Research Paper: Do Computer Games Affect Arousal Level in Children With Attention/Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Background: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric complication in children, which affects about 5-10% of the population. Although ADHD is a multi-factorial disorder, one of its causes refers to dysfunction of the arousal. Objectives: The current study aimed at investigating whether a change in arousal level in children with ADHD differs from the control group. Materials & Methods: To achieve the research objectives, the mean Skin Conductance Levels (SCLs) as an useful index of measuring arousal levels was used, and then the changes during resting eyes-open condition and after that during playing computer games on 15 male subjects aged 8 to 12 years as the ADHD group and other 15 age-gender matched in the control group were evaluated; then, the recorded data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance. The study was conducted in a child mental health services center in Tabriz, Iran, in 2012. Results: Across conditions, mean SCL index was lower in the ADHD group than that of controls. Computer games caused a significant increase in SCL index, which was not different between the both groups. The findings showed a similar pattern of changes during testing conditions for both the ADHD and control groups F(1,28)=85.90; P<0.0001). Conclusion: Results confirmed a primary deficit related to autonomic hypoarousal in children with ADHD. The SCL results, in addition to behavioral findings, made the authors to suggest that the dynamic changes of activities in neural system are impaired in children with ADHD.