ADHD Study Shows That Instant Rewards May Affect Brain Like Drugs

Apr 19, 2010
Carol Finch

Video Games Show Link Between Rewards & ADHD Drugs - Image by dlnny

Research published in Biological Psychiatry shows that rewarding children with ADHD for the right behaviour may have a similar effect on the brain to drugs.

A study led by Nottingham University on the effects of giving behavioural rewards to children with ADHD shows that this may affect their brains in a similar, though lesser, way to traditional medications. Video game tests were made on a number of children with this condition and a number without it to assess how reward based motivation might help ADHD sufferers to inhibit behaviour.

Instant Rewards May Help Improve Behaviour in Children With ADHD

The testing procedures used in this study involved asking children to play video games under a series of conditions. Those with ADHD were tested both on and off medication. The aim of the testing was to see how behavioural rewards affected the brain compared to those drugs commonly used to inhibit behaviour.

During the game the children were told to focus on catching aliens in certain colours and to avoid catching other colours. Inhibiting behaviour (i.e. following instructions) gave rewards; penalties were issued for catching the wrong aliens.

As part of the process an EEG (Electrocencephalogram) was used to monitor brain activity. Results showed that the actions of medication on "normalising" parts of the brain in children with ADHD were replicated by the behavioural rewards.

Does This Mean That Behavioural Rewards Can Replace ADHD Drugs?

Although the tests showed that instant rewards can work on the brain in the same way as ADHD drugs, the scientists also noted that they did not work to the same degree. Nonetheless this could lead to developments in the way that ADHD is managed in the future. For example, it may be that some children could take lower doses of drugs supplemented with this kind of behaviour modification technique.

The Practical Benefits of Reward Systems for Children With ADHD

The Editor of Biological Psychiatry, Dr John Krystal is quoted as saying that: "the findings suggest that there may be important additive effects of stimulant medications and behavioral strategies for increasing motivation in ADHD. These interactive effects are important to bear in mind when optimizing the performance of children in school and other settings that require control of attention and behavior.”

According to this research there are potential benefits from these "additive" effects but this does not necessarily mean that behavioural rewards could necessarily replace drug based treatment or that it will work with every child.

The leader of the study, Professor Chris Hollis, notes that children with ADHD need instant rewards as they do not respond to delayed incentives in the same way. He therefore noted that: "in the 'real world' of the classroom or home, the neural effects of behavioural approaches using reinforcement and rewards may be less effective."

Sources:

Biological Psychiatry/Elsevier Publishing (" Synergy between Behavioral and Pharmacologic Interventions for ADHD ")

BBC Online ("Behavioural rewards 'work like drugs' for ADHD"). Accessed online 19th April 2010.