Human Complexity Lab

I have been always interested in Apple and any announcement of new technology coming out of Cupertino. And today the announced the iPad. Which I agree with some female twitters is a poor choice of a name. Regardless of its nomenclature, the thing exists in a space that many critics, such as those at TechCrunch feel has no need to be filled. Such that there is no space for it. But I disagree. As someone who fought the lean forward lean back arguments in interactive TV, that was the argument of who would control the Living Room. Well, in my mind Apple decided to not necessarily leave the Living Room but rather go into the room next door. The den. The Den is that space between the living room and the Kitchen. Its that home office nook, that space where it might be near the entry or tucked into the rear looking out to the backyard. Its where you lounge without the 40-50 inch screen. Its where you sort bills quickly without opening Quicken. Its where you answer the phone and decide where to eat. The iPad is a den product. Its where that magazine rack might be if I were not connected to the net. There are times I check my iphone and think god this screen is tiny... That right there is the space that TechCrunch did not get. And maybe many won't. If you live in a small studio apartment in SF or NY, dens don't exist. But Steve lives in a house that has one (presumably). As do many people who have Macs and iPhones. He doesn't sell anything cheap, so he knows what his market can bear. The question is will it resonate? Is their enough specific behavioral vibrations (as it were) that will make the object amplify its power to the user? This is something I will be working on in the future. I believe massive social actions require resonance to make them tip to massive scales. But I digress. The iPod powered by millions of songs / TV and iPhone powered by 100K apps found many resonant frequencies. Places and spaces where that app or capability was exactly what you needed. And felt more powerful because of that need. I driving around and I am lost in trying to find a bar. I google voice search it. Get a map problem solved. Or I see an actor undercover leave a print shop and think dam what's his name. IMDB in seconds solves it for me. But its not just the object's resonant frequency that matters. Think of the famous opera singer that can sing a note that cracks a champagne glass. Little off here or there in temperature or not the right kind of glass, or more importantly the ambient sound is too great it doesn't work. But that singer knows the exact pitch to break glass. To create a vibration that in and of itself creates a powerful moment only if everything is perfect for that to happen. And that is the conundrum of Apple's iPad. Can it survive the attacks from HP/Dell/Acer from a very capable Windows 7 and from the bottom up from Google's Chrome OS. I would venture yes, but only in so much as macbooks survive. It will not be a dominant player in the future of slate computing as their iPod and iPhone are. Why? Intel and Arm players do not sit quietly. So the edge on power consumption may be short lived. Both other OS and hardware configs will have ebooks, OLED or LED backlits, they will have more options like SD slots, web cams, and USB ports. No they will not be slick and as stylish as an iPad. And that is the problem, more options create more opportunity to find that resonant pitch. Its not easy, its not printed in acoustic manuals or physic books on sound. That sound that internal "Aha" is mysterious at best. The iPad requires three things to find that resonate frequency: 1)Fairly reliable wifi or 3g in large homes. Remember small homes of tech already have roku, boxee, laptops, netbooks, iphones, etc. Large homes don't always get great wifi due to walls and windows and multiple floors 2) A Space where no laptop, desktop or net connected TV exist. My Samsung blu-ray has net connection ability built in... Though its no substitute for an iphone or ipad but it will get me my netflix and youtube.. 3) Free time to veg comfortably. I would never write this blog post with one.. Why? I walk into my office and use my 24inch iMac. Add a keyboard to iPad? why? Students may rejoice on it as they already use iphone and evernote to snap whiteboards for lectures. But serious writing is done in an office with a big desk and comfy chair. But this last issue is critical. Steve sat in a comfy chair and just fiddled with it. Perfect use for one. But I am not Steve Jobs, I do video editing, I do statistical analysis of social issues with SPSS, I do photo editing, and web research.. But would I like to read my textbook in an iPad in bed or in my den sure. Would I like to have it downstairs to check a movie and get tickets for show for me and my wife absolutely... But then of course I have a den.

