ADHD, Author Interviews, Neurology, Pediatrics / 15.12.2025
ADHD: Collaborative Study Finds Symptom Improvement in Children Identified by EEG Marker and Treated with Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_71800" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Dakwar-Kawar, PhD[/caption]
Dr. Ornella Dakwar-Kawar
Hebrew University with
Prof. Mor Nahum and Prof. Itai Berger
Hebrew University
in collaboration with Prof. Jyoti Mishra from the University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Prof. Roi Cohen Kadosh from the University of Surre,
Dr. Pragathi Priyadharsini and
Ashwin Amal from ITT Karpur, India and InnoSphere Ltd
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Children with ADHD often exhibit aberrant neural activity, specifically imbalances in excitation and inhibition levels alongside dysfunction in brain networks like the frontoparietal network. While our previous research showed that Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation or tRNS improves clinical symptoms, the specific neural modulation effects during cognitive tasks remained unclear. This study investigated these mechanisms by analyzing the aperiodic exponent, a marker of excitation inhibition balance, during an inhibitory control task to compare children with ADHD to healthy controls and assess changes following tRNS combined with cognitive training.
Dr. Dakwar-Kawar, PhD[/caption]
Dr. Ornella Dakwar-Kawar
Hebrew University with
Prof. Mor Nahum and Prof. Itai Berger
Hebrew University
in collaboration with Prof. Jyoti Mishra from the University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Prof. Roi Cohen Kadosh from the University of Surre,
Dr. Pragathi Priyadharsini and
Ashwin Amal from ITT Karpur, India and InnoSphere Ltd
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Children with ADHD often exhibit aberrant neural activity, specifically imbalances in excitation and inhibition levels alongside dysfunction in brain networks like the frontoparietal network. While our previous research showed that Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation or tRNS improves clinical symptoms, the specific neural modulation effects during cognitive tasks remained unclear. This study investigated these mechanisms by analyzing the aperiodic exponent, a marker of excitation inhibition balance, during an inhibitory control task to compare children with ADHD to healthy controls and assess changes following tRNS combined with cognitive training.
Prof. Guohua Li[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Guohua Li, MD, DrPH
Finster Professor of Epidemiology and Anesthesiology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? How was the ADHD diagnosis determined?
Response: The reported prevalence of ADHD in children and young adults in the United States has more than doubled since the 1990s because of improved diagnosis. Currently, ADHD affects about 13 percent of children under 18 years of age and eight percent of adults under 45 years of age. Little is known about the prevalence of ADHD in older adults although it is estimated that ADHD symptoms may persist throughout the lifespan in about one-third of children diagnosed with the disorder. Diagnostic criteria for adulthood ADHD include having five or more relevant symptoms, adverse impact on social, academic, and occupational activities, and onset of symptoms before age 12.
In this study, ADHD status is determined based on an affirmative response to the question of whether the participant had ever had ADHD or had ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that he or she had ADHD.
Sneha Vaddadi[/caption]
Sneha Vaddadi, BS
Department of Medical Education
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Scranton, Pennsylvania
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The prescription stimulants methylphenidate, amphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine, classified as Schedule II substances, are sympathomimetic drugs with therapeutic use widely used in the US for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Changes in criteria for diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in 2013 and approval of lisdexamfetamine for binge eating disorder in 2015 may have impacted usage patterns.
The goal of this study1 was to extend upon past research2 to compare the pharmacoepidemiology of these stimulants in the United States from 2010–2017, including consideration to variation within geographic regions, the Hispanic population, and the Medicaid population.
Dr. Barrett[/caption]
Charles Barrett. Ph.D.
School Psychologist
Loudon County Virginia
Public Schools
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Numerous studies have shown that Black children are more likely to receive ratings that are more indicative of displaying externalizing behavior difficulties, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, many of these studies included teachers as the informants. Consistent with most teachers in the United States, raters have typically been White females. For this reason, it is unclear if these outcomes would exist if the rater and child shared the same racial/ethnic background. Additionally, most research in the United States that involved cross-cultural comparisons has used White and Hispanic boys. Few empirical studies have examined differences between Black and White boys.
The present study sought to address several limitations in the field. Most notably, cross-cultural comparisons between Black and White boys were included instead of Hispanic and White children. Next, maternal figures, rather than teachers, were included as the informants.
The present study was developed using a similar methodology that examined Hispanic and White boys’ behavior from the perspective of Hispanic and White teachers (Dominguez de Ramirez & Shapiro, 2005). In sum, we sought to determine if there were differences in how Black and White maternal figures rated Black and White boys who were demonstrating the same level/type of behavior (i.e., sub-clinical levels of 
