Inhibitory control and ADHD

Congrats! You just used your prefrontal cortex (PFC) to decide to read this blog post. The PFC is a crucial part of the brain responsible for decision-making skills. On of the aspects to decision making is inhibitory control (IC). IC is an important aspect of brain function that helps guide us of what to do or not to do.  This skill, which occur in the prefrontal cortex, develops over time.

IC is a key aspect of development in young children. Numerous studies have focused on the importance of IC throughout human life. New research gives us insight into the development of IC from infancy through the toddler stage, which can help us understand where developmental issues may arise. A core issue in ADHD is impaired IC. Research has shown that IC training can help reduce ADHD symptoms. Dr. Ann Bell has recently published research on the importance of IC as we develop from infancy to around four years old. Alongside this, Dr. Meyer has shared findings on how video games can be used to train young people with ADHD, improving their inhibitory control and, in turn, alleviating ADHD symptoms.

In the research article "Relations between frontal EEG maturation and inhibitory control in preschool in the prediction of children's early academic skills," Dr. Ann Bell and colleagues examined early brain maturation. Specifically, they focused on the development of IC from infancy to age 4 and its relationship to early academic success. This study used electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity from infancy to preschool age. The EEG recordings were taken to measure the frontal alpha power of the participants’ resting state. The study found that increased frontal alpha power was associated with better IC in preschool-age children. This research suggests that interventions targeting IC in young children may have benefits for their future academic success.

Students with ADHD often struggle in academic environments. This is because IC is one of the key skills needed for success in the classroom. Current research explores the various ways to improve ADHD symptoms by targeting and training IC skills. By improving IC, these skills can transfer over to classroom performance. One promising form of training involves video games. In a study led by Dr. Meyer and colleagues, the focus was on whether IC training could reduce ADHD symptoms and affect associated neural markers. The study, "Computer-based inhibitory control training in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Evidence for behavioral and neural impact," showed that children who trained using IC-targeted video games improved their IC. The findings suggest that computerized IC training may be a viable adjunct treatment for ADHD, showing promise in reducing inattention symptoms and affecting underlying neural mechanisms linked to inhibitory control. This adds to the growing body of research, offering great promise for the future of ADHD treatment.

Works Cited:

 

Meyer KN, Santillana R, Miller B, Clapp W, Way M, et al. (2020) Computer-based inhibitory control training in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Evidence for behavioral and neural impact. PLOS ONE 15(11): e0241352.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241352

 

Margaret Whedon, Nicole B. Perry, Martha Ann Bell (2020) Relations between frontal EEG maturation and inhibitory control in preschool in the prediction of children’s early academic skills, Brain and Cognition, Volume 146, 2020, 105636, ISSN 0278-2626, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105636.