Research Strategies in Educational Sciences

Research Strategies in Educational Sciences

Comparing the differences in beta brain waves in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and generalized anxiety disorder during cognitive activity

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Saemeh Nazari 1
Zahra Rajabpor Azizi 2
YarAli Dosti 2
1 Master's student in General Psychology, Farvardin Institute of Higher Education, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Farvardin Institute of Higher Education, Iran
Abstract
Background and Aims: Neurophysiological differentiation between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in children can help improve differential diagnosis and design targeted interventions. The present study investigated and compared beta-band brain wave activity patterns in children with ADHD and children with generalized anxiety disorder during a cognitive task.
Method: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental study. The sample population included 40 children aged 8-12, 20 of whom had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and 20 had generalized anxiety disorder, selected from psychiatric clinics. Electroencephalographic data were recorded at rest and during the Stroop test, and signal processing was performed using MATLAB and EEGLAB. The indices studied included beta band spectral power (13–30 Hz), θ/β ratio, and ΔPβ changes in the prefrontal (Fz) and central (Cz) channels.
Findings: The results showed that the absolute power of the beta band in the prefrontal and central regions in the generalized anxiety disorder group was significantly higher than in the hyperactivity disorder group (p < 0.001). Also, the θ/β ratio was observed to be higher in the hyperactivity disorder group than in the generalized anxiety group. (p < 0.001) There was no significant difference in the changes in beta power during the task (ΔPβ) between the two groups.
Conclusion: This pattern of increased beta power in anxious children and higher θ/β ratio in children with ADHD can be used as auxiliary indicators in differential diagnosis and guide the design of neurophysiological interventions such as neurofeedback or non-invasive stimulation.
Keywords
Attention Deficit Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Electroencephalography
Beta Waves
Research Strategies in Educational Sciences
Volume 3
Special issue
Pages 1-9