Iranian Educational Psychology Association Iranian Journal of Learning and Memory 2645-5447 8 32 2025 12 01 An Exploratory Study of Alpha EEG Activity at Rest and During Cognitive Task Performance in Adults with ADHD 17 31 243399 10.22034/iepa.2026.569157.1571 EN Mohammad Hassan Aghaei Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Allameh TabaTabai’ University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 0009-0008-8149-2495 Asgar Alimohammadi Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0001-7606-5271 Kambiz Banihashemi MD, Geneticist and Academic Member, Head of Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, Allameh Tabatabai’ University, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0001-9141-2892 Journal Article 2025 12 28 <strong><span>Objective: </span></strong><span>This exploratory, hypothesis-generating study investigated alpha-band EEG activity during resting state and cognitive task performance in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and examined its relationship with symptom severity, without a healthy control group.</span> <strong><span>Method: </span></strong><span>EEG (8-12 Hz) was recorded in 28 adults with ADHD (21-31 years) during (1) eyes-closed rest and (2) a cognitive task requiring sustained attention. Absolute power and NeuroGuide z-scores were extracted. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the ASRS. Paired t-tests, Pearson correlations, and exploratory median split comparisons were performed.</span> <strong><span>Results: </span></strong><span>Resting and task alpha activity were strongly correlated (r = .77, p < .01). At the group level, alpha activity unexpectedly increased from rest to task (t(27) = 2.34, p = .027). Linear correlations between ASRS total score and alpha activity at rest (r = .07) and during task (r = .20) were weak and non-significant (p > .05). In exploratory median-split comparisons (higher vs. lower symptom severity), individuals with higher severity showed significantly lower task-related alpha (t(26) = 2.12, p = .044, d = .81), but no significant difference in resting alpha (t(26) = 1.92, p = .066).</span> <strong><span>Conclusions: </span></strong><span>In this hypothesis-generating study of adults with ADHD conducted without a neurotypical control group, we observed within-sample patterns of alpha modulation. The unexpected task-related alpha increase and the association between higher symptom severity and reduced task-related alpha warrant replication in larger, controlled studies with concurrent behavioral performance measures. No ADHD-specific conclusions can be drawn from this exploratory investigation.</span> https://journal.iepa.ir/article_243399_5bbe040ebfa673eaa4d95dea1062d8f7.pdf