Comparison of the effectiveness of motivational manipulation and neurofeedback methods on sensitivity to reward, delay discounting and impulsivity in children with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder

Purpose: The aim of this study was to comparison of the effectiveness of two methods of motivational manipulation and neurofeedback on sensitivity to reward, delay discounting and impulsivity in children with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder. Methods: The present study was an experimental study with pre-test, post-test, follow-up and control group. The study population consisted of children aged 7 to 12 years with ADHD. Available sampling method was used for sampling in this study. Sample size was selected based on the purpose and method of research (in experimental research, the sample size of at least 30 people in each group is recommended) 90 people. In this study, neurofeedback and motivational manipulation were performed on the intervention group as an intervention, each session was performed for 12 sessions and each session was performed for 45 minutes. Balloon risk test and delay discounting test were used to collect data in pre-test, post-test and follow-up stages and the data were analyzed using MANCOVA statistical method in SPSS-23. Results: By controlling the effects of pretest on posttest, the difference between the groups in the posttest was statistically significant between the variables of impulsivity and delay at the level of P <0.01 and between the variables of reward sensitivity at the level of P <0.05. The results also showed that neurofeedback method (M = 4.66) had a greater effect on reward processing than motivational manipulation method (M = 2.31) compared to the control group, which was significant at the level of P <0.01. But the difference between the mean of motivational manipulation (M = 2.31) in comparison with the control group was not significant. Conclusion: Voluntary activation of dopaminergic regions of the brain by neurofeedback and motivational manipulation leads to endogenous dopamine control in these structures, leading to successful regulation or inhibitory control and reduced cravings, which reduces impulsivity, delay discounting, and sensitivity to reward.