Impact of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Response Inhibition and sustained attention in athletes with ADHD

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Tehran university

2 2. Department and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Arak University, Arak, Iran

3 Department of Motor Behavior and Sports Psychology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the Impact of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Response Inhibition and sustained attention in athletes with ADHD.

Methods: In this study, 120 athletes with ADHD, between 9 to 11 years of age, with at least two years of sports activities were randomly selected and then divided into three groups of 40 people: Sham, control, and tACS. Each group consisted of 25 boys and 15 girls. For participants in shams and tACS groups, frequencies were applied to F3 and F4. The duration of the interventions was 15 minutes for 10 sessions. In sham groups, artificial stimulation was used. The control group did not receive any intervention during this period.

Based on the repeated measure design, the continuous performance tests were used for pretest, posttest, and follow-up two weeks after the interventions.

Results: The results of repeated measures MANOVA showed that the tACS improved response inhibition and sustained attention.

Conclusion: Thus, stimulating selected brain areas specially tACS may induce favorable effects on the response inhibition and sustained attention of athletes with ADHD and be suitable tools for ADHD therapy in athletes.

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