Can Brain Stimulation Combined with Cognitive Training Help ADHD Symptoms?

What you need to know

• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that delivers weak electrical currents to targeted brain regions
• This study tested whether combining tDCS with cognitive training could improve ADHD symptoms and cognitive function in adolescent boys
• The treatment did not improve ADHD symptoms or cognitive performance, and in some cases led to temporarily worse symptoms

Understanding Brain Stimulation and ADHD

For parents and families affected by ADHD, finding effective treatments beyond medication is an ongoing quest. One emerging approach that has generated interest is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) - a technique that uses weak electrical currents to stimulate specific brain regions. Think of it like a very gentle jump-start for underactive brain areas. When combined with cognitive training exercises, some researchers hoped this could help strengthen attention and self-control networks in the ADHD brain.

The Study Approach

This research involved 50 boys with ADHD between ages 10-18. Half received real tDCS targeting a key brain region involved in attention and impulse control (the right inferior frontal cortex), while half received a placebo stimulation. Both groups completed 15 daily sessions of cognitive training games designed to improve skills like attention, memory and self-control.

What Makes This Study Important

This was the largest and most rigorous trial to date examining tDCS combined with cognitive training for ADHD. Unlike previous smaller studies, it:

• Used multiple treatment sessions over 3 weeks
• Targeted a brain region consistently shown to be underactive in ADHD
• Measured both immediate and longer-term effects
• Carefully controlled for placebo effects
• Assessed a wide range of cognitive skills and ADHD symptoms

The Surprising Results

Contrary to the researchers’ expectations, the treatment did not lead to improvements. In fact:

• ADHD symptoms were temporarily worse in the group receiving real stimulation compared to placebo
• There were no significant improvements in attention, memory, or other cognitive skills
• Some participants experienced increased irritability, sleep problems and reduced appetite
• Any improvements seen in both groups were likely due to practice effects or placebo

What This Means for You

While tDCS shows promise for other conditions, this study suggests it may not be helpful for ADHD when applied to this specific brain region, at least in the way it was done here. The findings are particularly important because:

• tDCS devices are becoming commercially available
• Parents often seek non-medication alternatives
• The treatment could potentially worsen symptoms in some cases
• More research is needed to determine if other approaches to brain stimulation might be more effective

Conclusions

• Despite high hopes, combining brain stimulation with cognitive training did not improve ADHD symptoms or cognitive function in this study
• The treatment was safe but led to temporary worsening of symptoms in some cases
• More research is needed to determine if different stimulation approaches might be more effective