Transcranial Light Stimulation Improves Selective Attention in Children with ADHD

Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently display impairments in selective attention. Prior research has identified the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) as a critical region contributing to these deficits. In this study, we examined the effects of transcranial light stimulation (tLS) over the right dlPFC on selective attention in children with ADHD. In Experiment 1, we modeled photon propagation pathways and attenuation patterns within pediatric cranial structures to determine the optimal stimulation dose, estimating that the effective tLS dosage in children should be approximately 40% of the adult level. In Experiment 2, we applied these parameters in a triple-blind, randomized, crossover clinical trial involving 40 children with ADHD. Active tLS significantly increased the amplitude of the event-related potential (ERP) markers of selective attention and strengthened spatial Selective cortical tuning function (CTF) modulation. These neural changes predicted measurable improvements in attention symptoms over the subsequent following week. In Experiment 3, we further included typically developing (TD) children as a control group and found that the selective attention performance in children with ADHD following active tLS approached the levels observed in TD children. Our findings demonstrate that right dlPFC-targeted tLS enhances selective attention in children with ADHD and produces clinically meaningful improvements in inattention. This study provides novel evidence supporting the potential of tLS as a therapeutic intervention for ADHD.