Evaluating the relation between the EEG brainwaves and attention measures, and the children’s performance in REEFOCUS game designed for ADHD symptoms improvement

摘要

This paper documents on EEG dynamics findings of the testing of the REEFOCUS game developed in the context of theFocusLocus project. REEFOCUS aims at providing an innovative game-based intervention programme for assistingchildren to manage and overcome ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) symptoms. ADHD affects 7%of the population and causes behavioral problems, learning limitations and social exclusion. Backed up by cognitivescience research, REEFOCUS game incorporates multisensory training methods for behavioral change and mental andmotor skill acquisition. REEFOCUS is designed to be personalized and adaptive to each child’s individual condition.REEFOCUS actively involves parents, attending clinicians and special needs educators, allowing them to remotelymonitor the progress of children and adjust the intervention programme according to their preferences. The REEFOCUSsolution aspires to be an efficient and cost-effective alternative in ADHD treatment without the undesirable side-effectsof currently established approaches (e.g. medication). The REEFOCUS game has been deployed and tested inoperational conditions and with intended end-users. The findings from this study indicate that REEFOCUS is aneffective game-based intervention for altering EEG characteristics associated with ADHD. In this study, the EEGmetrics, namely Attention and Theta-to-Beta Ratio (TBR), as provided by the device’s Brain Computer Interface (BCI),were analyzed in order to detect statistical changes form the first to the last Gaming Sessions.