2,000 to 2,009.. Society accepts Complexity I was listening to a podcast on technology. The subject was what is the big tech idea of the decade...Some said Video on the Net, others said the network and speed of ideas, while others talked about objects like the iphone... My idea of big tech is grounded in the birth of big science. How players in the vanguard can shape many players in many different influential positions. The reality is, we are involved in working with complex systems not conceptually or academically but thoroughly. The idea of Newtonian cause and effect is gone, no matter who still tries to hang on to it. The concept of warped time and space and acceptance of matter into energy and back is commonplace, as we speed electrons around a circuitous track of copper... Besides Relativity as a philosophical tool, is not especially usable despite early attempts to make it so. But what has shaped this decade is Complexity. Our acceptance of it, our understanding of it, and our harnessing of it. You can not have facebook without it because you need emergence and self-organization. Therefore, you can not have Iranian revolution without it because you can have one without thousands of autonomous agents making millions of decisions to cooperate or compete. You can't have American Idol without it...You can not even understand 9/11 without accepting the powers of complexity, especially Complex Adaptive Systems theory. There is no blow-back, feedback, loops, disruptions, chaos, there are no connected nodes without it. There are no power laws that explain network effects of growth or information diffusion. You now live in a world where Complexity Science rules. Don't try to escape it. Twitter won't let you. Neither will your iPhone, or your TV, and you can't even drive away from it. Its all connected, the nodes pass information be that node a person, a router, a GPS empowered car, you can not escape the power of complexity. Why is complexity so apparent now? Well, the micro-chip is nearly totally ubiquitous. And complexity is a tricky little devil. Its Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men, You Need him on that Wall... That wall between the old billiard world of a single ball that hits another ball to explain cause and effect or world war I or your grandfather clock and another world of Web like Billiard game of millions of balls hitting an bumping each other in such a random mass that is looks like little order exists yet explains the rise of a youtube video. But order does exist, patterns can usually be found. People though all selfish looking for their own goals and desires do create groups. Markets are not predictable, but do follow patterns. You can not look at the last 9-10 years and escape to find a single moment of simplicity in our history. I dare you... Its not that simplicity does not exist. Or that simple cause and effects are not around to be observed. We have changed. We no longer look at the world without including networks of people, or networks of machines, or networks of anything... The days of single moments can't exist. Look at our Cinema, the artist putting an ape on a empire state building to focus the world will never happen again, because we need loops of different angles of camera shots or foreign correspondents taking different shots, because we know that each country will have a different reaction, some similar, many different. All those different ideas streaming around, that's not the idea of putting chimp on the tallest building... Every defining moment we experience from here on will be defined by complexity. Loops, feedback, network effects, disruptions, power laws and chaos. So sit back post a blog, twitter a concept, or breathe a sigh of relief, the world just got a little simpler to understand its complexity.

How specific players of social freedom are not prepared for changes. According to Oxford English Dictionary, Privacy: The state or condition of being alone, undisturbed, or free from public attention, as a matter of choice or right; seclusion; freedom from interference or intrusion. Same source for Security: The condition of being protected from or not exposed to danger; safety. Something interesting is about to occur. The technology to observe, identify and report is about to hit devices that fit in your pocket. This technology used to take fairly large computers or satellite links of uber government security. But now with GPS triangulation in an "Eye-Fi" SD card, GPS, and a robust internet connected operating system in iPhones and Android based phones to name just the top two players, things are about to change radically. The Social applications abound, from Foursquare, to Brightkite, to Panoramio, and the list goes on.. Amazon, Google can identify products, buildings, and logos. Some say Google Goggles mobile app could "though switched off" can recognize faces. And of course iPhoto and Picassa already do this on your desktop or via the web I would hypothesize that 25 years ago Privacy and Security ran in a simple parallel. As you became more private, you were more secure. Hiding away from the unconnected masses was a sure way to prevent you from getting diseases ie the plague as Newton did, or not get financially washed out as my grand parents hid money in mattresses. Further from people or intrusion the further you were from danger. People with great walls were thought of as secure. But things change. We are all very connected, via water systems, electricity grids, financial markets, food distribution systems, global transportation, and communication systems. These communication systems include the wireless phone, the internet, social network services. So I would hypothesize that the equation is now not of two parallel lines but the lines cross and as they do they are inverse. That the more private you try to become, the less secure you are. The more unconnected you are the more insecure literally you are. But not to waste too much time here, to support this thesis I will mention a few important points that will lead us to an important conclusion. Knowing where my spouse is decreases their privacy. But I would argue increases their security. Knowing who they know and sharing in conversations I was not present for does not decrease their security. It does decrease privacy. No question, but knowing exactly how, when, or where to interrupt them in case of an emergency would increase their security. How to find them if we could not "Ping" them increases their security. Knowing what they last ate via a Yelp post, or where they lasted danced all helps to add to security but no privacy. And here is where the sociologist must step in. Who will fight that less privacy is less security? Interestingly it will be the female digerati who will argue that letting the universe know where they are is a danger. At first blush at this it would seem that announcing to the world where you are would be an invitation to every possible stalker in the vicinity. But is it? Do stalkers really need that information to stalk you? We the "non-stalking" 99.995% of the male population would rather follow Karem or Stephen Colbert on twitter than Girl33 ? Yet it begs another question. Digital Breadcrumbs. Would it not make it just easier to stalk? Well look at brightkite, the majority of public posts are done by men. Generally, women do not publicly post. I am not suggesting that women or for that matter men post GPS tagged photos in the nude in their bathroom. I am saying that women take precautions in public, because sadly they must. But despite all those precautions for the last 25 years still a stalker can follow a woman for one week and learn much more in that week than they could ever learn from random thoughts about restaurants, clubs, politics or books in libraries twitted or foursquared about. Yet, few women post these thoughts online in location based situations publicly. So who will lead the way for women to be strong and unafraid? It appears I don't have that answer. Women in the 21st century still feel objectified by the world. Yet most men or citizens of the 21st century are soo covered by masses of lifestream data, and mass media data smog that only the truly crazed have time to track down someone via random posts. Yet, still I listened to a Podcast about the insecurity of men letting their women be free to post who, where, and what they are doing. And the sole woman agreed that she must be fearful of letting people know where she is... Equation of Privacy vs Security surely is not a straight line. If you are alone and post who and where you are it may not be safe as if you have many friends you are out with and you post who and where you are. But as I learned in going out in the world as a woman for a gender class, and in virtual worlds as a female, women do not yet feel empowered to use the technology to make a stand or use the dynamics of attraction to generate forces that exist intrinsically in the biology of humans. Instead they are still objectified victims of technological forces that appear to them as threats to their security rather than tools for their empowerment.

