Community Health Journal

Community Health Journal

The Effectiveness of Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Performance of Continuous Attention and Risky Decision Making of Elementary School Students with Special Learning Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
D samadi bi niyaz 1
B Nikzad 2
T Hashemi 3
Y salekzamani 4
1 PhD Student in Cognitive Neuroscience, Dept. of Cognitive Neuroscience (Brain and Cognition), University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
2 Assistant Prof., Dept. of Cognitive Neuroscience (Brain and Cognition), University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
3 Prof., Dept. of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
4 Associate Prof.Associate Prof., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
10.22123/chj.2025.481245.2129
Abstract
Introduction: Considering the problems of students with specific learning disabilities in cognitive areas and lack of sufficient studies, this research was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation on the performance of continuous attention and high-risk decision-making in primary school students with special learning disorders.
 
Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all elementary school students in Mashhad, out of which 30 people were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned into an experimental group and a control group. Both groups completed the Continuous Attention Performance Test and the Balloon Risk Test. After completing 20 5-second sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the left anterior-lateral prefrontal cortex (point F4) in the experimental group, and receiving silent stimulation on the same points in the control group, the aforementioned tests were again administered in the groups. The data were analyzed using descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance) statistics.
 
Results: The results of the covariance analysis showed that there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups from pre-test to post-test in sustained attention performance (p=0.036) and risky decision-making (p=0.001) among elementary school students with specific learning disabilities
Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, it seems that this method can be used to improve sustained attention performance and reduce risky decision-making in elementary school students with specific learning disabilities.
Keywords
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
Sustained attention performance
Risky decision making
Specific learning disorders
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Community Health Journal
Volume 19, Issue 1
Summer 2025
Pages 43-51