Effects of methylphenidate on quantitative EEG of boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in continuous performance test

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of methylphenidate, a psychostimulant, on quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) during the continuous performance test (CPT) in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The QEEG was obtained from 20 boys with ADHD. The amplitudes of 4 bands (alpha, beta, delta, and theta) in the QEEG, as well as the theta /beta ratio, before and after the administration of methylphenidate were compared during both the resting and CPT states. Methylphenidate induced a significant increase of alpha activities in both the right and left frontal and occipital areas, an increase of beta activities in almost all areas except for the temporal region, a decrease of theta activities in both the occipital and right temporo-parietal areas, a mild decrease of delta activities in the occipito-parietal areas, and an increase of the theta/beta ratio in the right frontal and parieto-occipital, and left temporal areas during the CPT state. No significant QEEG changes were induced by the administration of methylphenidate in the resting state. These data suggest that methylphenidate has greater electrophysiological influences on the cerebral topographical activities during the performance of attentional tasks, as compared to the resting state, in boys with ADHD.