Loo SK, et al. - Physicians designed this study to identify distinct subgroups of resting electroencephalography (EEG) profiles among children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and subsequently provided an extensive clinical characterization of the subgroups. They observed population-level heterogeneity in resting state EEG subgroups, which were correlated with distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles. Rather than diagnosis, EEG measures could be more useful biomarkers of ADHD outcome or treatment response.

• The physicians used latent class analysis with resting state EEG recorded from a large sample of 781 children with and without ADHD (N = 620 ADHD, N = 161 Control), aged 6–18 years old.
• They derived behavioral and cognitive characteristics of the latent classes from semistructured diagnostic interviews, parent-completed behavior rating scales, and cognitive test performance.

• The best fit for the data was a five-class solution.
• Out of which, 4 classes had a defining spectral power elevation.
• Across classes, the distribution of ADHD and control subjects were similar suggesting there was no one resting state EEG profile for children with or without ADHD.
• Specific latent classes showed distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles.
• In this study, those with elevated slow-wave activity (i.e. delta and theta band) had higher levels of externalizing behaviors and cognitive deficits.
• As per the outcomes, latent subgroups with elevated alpha and beta power had higher levels of internalizing behaviors, emotion dysregulation, and intact cognitive functioning.