Beginning in January 2010, this blog will take over all my work on Social Capital, Social Networking, and Online Community Dynamics. As Such, there will be much to discuss. I hope I can import my old blog "Bionic Pulse"> But who knows. Also my work on SubCultures in Los Angeles will be posted here too...

Mood Ring Reincarnated

This article is about technology and mood. Mood or brief emotional state is a very detailed and examined set of behaviors which can be classified into some type of emotion that affects our actions. This article published in Psychology today, is neither in-depth nor academically serious. But few articles in Psychology Today are. Articles in the academic journals such as APA's Neuro-Psychology, typically will have more in depth scientific coverage. So it is unfair to judge the science or depth of this article compared to academic research. But it is precisely this lack of insight that makes the existence of the following technologies even more disturbing. Because it ease of offloading personal skills of understanding emotional states to machines is approached in such a non-chalant manner. Each gadget is described, the article sections include a "In My Dreams" quip that extends the already surreal technology a step further.

The article includes two sets of Photos one large mood lamp featured at the top of the article and a set of art pictures of flowers. The lamp is built onto a black base unit, and glows with colors from green to yellow to blue. The article has five sections. First a insert by Dawn Stanton, comparing the 70's mood ring to the new technologies featured below.

The next section is the Shoji mood lamp. Shoji is an actual type of cylindrical Japanese lamp. But here it also represents an acronym Symbiotic Hosting Online Jog Instrument. The lamp analyzes the mood of an entire room from sensors detecting humidity, temperature, movement, and sound. It then reflects the mix of data as different colors inside the luminescent cylinder.

The mobile mood phone is a cell phone that emits a LED light based on the mood of the caller. This LED changes in brightness and color depending on the analysis of the persons voice tone and patterns.

The final section is broken into two parts. First the device, a hardware and software setup that analyzes the facial expressions. Based on the changes of facial expression, the system can create an empathic painting by changing brushstrokes and color. The second part of this final section is a quiz that includes five small photos of a painting adjusted to match some mood. Each is numbered and the answers to the correct mood is listed upside down at the bottom of the article.

The irony is a popular magazine that issues clues to human emotion and how to master them, is writing an article about machines not humans that master emotion. Detecting mood requires presence, and as we depend more on technology to be where we are not, presence becomes a rare commodity. From telecommuting, teleconferencing, virtual meetings, and online groups or chats, real in person presence is becoming rare.

