Mindfulness Training in Youth With ADHD + Comorbid Learning Disability Maintains Medial Frontal Cortex Function During Response Inhibition

Objective The present study investigated the neural correlates of cognitive control in youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid learning disability (N = 75, ages 11-17 years) who participated in a 20-week mindfulness martial arts intervention compared to a waitlist control. Method EEG was recorded pre and post intervention during a blocked Go/NoGo task. Peak amplitude was measured for the inhibitory NoGo N2 and P3 ERP components. Results A significant group by time interaction was found for NoGo N2 amplitudes, indicating that waitlist control participants had significantly attenuated N2 amplitudes over time whereas the intervention group maintained similar levels of medial frontal activity during response inhibition. The maintenance of the individual differences in N2 amplitudes were robust in the intervention group. Conclusions These findings suggest that participation in mindfulness martial arts may buffer against reductions in N2 activity during adolescence for youth with ADHD