fNIRS-Based Neurofeedback Training in Children With ADHD: The Effects of VR

NCT ID: NCT06743763

Last Updated: 2024-12-20

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

138 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-12-01

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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The study aims to explore whether the treatment using fNIRS-based neurofeedback training for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is useful. Furthermore, the study hopes to evaluate whether the use of virtual reality (VR) technology will have an impact on the treatment's effectiveness.

The program includes the following components:

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: the neurofeedback with virtual reality (VR) group, the 2D neurofeedback group (with no VR technology applied), and the VR without neurofeedback group. All participants will complete academic-related tasks in simulated lessons. Participants in the VR neurofeedback group will wear VR goggles and a neurofeedback device that measures blood oxy-hemoglobin levels in brain cortical tissue and provides feedback via visual images or auditory sounds to the participants. Those in the 2D neurofeedback group will use a computer to complete the tasks, with all other settings (e.g., neurofeedback settings) remaining the same. The VR without neurofeedback group will wear VR goggles to complete tasks, but without the neurofeedback component.

All participants will complete a total of 16 training sessions over 8 weeks (twice a week), with each session lasting approximately 35 to 60 minutes.

To investigate the intervention's effectiveness, children will be asked to complete a set of cognitive tests covering inhibitory control, attention, and working memory before the intervention (i.e., Time 1), immediately after the 8-week training (i.e., Time 2), and 2 months after the training (i.e., Time 3, a 2-month follow-up). The assessment will take around 1 hour and will be conducted at the laboratory at the University of Hong Kong. Additionally, parents and teachers will be asked to complete a questionnaire assessing children's behavior at home and at school at three time points.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity (ADHD)

Keywords

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neurofeedback fNIRS ADHD children virtual reality

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Experimental group: receives 8-week functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neurofeedback training (coupled with virtual reality), twice per week, each lasting 1 hour.

Comparative group 1: receives 8-week functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neurofeedback training without virtual reality(VR) technology, twice per week, each lasting 1 hour.

Comparative group 2: receives 8-week training using VR technology (without neurofeedback) twice per week, each lasting 1 hour.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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fNIRS-NFT with VR

The experimental group will receive 16 sessions of training, 1 hour each, conducted twice per week over a period of 8 weeks. A classroom setting will be stimulated using VR and participants will be asked to complete some academic-related tasks during the stimulated lessons. The sensor on the neurofeedback device worn by the participants will detect changes in the blood oxy-hemoglobin level in brain cortical tissue and feedback to the participants via visual images or auditory sounds from the computer. Through practice, participants will learn to manipulate their attention, presumably by altering brain activities.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

fNIRS-based neurofeedback

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

fNIRS-based neurofeedback is provided during a simulated classroom scenario where the child participants are asked to learn to regulate their attention based on the feedback provided by the fNIRS on the oxygenated haemoglobin level in their prefrontal cortex.

Virtual Reality Simulated Classroom

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A simulated classroom scenario is integrated in VR setting and children are asked to complete academic tasks in the simulated classroom.

fNIRS-NFT without VR

The fNIRS-NFT without VR (NFT-2D group) will receive 16 sessions of training, 1 hour each, conducted twice per week over a period of 8 weeks. A classroom setting will be stimulated via a computer screen and participants will be asked to complete some academic-related tasks during the stimulated lessons by pressing a remote controller provided. The sensor on the neurofeedback device worn by the participants will detect changes in the blood oxy-hemoglobin level in brain cortical tissue and feedback to the participants via visual images or auditory sounds from the computer. Through practice, participants hopefully will learn to manipulate their attention, presumably by altering brain activities.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

fNIRS-based neurofeedback

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

fNIRS-based neurofeedback is provided during a simulated classroom scenario where the child participants are asked to learn to regulate their attention based on the feedback provided by the fNIRS on the oxygenated haemoglobin level in their prefrontal cortex.

VR without fNIRS-NFT

In the VR without fNIRS-NFT Training, we have designed a virtual reality classroom scenario modeled and children are asked to complete academic tasks in the VR setting but no neurofeedback will be provided.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Virtual Reality Simulated Classroom

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A simulated classroom scenario is integrated in VR setting and children are asked to complete academic tasks in the simulated classroom.

Interventions

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fNIRS-based neurofeedback

fNIRS-based neurofeedback is provided during a simulated classroom scenario where the child participants are asked to learn to regulate their attention based on the feedback provided by the fNIRS on the oxygenated haemoglobin level in their prefrontal cortex.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Virtual Reality Simulated Classroom

A simulated classroom scenario is integrated in VR setting and children are asked to complete academic tasks in the simulated classroom.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Children aged 7- 12
* Clinical diagnosis of ADHD
* Significant teacher- or parent-reported attention problems during screening

Exclusion Criteria

* Inability to answer the first five questions in Raven's Progressive Matrices
* Hearing, visual, or physical impairments that might hinder participation in the training and assessment activities
* Clinical diagnosis and suspected cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
* Prior or current participation in NFT
* Current participation in a psychotherapeutic treatment
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr. Kathy Shum

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Kar-man Kathy Shum, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Hong Kong

Locations

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The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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Que Zheng, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 852-39175870

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Jeanne Que Zheng, PhD

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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EA200247(RCT2)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id