ADHD and Fidget Spinners: Using fNIRs to detect changes in Relative Neural Efficiency during the Purdue Pegboard Test
Date
2020-05
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Introduction: Fidget spinners have been marketed as repetitive motion devices that
improve attention and motor performance, and as such, they have become quite
appealing to the ADHD population. Studies have found there to be a fine motor
control deficiency associated with ADHD and current literature suggests fidgeting as a
compensatory mechanism to help modulate attentional demands. To date, no studies
have explored changes in brain activity that may occur due to fidgeting. Our aim was
to use functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the prefrontal cortex
(PFC) during performance of a standardized fine motor skills test after using a fidget
spinner to see if there were any effects on Relative Neural Efficiency (RNE).
Methods: Eight right-handed adults with ADHD and eight age and gender matched
Typical adults without ADHD (each group had 4 control/4 fidget) performed the
Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) while their brain oxygenation(ΔHbO) was monitored
using fNIRS. The design included 3 identical blocks, each consisting of either fidget
spinning or doing nothing for 1 minute followed by 4 PPT subtasks and a rest
condition. The first 3 non-assembly subtasks (Right, Left, Bimanual; 30 sec each)
were pseudorandomized for each participant with an additional assembly subtask
always last(1 min). There was 15 seconds of rest between subtasks.
Results: Two-way ANOVAs were used to analyze performance, ΔHbO, and RNE. A
significant performance interaction between group and condition was found(p < 0.05).
Post hoc tests revealed ADHD-Controls had a lower relative performance score for the
non-assembly subtasks. The ADHD-Control group had significantly lower RNE
during the non-assembly subtests(p < 0.05) but not during the Assembly subtest, in
which all groups maintained average RNE.
Discussion: These results suggest that during fine motor tasks that require lower
cognitive effort, the fidget spinner appears to have a largely positive effect on
improving performance and RNE of those with ADHD. In contrast, the fidget spinner
has no effect on the already high RNE of their Typical peers. In conclusion, this
suggests fidget spinners may help those with ADHD improve simple day to day tasks
requiring hand-eye coordination, but not ones that require a high level of cognitive
effort. However, more research is needed to evaluate the extent to which these
beneficial findings can be used to help those with ADHD.
Description
Keywords
exercise science, ADHD, fidget spinners, fNIRS, purdue pegboard test