Event-related brain oscillations in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic review and meta-analysis

Event-related brain dynamics during mind wandering in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: An experience-sampling approach

“…Adults with ADHD compared to controls showed weaker alpha power decreases during high demand on working memory and during both high and low demand on sustained attention, reflecting reduced inhibition of task-irrelevant information. These effects in alpha modulations in both tasks extend replicated oscillatory findings in ADHD samples ( Michelini et al, 2022 ) and support current views suggesting that atypical alpha is a neural correlate of ADHD-related attentional difficulties ( Lenartowicz et al, 2018 ). Adults with ADHD also showed lower theta power increase and theta phase consistency than controls across working memory demands, but no difference during varying sustained attention demands.…”

“…Recent reviews have found that weaker event-related alpha decreases during attentional and working memory tasks are reliably observed in individuals with ADHD relative to controls ( Lenartowicz et al, 2018 , Michelini et al, 2022 ). These findings suggest that EEG markers thought to reflect reduced inhibition of task-irrelevant information robustly characterise ADHD.…”

“…Further evidence points to weaker beta power decreases and shorter beta power increases in individuals with ADHD compared to controls during basic somatosensory processing, respectively indicating impaired motor response execution and inhibition ( Dockstader et al, 2008 , Hasler et al, 2016 ). Additionally, studies on ADHD samples have reported reduced event-related theta increase and phase consistency during cognitive tasks ( Groom et al, 2010 , Michelini et al, 2018 , Juurmaa et al, 2020 , Khoshnoud et al, 2018 , Michelini et al, 2022 ). Of note, these alterations in theta activity were recently linked to task increased variability in reaction times and developmental persistence of ADHD into adulthood ( Vainieri et al, 2020 ).…”

“…To further elucidate the neural mechanisms of MW, we carried out a new in-depth analysis of the data presented in our previous publication ( Bozhilova et al, 2021a , Bozhilova et al, 2021b ), using event-related brain oscillatory analysis. This time–frequency approach can investigate both spectral and time-related aspects of the EEG data and thus provides richer information on the neural bases of fast-changing cognitive processes compared to cognitive performance and ERP measures ( Michelini et al, 2022 ). Specifically, we focused on event-related modulations of alpha, beta and theta power, and theta phase consistency, which are markers of attentional and motor response processes previously associated with MW in community samples and with ADHD-control differences ( Braboszcz and Delorme, 2011 , Van Son et al, 2019 , Baird et al, 2014 , Groom et al, 2010 , Michelini et al, 2022 ).…”

“…This time–frequency approach can investigate both spectral and time-related aspects of the EEG data and thus provides richer information on the neural bases of fast-changing cognitive processes compared to cognitive performance and ERP measures ( Michelini et al, 2022 ). Specifically, we focused on event-related modulations of alpha, beta and theta power, and theta phase consistency, which are markers of attentional and motor response processes previously associated with MW in community samples and with ADHD-control differences ( Braboszcz and Delorme, 2011 , Van Son et al, 2019 , Baird et al, 2014 , Groom et al, 2010 , Michelini et al, 2022 ). Our first aim was to compare ADHD and control groups on event-related oscillatory measures during two tasks with high and low demands on working memory (1-back vs. 0-back) and sustained attention (varying stimulus onset delays of 1 s, 2 s, 5 s and 8 s), which elicit varying levels of MW (Analysis 1).…”