Subtopics

This week I spent more time at the ADHD clinic and was able to procure some primary sources from my boss about neurofeedback therapy by relevant professionals chronicling its first breakthrough (“A Symphony in the Brain: The Evolution of the New Brain Wave Biofeedback” by Jim Robbins). I have just started reading this book, but it has already brought to my attention the many facets of ADHD treatment throughout its history. In relation to this week’s assignment, it propelled me to attempt to start compartmentalizing my larger topic of ADHD into possible subtopics. Right now, I am just brainstorming and not entirely sure that these subtopics will be what my paper is based on.

My first subtopic is going to have to be investigating ADHD and its diagnoses. The definition of ADHD and what it entails is necessary to look into before any further research is done. In this subtopic, I would include a brief overview of the structure of the brain and the Brodmann areas, to research in what areas of the brain constitute for higher levels of ADHD and what waves/chemicals are associated with the disorder. The next subtopic would have to be ADHD in children specifically, delving into the statistics, symptoms, and possible genetic origins of ADHD in children. This would prove useful to bring more focus to the purpose of my ADHD paper. From reading articles about the controversial debate about child ADHD v. adult ADHD, I think this subtopic is necessary to investigate. Thus, in direct connection, the next subtopic would be ADHD in adults and any studies that have can prove that it does occur in adults, as ADHD has historically been defined as an adolescent mental disorder. This will be needed for the comparison to children with ADHD and the differences of its origins and longevity. Next, I would try to dissect neurofeedback therapy/biofeedback, EEG’s, and brain mapping and the functions and effects. This would be the more technical portion of the paper that would directly explain how this could be a potential successful therapy to treat ADHD and will be my potential solution for treating ADHD for children or adults. I could possibly include a brief historical overview of neurofeedback therapy, but this may prove to be too extensive or unnecessary.  Should I include this? Finally, I would have to research how success is measured for neurofeedback whether that be through logic/reasoning, timed, or reading/language association tests, or/and by the more scientific method of brain scan analysis. These topics will make up the core of my paper, as all are linked and fundamental to understanding ADHD and its relation to neurofeedback therapy.

With these subtopics in mind, I feel more organized and directed with where I am going, but I know a lot of recursive work and reordering lies ahead of me.  I know that as I collect more sources, my subtopics might change in order or importance, or with my classmates’ comments in mind, I might find a subtopic more compelling or dispensable. I am excited to specify what I need to search for, and generally have a less chaotic way to discover more articles.

Word Count: 524

Refining My Topic

This week, I was able to reflect on my idea and seek fundamental changes to ensure that my topic is intriguing and researchable enough to pursue. After the conversation with my peers, I realized there was a big problem if I wanted to compare ADHD neurofeedback therapy and prescription medication if I was attempting to conduct my own research at the clinic. Because the clinic I work at does not give out medication and instead my boss writes a referral to procure medicine elsewhere, I would have to compare any studies I do at the clinic with past ones I find in research articles online, making sure that variables like gender, age, and ethnicity are kept relatively constant. Ultimately, I think the task would be too complicated and I would rather refine my topic to compare younger children and adults who have undergone neurofeedback therapy, as I can access that information and hopefully get patient permission. While the comparison to prescription medication would be interesting to look into, and am open to any idea that will make the process possible within my resources, I think that to restrict my idea to just neurofeedback therapy would prove more feasible. Is this course of action reasonable? Please comment a response to this, because I am not 100% sure if I am being honest.

For collecting sources, I plan to specifically look into research about brain areas (Brodman Areas) and the 10/20 brain location system that my clinic uses to identify which areas of the brain need the most help. To clarify what an EEG was in my last post, it stands for “electroencephalogram” and is essentially a test used to detect brain electrical activity/waves through the use of electrodes that direct signals to a computer. EEGs and QEEGs (quantified EEGs or brain mapping/brain function interpretation) are both methods of observing data and trends that I have been looking into to portray success or failure of therapy. Additionally, I have been contacting my boss about having access to the various timed logic and word association tests that the clinic uses to assess patient’s mentally. I have been reading articles from the British Medical Journal and Neurology Journal to garner more information generally about brain structure and function. Also, I have been looking into TOVA (Test of Variables of Attention) and ADHD diagnoses to better understand the mental disorder overall. I have also tried to research about OCD and depression, trying to make sure that my scope is not too limited with focusing on ADHD, but also wary of encompassing two disorders being too much for a single paper.  As I collect more sources, I will decide which additional mental disorder I should focus on and is the most impacted, or if I should just concentrate on ADHD (which so far with preliminary research is already emerging as the dominant disorder treated with neurofeedback therapy). With regards to the therapy itself, as I learn more about it and how it is conducted (past and present), I can hopefully narrow down my question, exploring its flaws and merits.

So, right now I am still in the reading and thinking stage,  but I have a pretty solid starting point and area of interest to advance and am looking forward to modify my topic more with additional feedback.

Word Count: 551

AP Research Introduction and Goals

My main goal for the class this year is to write a paper that is fully evidenced and explained that I am ultimately proud of. Last year, I ended up completing a paper based on a topic that I did not have a passion for, and the whole process was a chore. By the end of the paper, I was proud of my work, but knew everything would have been easier if I had just chosen a topic I was truly interested in. This year, I hope that what I love and am truly enthusiastic about is the central focal point for my paper, ensuring that I enjoy the class and can be excited for what I discover.

Right now, I have a job as an EEG technician at the Scottsdale ADD Clinic. This marks my starting point for the project, as I plan to delve into the sphere of psychology and mental disorders.  I do not want to completely close off any other potential pathways for research, but I am really excited about where I am headed now.

My process has been using that base of psychology research as a launching point to explore other avenues. I have refined and narrowed down my topic based on the advice from my peers and research into the field to focus primarily on the merits of neurofeedback therapy/alternative therapy methods to prescription medication for treating mental illnesses like depression, OCD, and ADD. I have been scouring academic journals online and influential books my boss has provided me to truly grasp what ADHD is and what neurofeedback entails. The topic is something I am truly interested in, thus establishing a personal tie to me. Furthermore, it is researchable and I have found a myriad of existing literature about ADHD and even about EEG training, a relatively new but attractive form of therapy. I can already see the significance in investigating this area, due to the novelty of this form of therapy and the growing number of cases especially in the U.S of ADD and mental health disorders. This could be important in weighing the costs and benefits of prescription medication v. alternate forms of therapy. There is a gap with the research that does exist, as there are not that many comparisons of the two. I can bridge this gap by analyzing both separately and possibly getting permission to incorporate the progress of patients at the clinic to indicate success rates. All of this makes my research topic compelling and meeting the criteria for a research topic and I am very excited to get started and learn more.