The study tested a method called fMRI neurofeedback. In it, children lie in a brain scanner and try to raise activity in one brain region, the right inferior frontal cortex, while watching a live display of that activity. The active group got real feedback. A sham group did the same task but got fake feedback. The researchers describe this as the largest trial of its kind so far.
Those studied were 88 boys aged 10 to 18 who met criteria for ADHD, split evenly into the two groups (44 each). About 65% were taking medication. The trial had to stop early because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Both groups improved by a similar amount. Real neurofeedback was no better than the sham on the main ADHD symptom rating, either right after treatment or at the 6-month follow-up. Symptom scores actually rose between the end of treatment and follow-up (p=.005). The sham group did a little better on irritability (p=.028) and on a stop-and-go task (p=.048), but only right after treatment. Change in brain activity was not linked to change in symptoms (r=.001, p=.99, n=41). There were no significant side effects or adverse events.
Source: Sheut-Ling Lam, Marion Criaud, Steve Lukito, et al.. Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial Testing the Efficacy of fMRI Neurofeedback on Clinical and Cognitive Measures in Children With ADHD. American Journal of Psychiatry (2022). doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.21100999
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