As a result so is social skills to detect and understand the moods of others are slowly being regulated to machines. This article leaves the implications of machines replacing social skills out of sight. In fact each section includes a In My Dreams section where the author makes suggestions how to extend the intelligence of the mood gadget further. Of course, nothing is mentioned on why anyone would want to depend on a machine to understand some one's mood.

As a society we are slowly losing our ability to sharpen our social skills. Our culture is rewarding isolation and the power that isolation brings. Having to be there and show up, is for common people. Those with power teleconference in or simply send a response. Since transportation has become a hassle due to post 9/11 security and congestion, modern american society continues to place presence at a premium. Now through these technologies , any skill at ascertaining moods of a group or individual will be off-loaded to machines.

The potential is entire swaths of our brain evolved for social interactions will atrophy, skills developed in earlier generations from greetings, to posture, to understanding body distance will slowly decline. There may be a rise in the premium of those with skills of presence, such that persons will be paid to just appear at live events. As this happens already, it may become so pervasive that it will trickle down to lesser known individuals who may not be famous, but at least have the skills that these gadgets are attempting to replace.

Qualitative versus Quantitative: Technological and Non- pharmacological approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

Introduction:

This annotated bibliography takes broad overview of the technology and non-pharmacological approaches used today to diagnosis and treat Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. The DSM-IV (1994) states clearly that no laboratory tests or specific physical biological features have been established to identify Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Despite this fact, hundreds of case studies including use of such technologies as SPECT, fMRI, QEEG, Neurotransmitter urine panels, and specific attention tests which include computerized T.O.V.A., provide ample evidence that ADHD can be more accurately diagnosed and treated via the latest technologies and milder vitamin supplements. The critical aspect, of these approaches, is despite not being part of the DSM-IV literature, these alternative approaches provide in many cases a more quantitative analysis than current traditional methods. Though not in the scope of this bibliography, hopefully this annotated bibliography provides a thoughtful counterpoint to the current over prescribing of drugs to children for the treatment of ADHD.


Sterman, M. Barry (2000) EEG Markers for Attention Deficit Disorder: Pharmacological and Neurofeedback Applications Child Study Journal 30.1


This first citation provides both a history and an overview of approaches to ADHD. Dr. Sterman is emeritus professor of Neurobiology at UCLA. He is considered one the founding fathers of Neurofeedback along with Dr. Joel Lubar. Most papers on the use of QEEG or Neurofeedback will usually cite Sterman and/or Lubar who interned under Sterman. Sterman was the first to have peer reviewed research on biofeedback on animals and humans in the 1960’s. This article includes startling data on the over prescribing of methylphenidates which include Ritalin. Estimates made during the late 1990’s put the amount for Americans consuming Ritalin at 8.5 tons per year. The paper begins by pointing out that the DSM-IV describes ADHD as a qualitative cognitive issue, that lacks any physical evidence or biological supporting facts. Most prescriptions for ADHD simply need to fall within the typical list of observed behaviors of impulsivity and inattention. Dr Sterman then lays out several cogent points for the use of QEEG, primarily pointing out that EEG analysis of ADHD generally display several dominant features. These features include; increased slow rhythm activity known as Theta 4-8 Hz in the frontal, prefrontal and Sensorimotor regions, and reduced activity 12-20 Hz known as the more alert Sensorimotor Rhythm, or SMR in similar brain areas. Also many subjects display hypercoherence between left and right frontal cortex and between frontal/temporal regions within each hemisphere. Hypercoherence is when two regions of the brain are too “in sync” and their EEG rhythms spike and dip in near perfect phase, preventing flexible and independent reactions one would expect in different brain regions to display. Dr Sterman’s final well cited argument is that QEEG studies help increase the accuracy of treatment. An example is that of mild deep brain epileptic seizures, which might appear to cause individual attention problems externally. While EEG is an established diagnostic tool for such brain activity, Sterman points out that prescribing a stimulant like Ritalin to an epileptic could create severe reactions. Included in his paper are dozens of case studies showing the efficacy of Neurofeedback as a diagnostic tool and treatment of ADHD.


