment, and violence exposure. Relationships between drug use and prenatal exposures on outcomes were assessed through multiple regression. ResultsAdolescents with PCE had deficits in Perceptual Reasoning IQ and visual attention. Prenatal alcohol exposure predicted verbal and working memory IQ and visual and auditory attention deficits. Adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use predicted attention in addition to PCE, lead and the caregiving environment. ConclusionPrenatal cocaine and alcohol exposure and adolescent use of substances are associated with neurocognitive deficits known to increase vulnerability to SUDs.

Quantitative EEG features selection in the classification of attention and response control in the children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Aim:Quantitative EEG gives valuable information in the clinical evaluation of psychological disorders. The purpose of the present study is to identify the most prominent features of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) that affect attention and response control parameters in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Methods:The QEEG features and the Integrated Visual and Auditory-Continuous Performance Test ( IVA-CPT) of 95 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subjects were preprocessed by Independent Evaluation Criterion for Binary Classification. Then, the importance of selected features in the classification of desired outputs was evaluated using the artificial neural network.Results:Findings uncovered the highest rank of QEEG features in each IVA-CPT parameters related to attention and response control.Conclusion:Using the designed model could help therapists to determine the existence or absence of defects in attention and response control relying on QEEG.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Examine the Posttreatment Efficacy of Neurofeedback, Behavior Therapy, and Pharmacology on ADHD Measures

Objective: To examine the efficacy of neurofeedback (NF), behavior therapy (BT), and pharmacology (PH) on the improvement of ADHD-related symptoms. Method: Fifty-nine children with ADHD (M = 8.80 years, SD = 1.92 years) were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments in a pre/post assessment design. Mother- and teacher-rated ADHD scales and children were assessed using The Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA/CPT). Results: The three treatments were effective on the IVA/CPT, but with different trends. BT and especially NF achieved improvement on response control and attention, and PH mainly in visual attention. On the rating scales, BT improved all measures, and NF and PH had a minor but interesting influence. Conclusion: From a global perspective, behavior therapy had the most extensive results, but PH had the greatest capacity to improve overall attention. NF was able to improve both control response and inattention. Clinical implications are discussed.

Intelligence structure and attention properties in children with three subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective To investigate the intelligence structure and attention properties, and to explore the relationship between them in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of the predominantly inattention type (ADHD-I), predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (ADHD-HI) and combined type (ADHD-C). Methods Children with ADHD-I (n=24), ADHD-HI(n=12) and ADHD-C (n=54) aged between 7-10 years were tested with Chinese Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) and integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT). Comparisons of cognitive profiles of C-WISC scores between subtypes of ADHD were performed. Additionally, the relationship between attention/response control quotients and cognitive profiles was investigated. Results (1) Intelligence structure: verbal intelligence (VIQ) of ADHD-HI (110.08±10.64) was higher than that of ADHD-C (101.13±13.20) and ADHD-I (94.71±11.11). Full scale intelligence quotient (FIQ) of ADHD-HI (104.33±9.63) was higher than that of ADHD-I (94.38±10.48). Factor A of ADHD-HI (45.75±7.14) and ADHD-C (41.41±8. 57) were higher than that of ADHD-I (36.67±6.72). Factor C of ADHD-HI(33.42±5.42) was higher than that of ADHD-C (29.24±5.26) and ADHD-I (29.13±5.39). (2) Attention properties: Full scale attention quotient of ADHD-C (90.26±11.67) was lower than that of ADHD-I (98.17±18.03) and ADHD-HI (99.25±15.58). Auditory attention quotient of ADHD-C (89.94±14.16) was lower than that of ADHD-I (99.00±18.66). (3) Relationship between intelligence and attention: the Pearson correlations of the auditory attention quotient and auditory control quotient with the PIQ were 0.24 and 0.29 respectively. The correlations of the visual attention quotient with the PIQ and FIQ were 0.21 and 0.25 respectively. The correlations of the full scale attention quotient with PIQ and FIQ were 0.27 and 0.24 respectively. Each of these correlations reached the level of significance at the 5% level. Conclusion Cognitive profile and attention properties analysis reveal that children with different subtypes of ADHD have distinct weakness in intelligence structure. The understanding of relationship between intelligence structure and attention properties in children with subtypes of ADHD is useful for ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Key words: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Intelligence; Attention; Subtypes

Attention characteristics of children with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tic disorder

Objective To investigate the characteristics of attention in children with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tic disorder (TD) (CAT). Methods 60 children with comorbid ADHD and TD (CAT), 79 children with ADHD, 60 children with TD and 71 normal control children (NG) were collected. All of those cases were evaluated with the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT). Results It was slightly higher for visual response control quotient (VRCQ) in CAT group(85.15 ±21.10) than those in ADHD group(78.52 ± 21.85) (P ＜ 0.05), there was no significant different in the other five scores between CAT group and ADHD group (P＞0.05). It was significantly lower for the full response control quotient (FRCQ), auditory response control quotient (ARCQ) ,visual response control quotient (VRCQ), full attention quotient (FAQ), auditory attention quotient (AAQ) and visual attention Quotient (VAQ) in CAT group (83.43 ± 20.98,86.12 ± 19.88,85.15 ± 21. 10,64.88 ± 16.88,67.92 ± 17. 11 ,67.97 ± 20.04) than those in TD group(96.47 ± 17.83,97.50 ± 17.62,95.72 ± 18.87,85.37 ± 18.54,86.47 ± 17.32,87.43 ± 19.89) and those in normal control group(98.42 ± 12.67,101.50 ± 15.39,95.92 ± 11.79,99.33 ± 12.98,98.50 ± 12.09,100.00 ± 16.12) (P＜0.01). Conclusion There have serious reduced control ability and attention deficit in children with CAT. The attention deficit is attributed to the existence of ADHD. Key words: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Tic disorder; Comorbid ADHD and TD; Attention; Integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test

Therapeutic evaluation of biofeedback treatment on ADHD with IVA-CPT multi-quotients

Objective To investigate the curative effect of biofeedback treatment on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) patients using integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test ( IVA-CPT).Methods 23 ADHD patients undertaked 20 times of EEG biofeedback treatment using VBFB-3000A facility.Their executive and attention quotients were measured before and after treatment by IVA-CPT.Results The pre-therapy full scale of response control and attention quotients of ADHD were 58.26 ± 32.9 and 54.43 ±34.01 respectively.After the therapy, all the quotients got improved (response control 99.3 ± 12.6, attention 84.1 ± 15.9 ) except for stamina and speed quotients both in visual and in auditory.Conclusion Shortterm EEG biofeedback treatment is one of effective methods for ADHD patients,especially for hyperactive cases. Key words: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test; EEG biofeedback treatment