腦電波檢測或有助診斷小兒多動症大綱

Researchers recorded irregular brain-wave patterns in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, suggesting physiological abnormalities may be behind the condition, according to a report in Pediatrics and Neonatology. The cause of ADHD, one of the most common developmental disorders diagnosed in children, isn't known.

《兒科學與新生兒學》(Pediatrics and Neonatology)上發表的一份報告顯示，研究人員捕捉到多動症兒童的腦電波會出現異常波動，表明多動症背後可能存在生理異常問題。多動症是診療中最常見的兒童發育障礙之一，但至今其病因仍是未解之謎。

The study in Taiwan compared electrical brain activity in 50 children with ADHD and 51 controls during a test called Event-Related Potentials (ERP), which is used to study neurological disorders. The children, including 82 boys and 19 girls ranging in age from 6 to 13, were divided into four age groups for testing. None of the participants took ADHD medications.

該研究在臺灣開展，主要是基於一項研究神經紊亂問題的“事件關聯電位”(Event-Related Potentials)測試。研究人員對50名多動症患兒和51名對照組兒童的腦電波活動進行了比較。這羣兒童包括82名男孩和19名女孩，年齡從六歲到13歲不等，被分成四組進行測試。參加測試的兒童均未接受過多動症藥物治療。

During the test, electrodes placed at specific sites on the scalp measured brain responses to 200 tones delivered at random sequences through earphones. When the children heard rare or odd-sounding tones, they pressed a button or counted the tones. The test was repeated twice for each participant.

在測試中，電極固定在被測試者頭部的特定位置，通過耳機向被測試者隨機播放200多個音調。當孩子聽到異常或奇怪的音調時，就按下一個按鈕或對異常音調進行計數。每位兒童都要重複接受兩次測試。

Results showed significant differences in the brain activity of ADHD children compared with the control subjects in regions of the brain associated with processing tasks requiring attention, processing speed, behavioral inhibition and control, and central nervous system hyperexcitability.

結果顯示，在與處理需要集中注意力的任務、處理速度、行爲抑制和控制有關的大腦區域，多動症兒童的大腦活動明顯有別於對照組的兒童，而且多動症兒童的中樞神經系統有過度興奮的表現。

The researchers said ERP could be a useful tool in identifying cognitive abnormalities in ADHD children.

研究人員稱，事件關聯電位技術或許有助於識別多動症兒童的認知異常。