Bone, Kerry (2003, October 1)The Potential Role of Phytotherapy for ADHD.(Phytotherapy Review & Commentary)Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients

This is another broad overview of ADHD and its history. What is critical is the clarity of documentation of phyto-nutrients that Mr. Bone elucidates with his claims. One of the most effective of the claims is a double blind study measuring speed and accuracy of college students in cognitive tests. Ginko Biloba and Ginseng were used in combination, and showed significant improvement over placebo users. Also, Mr. Bone cited studies of decreased Essential Fatty Acids in a subset of ADHD children, as opposed to normal levels in non-ADHD children. Though there are many broad case studies and research papers on Ginko for increase cerebral blood flow, the stimulant effects of Ginseng, and the protective qualities of Essential Fatty Acids to nerve myelination. Mr. Bone had one of the few referenced uses of Bacopa. Bacopa is an Ayurvedic herb that has been used in India for memory and learning difficulties. He cites an Australian double blind study where Bacopa clearly demonstrated increased scores in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test over placebo subjects. The significance of this article is the fact that Mr. Bone relied solely on solid double blind research as opposed to case studies where multiple factors are rarely considered. In the realm of supplement and phytonutrient claims, Mr Bone refused to use weak research to make any significant justifications despite his general thesis that phytonutrients can be an effective adjunct to treatment of ADHD symptoms.


Westerberg, Helena (2005, February 1) Computerized training of working memory in children with ADHD--a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Ms Westerberg outlines a Swedish double blind study, where children who were diagnosed with ADHD were randomly given ‘Working Memory’ exercises that ran off a Personal Computer CD-Rom. These exercises included recollection of the position of items in a 4 X 4 grid as well as verbal tasks remembering phonemes, letters, or digits. The subjects used a computer mouse to select and navigate the tasks for about 40 minutes per day, everyday for several weeks. The test group contained only fifty subjects, yet the results were impressive. Those receiving the treatment increased their visual-spatial working memory by an average of 19%. This increase sustained itself 5-6 weeks after treatment. In addition, evaluations of hyperactivity and poor attention as noted by parents through psychologists showed decrease in symptoms as compared to the placebo group. The group of 7-12 year olds were selected based on symptoms of ADHD and were eliminated if defiance disorder, low IQ, or were under the influence of prescription drugs such as methylphenidates. Various tests were given to subjects including WISC-III, Raven, Stroup and Conner’s Rating scale tests during treatment, pre-treatment and post-treatment. The most surprising aspect was the post-treatment score, of the group to be within .3 of the standard deviation mean for cognitive reasoning ability of the population norm. The only troubling aspect Ms. Westerberg admits to is that of teacher evaluations that saw little change in ADHD behavior. Clearly, as Ms. Westerberg admits further research needs to continue to study the aspects of exercising working memory regions of the brain.


Shapiro, Theodore (1997, December 1) Evolution and revolution in child psychiatry: ADHD as a disorder of adaptation. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Theodore Shapiro advances the theory that ADHD may have been an evolutionary adaptation. As this may seem to be beyond the scope of this bibliography, his arguments are persuasive enough that if plausible add to the thesis that ADHD has genetic and biological underpinnings that the DSM-IV has yet to acknowledge. But rather than ignore the symptoms described in the DSM-IV, Shapiro uses them to make the argument that these symptoms are adaptive. Impulsivity, attentional processes (scanning and rapidly, shifting attention), vigilance and increased motor activity (hyperactivity) are all adaptations that are highly effective on the savannah or dark jungle, but not for sitting at a desk quietly reading. These set of ADHD behaviors form what Shapiro calls “the response ready” child. Here is where his hypothesis enters the realm of this paper. Shapiro suggests adapting the environment with tools and technologies that utilize rather than punish the “response ready” child. The child is given tasks that enable his scanning abilities and use of interactive tasks that are more physical in nature. This could reward the child and help to eventually mainstream the child into an average classroom. Such technologies exist, for example; video games that track body movements could be combined with math or reading skills. Even Shapiro admits that his theory can not allow teachers, parents, or administrators to romanticize these behaviors as premature noble savages.


Vaidya, Chandan J.(2005) Brain Imaging of Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder: What have We Learnt? Cognition, Brain, Behavior Vol. IX(3), 287-300

Vaidya paper reviews the evidence that is clear that ADHD has biological markers that are apparent via several imaging technologies. These technologies include single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) Vaidya covers the ethical dilemmas of using radioactive isotopes in children and thus tends to favor fMRI studies. What is clear about the research that is covered is there is comprehensible evidence that children with ADHD have abnormalities that can be detected through computer imaging. Her review of the evidence includes aspects such as metabolic action was reduced in ADHD subjects in an array of regions implicated by the structural anatomical findings including in the frontal and parietal areas. SPECT/PET studies illustrated that during an auditory attention task, ADHD subjects demonstrated hypoperfusion (decreased blood flow) in the periventricular regions, representing low metabolic activity in the frontal (premotor and prefrontal) and striatal (caudate, putamen) regions. The research cited over 50 published papers on neurological imaged deficits of children and adults.

