Exploring role of prefrontal cortex region of brain in children having ADHD with machine learning: Implications and insights

Abstract

Objective

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a general neurodevelopmental syndrome. This affects both adults and children, causing issues like hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Diagnosis, typically reliant on patient narratives and questionnaires, can sometimes be inaccurate, leading to distress. We propose utilizing empirical mode decomposition (EMD) for feature extraction and a machine learning (ML) algorithm to categorize ADHD and control.

Method

Publicly available Kaggle dataset is used for research. The EMD technique decomposes an electroencephalogram (EEG) waveform to 12 intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Thirty-one statistical parameters are generated over the first 6 IMFs to create an input feature vector for the deep belief network (DBN) classifier. Principal component analysis (PCA) is utilized to reduce dimension.

Findings

Experimental results are compared on prefrontal cortex channels Fp1 and Fp2. After an in-depth evaluation of all metrics, it is observed that, in patients with ADHD, the prefrontal cortex regulates attention, behavior, and emotion. Our findings align with established neuroscience. The critical functions of the brain, such as organization, planning, attention, and decision making, are performed by the frontal lobe.

Novelty

Our work provides a novel approach to understanding the disorder’s underlying neurobiological mechanisms. It has the potential to deepen our understanding of the condition, improve diagnostic accuracy, personalize treatment methods, and, ultimately, improve outcomes for those affected.

Keywords:

• ADHD
• DBN
• electroencephalogram
• intrinsic mode functions
• machine learning

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared that they have no conflicts of interest.