The EEG Consistency Index as a Psycho-Physiological Marker of ADHD and Methylphenidate Response: Replication of Results

Authors

  • Jennifer Kim Penberthy
  • Daniel Cox
  • Raina Robeva
  • Boris Kovatchev
  • R. Lawrence Merkel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1300/J184v10n01_03

Abstract

The current study replicates the design and findings of earlier studies examining an EEG measure called the Consistency Index (CI) as a physiological measure of ADHD (Cox et al., 1998; Cox, Merkel, Kovatchev, & Seward, 2000; Kovatchev et al., 2001) and medication response (Merkel et al., 2000). Six males diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 16 and 19 were examined in this study. The average CI for participants while off of medication was 26%, indicative of ADHD (CI < 40% strong likelihood of ADHD). These CI readings changed significantly when the participants were on therapeutic dosages of methylphenidate. Five of six participants demonstrated a CI > 50%, which is similar to the CI of an individual with no ADHD (Cox et al., 1998, 2000; Kovatchev et al., 2001). Overall, the average CI when on an effective dose of methylphenidate was 57% (CI > 50% strong likelihood of no ADHD). These changes in overall CI were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and demonstrate exciting possibilities for the utility of the CI as a physiological marker of ADHD.

Downloads

Published

2016-09-06

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2006)

Section

SCIENTIFIC FEATURES

License

© International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR), all rights reserved. This article (the “Article”) may be accessed online from ISNR at no charge. The Article may be viewed online, stored in electronic or physical form, or archived for research, teaching, and private study purposes. The Article may be archived in public libraries or university libraries at the direction of said public library or university library. Any other reproduction of the Article for redistribution, sale, resale, loan, sublicensing, systematic supply, or other distribution, including both physical and electronic reproduction for such purposes, is expressly forbidden. Preparing or reproducing derivative works of this article is expressly forbidden. ISNR makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any content in the Article.  From 1995 to 2013 the Journal of Neurotherapy was the official publication of ISNR (www. Isnr.org); on April 27, 2016 ISNR acquired the journal from Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. In 2014, ISNR established its official open-access journal NeuroRegulation (ISSN: 2373-0587; www.neuroregulation.org).