Dige, N., & Wik, G. (2005). Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Identified by Neuropsychological Testing. International Journal of Neuroscience, 115(2), 169-183.
This research paper used a double blind study to test whether the use of specific neuropsychological testing was an accurate indication of adult ADHD. Niels Dige’s team were able to successfully diagnosis ADHD with over an 85% accuracy. Dige used over a dozen tests to measure the various disabilities in the test group. These tests checked for working memory, including auditory and verbal working memory, and logical sequential tasks. What is striking, is the fact that despite using over a dozen tests 25% of the controls were miss identified as having symptoms of ADHD. This raises an interesting problem, where as cognitive test use clear quantitative statistics, little to no statistical data of accuracy exists in any substantial form for neuroimaging diagnosis. Dige’s work though instructive illuminates the fact that more work needs to be done linking neuropsychological tests with neuro-imaging.

Grizenko, Natalie Bhat, Mamatha Schwartz, George (2006, January 1) Efficacy of methylphenidate in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities: a randomized crossover trial. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p46, 6p

This is a standard double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, 2-week crossover trial of methylphenidate usage in children with ADHD. Grizenko’s research in ADHD and psycho-stimulants is not at the surface notable. Dozens of studies, drug trials, FDA reports have looked at the efficacy of Ritalin and other stimulants for children and adults with symptoms of ADHD. The critical issue was the lack of efficacy for children with ADHD and learning disabilities. Particularly in mathematics, where over 63% of those medicated displayed no cognitive improvement at all. Statistically speaking those with reading disability faired only slightly better, with 45% or nearly half showing no improvement. On average half of the learning disabled students with ADHD showed little to no improvement. Whereas, 75% of the ADHD children with no learning disability showed improvement with the addition of methylphenidate. It is important to note that despite being given psycho-stimulants, the research did not include any biological tests to see if there had been any changes in levels of catecholamines which are typically raised due to the introduction of a stimulant. Thus there is no way other than cognitive testing to see if any biological metabolic marker differs between the two groups.


Ross, Brian M. McKenzie, Ivor Glen, Iain et al (2003 October)Increased Levels of Ethane, A Non-invasive Marker of n-3 Fatty Acid Oxidation, in Breath of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Nutritional Neuroscience; Oct2003, Vol. 6 Issue 5, p277, 5p

This report concludes that children with ADHD exhale larger amounts on average of a chemical known as ethane. Ethane is produced by the oxidation of Omega 3 class of fatty acids. The oxidation process which appears accelerated in ADHD children, has no known direct causes. But Ross cites numerous studies that show that polyunsaturated fatty acids which included the various omega class of fatty acids 3-6-9, are low in ADHD children. If this is true that ADHD children are low in PUFA’s, and are producing a byproduct of oxidation of PUFA’s then dietary supplementation seems like a logical remedy. Ross recommends a combination of fatty acids and anti-oxidants to counter the breakdown and release of ethane. Where as many ‘new age’ prescriptions by various so called health care providers tout essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants, Ross provides real scientific evidence that these supplements might be effective for children with ADHD.



Wooltorton, Eric (2005, December 6) Suicidal ideation among children taking atomoxetine (Strattera) CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal; Vol. 173 Issue 12, p1447-1447, 1p

This citation is to force home that even the newer psycho-stimulants have serious side effects. The side effects of stimulants like Ritalin have been well documented. And their efficacy is sometimes no better than a 50/50 proposition. Wooltorton examines the increase in suicide ideation among users of Strattera. Strattera or atomoxetine acts as a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Norepinephrine is produced by the adrenal gland and has stimulant like effects on the central nervous system. Suicidal ideation is reported to have occurred in 5 (0.37%) of 1357 children given atomoxetine but none of 851 children given placebo. All reports of suicidal ideation were in children aged 7–12 years; one attempted suicide.


