Fronto-Parietal Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for ADHD in Children and Adolescents

Summary

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition in children and adolescents and is often associated with difficulties in attention, inhibitory control, working memory, and other executive functions. The fronto-parietal brain network is thought to play an important role in these cognitive functions. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that may influence brain activity. This study aims to evaluate whether 5-Hz tACS targeting the right frontal and parietal regions can improve executive functioning in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years with ADHD. The study also aims to explore whether any effects of tACS are related to changes in brain activity measured by electroencephalography (EEG). Participants will receive both active tACS and sham stimulation in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Clinical symptoms, executive function performance, and EEG measures will be assessed before and after each stimulation session. The main hypothesis is that active fronto-parietal tACS will produce greater improvement in executive functioning than sham stimulation, and that these effects may be associated with changes in EEG-measured brain activity.

Conditions

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Interventions

DEVICE

Active transcranial alternating current stimulation

Active transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) will be delivered over the right frontoparietal region using a multi-electrode montage. Electrodes will be placed at F4, F2, AF4, and F6 over the right frontal region, and at P4, CP4, P6, and PO4 over the right parietal region. F4 and P4 will be configured as return electrodes according to the stimulation protocol. The stimulation will be applied as a 5-Hz sinusoidal alternating current with a total current intensity of 2 mA. Each stimulation session will last 12 minutes, including 60-second ramp-up and 60-second ramp-down periods.

DEVICE

Sham transcranial alternating current stimulation

Sham transcranial alternating current stimulation will use the same electrode montage, device appearance, and setup procedures as active tACS. Electrodes will be placed at F4, F2, AF4, and F6 over the right frontal region, and at P4, CP4, P6, and PO4 over the right parietal region. F4 and P4 will be configured as return electrodes as in the active stimulation condition. The sham procedure will include brief ramp-up and ramp-down periods of approximately 60 seconds to mimic the sensory experience of active stimulation, with no sustained current delivered.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Central South University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jianjun Ou · Central South University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-03-26

Primary Completion

2026-06-29

Completion

2026-06-29

Countries

• China

Study Locations