To investigate the efficacy of EEG biofeedback therapy in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its relationship with learning in EEG regulation.

Fifty-two children with ADHD who completed EEG biofeedback training from August 2015 to February 2019 entered the study according to the inclusion criteria.The children underwent standardized QEEG-based EEG biofeedback training.After 40 training sessions, the study was conducted.The children were divided into learners group (n=39) and non-learners group (n=13), and the difference between learners group and non-learners group in the improvement of ADHD symptoms before and after training was compared.

After intervention, at the EEG level, the main effects of the number of interventions for θ wave, β wave, SMR and TBR( F_{(1, 39)}=538.49, F_{(1, 39)}=2 712.6, F_{(1, 39)}=7 429.45, F_{(1, 39)}=1.887) were significant(P<0.01). At the clinical efficacy level, the SNAP-IV attention deficit subscale (1.84±0.59), hyperactivity/impulse subscale (0.49±0.30), opposite deficit resistance subscale (0.96±0.44) and full scale (1.07±0.28) significantly decreased after intervention compared with pre-intervention (respectively (2.16±0.56), (1.70±0.38), (1.08±0.38), (1.63±0.32). The pre-and post-intervention SNAP-Ⅳ full scale and subscale scores of the learners group and the non-learners group were compared.Before intervention, the SNAP-Ⅳ subscale score and full scale were not significant differences between the learners and non-learners(allP>0.05). After intervention, the attention deficit subscale score, hyper/impulsive subscale score, ODD subscale score(1.74±0.62vs 2.12±0.37, 0.48±0.22 vs 0.54±0.48, 0.88±0.43 vs 1.17±0.40)and total score of SNAP-Ⅳ scale(1.01±0.28 vs 1.24±0.18) in the learners were lower than those in the non-learners, and the differences were significant except for the hyper/impulsive subscale (P<0.05).

EEG biofeedback training can significantly improve EEG activity and ADHD symptoms in children with ADHD.EEG-regulated learners are more likely to improve ADHD symptoms than non-learners.

EEG biofeedback; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; EEG regulation; Learning