slow alpha
slow alpha patterns in EEG reflect specific brain states and functions. QEEG brain mapping measures slow alpha activity across brain regions, revealing individual patterns that guide neurofeedback protocol selection. Explore our 2 research papers covering this topic.
Research Papers
EEG-Based Personalized Medicine in ADHD: Individual Alpha Peak Frequency as an Endophenotype Associated with Nonresponse
This review article summarizes some recent developments in psychiatry such as personalized medicine, employing biomarkers and endophenotypes, and developments collectively referred to as neuromodulation with a focus on ADHD. Several neurophysiological subtypes in ADHD and their relation to treatment outcome are reviewed. In older research the existence of an "abnormal EEG" or "paroxysmal EEG" was often reported, most likely explained by the high occurrence of this EEG subtype in autism, as the diagnosis of autism was not coined until 1980. This subgroup might respond best to anticonvulsant treatments, which requires more specific research. A second subgroup is a beta-excess or beta-spindling subgroup. This group responds well to stimulant medication, albeit several studies suggesting that neurophysiologically this might represent a different subgroup. The third subgroup consists of the "impaired vigilance" subgroup with the often-reported excess frontal theta or excess frontal alpha. This subgroup responds well to stimulant medication. Finally, it is proposed that a slow individual alpha peak frequency is an endophenotype related to treatment resistance in ADHD. Future studies should incorporate this endophenotype in clinical trials to further investigate new treatments for this substantial subgroup of patients, such as NIRS-biofeedback, transcranial Doppler sonography biofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or medications such as nicotine and piracetam
View Full Paper →EEG PHENOTYPES PREDICT TREATMENT OUTCOME TO STIMULANTS IN CHILDREN WITH ADHD
This study demonstrates that the EEG Phenotypes as described by Johnstone, Gunkelman & Lunt [19] are clearly identifiable EEG patterns with good inter-rater reliability. Furthermore, it was also demonstrated that these EEG phenotypes occurred in both ADHD subjects as well as healthy control subjects. The Frontal Slow, the Slow Alpha Peak Frequency and the Low Voltage EEG Phenotype seemed to discriminate ADHD subjects best from the control group, however not significantly. The Frontal Slow group responded to a stimulant with a clinically relevant decreased number of false negative errors on the CPT. The Frontal Slow and Slowed Alpha Peak Frequency phenotypes, have very different etiologies as evidenced by the treatment response to stimulants. In previous research the slowed alpha peak frequency has most likely erroneously shown up as a Frontal Theta sub-group. This implies that future research employing EEG measures in ADHD should avoid using traditional frequency bands, but clearly dissociate slowed alpha peak frequency from frontal theta by taking the individual alpha peak frequency into account. Furthermore, the divergence from normal of the frequency bands pertaining to the various phenotypes is greater in the clinical group than in the controls. Investigating EEG Phenotypes seems to be a promising new way to approach EEG data, explaining much of the variance in EEG’s, and thereby potentially leading to more specific prospective treatment outcomes.
View Full Paper →Related Topics
Ready to Optimize Your Brain?
Schedule a free consultation to discuss slow alpha and how neurofeedback training can help
Or call us directly at 855-88-BRAIN
View Programs & Pricing →