Heuser, G, Mena I, (2002)Treatment of Neurogically Impaired Adults and Children with "Mild" Hyperbaric Oxygen The proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium p 109-115

This is one of only a few published papers of the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for what is considered “off label” use. HBOT is used for divers and for diabetics by established protocols in hospitals across the world. Typically, HBOT treatment uses nearly pure oxygen, and very high levels of air pressure at nearly 4 times normal levels. In cases of open wounds from advanced type two diabetes it can help wounds heal by bringing much needed oxygen to the wound. Mild HBOT, uses lower pressure and lower oxygen levels. This case study by Dr Heuser a UCLA professor and medical doctor specializing in neuro-toxicology shows the reversal of neurological impairment. Included in the case studies are pre and post treatment SPECT studies which clearly demonstrate increased metabolic function in the cerebral cortex. Also Heuser offers pre and post T.O.V.A scores which also show quantitative improvement ranging from 2-23% increase in attention achievements. The logic behind the treatment of HBOT, is that some ADHD symptoms may be due to brain regions in idle mode. This idle mode may be due to earlier stress to the system. By increasing air pressure and oxygen levels previously injured brain areas may ‘awaken’. By increasing air pressure more oxygen is released as changes in pressure make the cell walls more permeable to the release of oxygen.


Thomas R. Rossiter and Theodore J. La Vaque (1995) A Comparison of EEG Biofeedback and Psychostimulants in Treating Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders Journal of Neurotherapy, p 48-59

The study contrasted the outcomes of EEG biofeedback and stimulant medication in reducing AD/HD symptoms. The intriguing result of Rossiter’s research was there was no difference between the two groups. Both displayed improvements, in attention scores and overall behavioral changes. EEG patients were seen three to five times a week for 45-50 minute treatment sessions that included 30 minutes of EEG biofeedback. Biofeedback consisted of responding to both visual and audio cues to suppress theta activity and increase SMR or low beta. Patients in the ‘MED’ set were started or restarted on methylphenidate or dextroamphetimine prescribed by their personal medical doctors following the baseline assessment. Though not a double blind study, the results were intriguing. Ritalin has many side effects including sleeplessness and nausea, while EEG has few if any.


Robbins, Jim (2000) A Symphony in the Brain. New York: Grove Press

This is an entire novel that covers the history of Neurofeedback. It takes the reader through the early days with Dr. Sterman, and finishes with the Othmers. It is included here because there is a fork in the school of thought concerning neurofeedback. Dr. Sterman and Dr. Lubar are on one side, and the Othmers and Margaret Ayers are on the other. The book deals with both the science and the personalities involved in this budding science. Sue and Siegfried Othmer have the largest training facility of EEG practitioners in the United States. Margaret Ayers and Sue Othmer both worked under Dr. Sterman yet neither ever finished getting even a PhD. The Othmers use EEG as broad tool to affect many different mental disorders including epilepsy, autism, neurotoxic insults, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Whereas Sterman and Lubar both take a much more conservative approach, applying EGG or neurofeedback to ADD and epilepsy. The Othmers come to neurofeedback from desperation to help their son Brian Othmer who had epileptic seizures and behavioral problems. The book on a whole does go into detail of protocols and precise treatments of specific disorders and how they com about. From testing cats’ brainwaves in the 1960’s to helping children with severe autism, the book delights as much as it enlightens.


Amen, Daniel G. (2001) Healing ADD New York: Berkeley Publishing Group

This is quintessential book on brain scans and Attention Deficit Disorder. Dr Amen has a massed over 10,000 SPECT scans of various patients over the years. Amen is not only a neurologist but also has a PhD in psychology. He has developed six types of ADD based on the thousands of brain scans in his practice. Along with the quantitative data from the scans he has also developed a series of over 100 questions that statistically match your ADD profile with your SPECT exam. In this book, he breaks down all six types by SPECT and behavior. Each type he describes and offers both pre and post medication SPECT studies. In addition, to the various medications, Amen also recommends various supplements for each ADD type. Some types such as inattentive type 2 require stimulants such as Adderall while others such as limbic type 4 require inhibitory supplements like GABA.




Summary:

The objective of this annotated bibliography was to examine various aspects of non-pharmacological and technological aspects of diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. We covered various technologies including breath tests, hyperbaric oxygen, computerized neurofeedback, and several brain imaging approaches. We also looked at effectiveness of treatments of both technological and phytonutrient approaches versus stimulants. Supplements such as Essential Fatty Acids, Bacopa, and Ginseng were covered and dissected. Despite reviewing over a dozen sources, the surface has barely been scratched. Yet clearly, the evidence here has added to the argument that other more effective treatments and diagnostic analysis exist for the health care provider and for the patient to receive the best care possible.