At-Home BCI Game-Based Therapy for ADHD in Children Gains Traction as Developer Files IPO

Economic Observer Reporter Liu Xiaonuo

In the field of ADHD intervention, a new solution with brain-computer interface has emerged.

Recently, BrainCo released the medical version of "Focusen" for ADHD intervention, a brain-computer interface product that includes both software and hardware, both of which have obtained Class II medical device registration certificates.

Among them, the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) rehabilitation training software is suitable for auxiliary rehabilitation training for ADHD children aged 6-12. It can be used in medical institutions, rehabilitation centers, or home environments. The hardware that supports the software is a single-channel prefrontal EEG collector, designed with a non-invasive brain-computer interface. It is more lightweight and easier to wear than traditional EEG devices, allowing for faster and more convenient EEG acquisition and training.

According to BrainCo, Zhuan Zhu Xin is a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free treatment solution. Its technical principle is neurofeedback training, which utilizes the plasticity of brain neurons. Through certain training methods (such as reward and reinforcement mechanisms), it helps trainees learn to autonomously regulate and improve target brain neural activities, achieving the goal of repairing or enhancing brain function.

Focus欣 includes three core modules: User Information Module, Attention Training Module, and Training Report Module. The software features various engaging visuals, allowing children to complete operational tasks within a highly trained context. The gamified design makes it enjoyable for children and easy for them to stay committed.

BrainCo Senior Vice President Sicong Shan introduced at the press conference that the daily training process is simple: wear the EEG device, open the software, complete game-like tasks for about 25 minutes, during which children need to control the game progress by maintaining focus. The system provides real-time feedback and incentives based on EEG signals or enhances corresponding executive brain functions through cognitive ability training in relevant dimensions. After completion, the system automatically generates a report for doctors and parents to track.

"The more focused the child is, the faster the little car in the game goes. With this feedback, the child will gradually learn how to make the car go faster by increasing their focus," said SiCong Shan.

Jin Xingming, the founder of Chinese Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics and a lifetime professor at Shanghai Children's Medical Center affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, pointed out that ADHD is a high-incidence but intervenable neurodevelopmental disorder. Non-invasive brain-computer interface technology, as a non-pharmacological method, can improve attention, self-control, and executive function through gamified and visualized neurofeedback training.

Based on strict diagnostic criteria and the results of three sets of control studies, Jin Xingming believes that the combination of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) and medication has shown significant effects in symptom improvement and functional recovery. Moreover, BCI technology demonstrates better intervention outcomes for younger children aged 6-7.

According to studies such as the 2021 "Epidemiological Survey of Mental Disorders in Chinese Children and Adolescents," the prevalence of ADHD among Chinese children and adolescents is approximately 6.4%, estimating that about 23 million children and adolescents in China suffer from ADHD.

Previously, the intervention for ADHD was primarily based on medication. At the press conference, Academician Lu Lin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences pointed out that traditional treatment methods have certain limitations, especially drug treatments, where more than one-third of people experience poor treatment outcomes and adverse drug reactions. However, brain-computer interface technology offers new possibilities for interpreting brain activity, evaluating neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as targeted interventions and functional recovery.

In March 2025, the National Healthcare Security Administration issued the "Guidelines for the Establishment of Medical Service Price Items for Neurological Services (Trial)," which introduced for the first time the chargeable item "Non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface Adaptation Fee." The Hubei Provincial Healthcare Security Administration launched China's first medical service price item for brain-computer interface services, setting the non-invasive brain-computer interface adaptation fee at 966 RMB per session.

(Author: Liu Xiaonuo)