Effect of the HERVAT neuroeducational program on evoked potential P300 in children with attention deficit disorder

Abstract

Introduction. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) has been investigated from various perspectives. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this condition remain unknown. Evoked potentials, including P300, can be used to investigate the processes underlying deficient attentional and cognitive functions in children with ADD.

Methods. In this study, we analyze the effect of a neuroeducational program, HERVAT (Hidratación [hydration], Equilibrio [balance], Respiración [breathing], Visión [vision], Audición [hearing], Tacto [touch]), on evoked potential P300 in a group of children aged 7-11 years with ADD.

Results. At the end of the study, the latency of P300 improved and brain activity was reorganized toward frontal areas in children with ADD who undertook the HERVAT program. In the control group, on the other hand, the latency of P300 and the posterior cortical areas remained unchanged during tests to discriminate between multisensory stimuli.

Conclusions. In conclusion, the neuroeducational program HERVAT effectively shortened the latency of evoked potential P300, which is responsible for information processing in the brain, and reorganized brain activity from posterior areas toward frontal cortical areas, which are responsible for the attentional processes involved in executive function.