Good Holders, Bad Shufflers: An Examination of Working Memory Processes and Modalities in Children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley N. Simone ◽  
Anne-Claude V. Bédard ◽  
David J. Marks ◽  
Jeffrey M. Halperin

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine working memory (WM) modalities (visual-spatial and auditory-verbal) and processes (maintenance and manipulation) in children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The sample consisted of 63 8-year-old children with ADHD and an age- and sex-matched non-ADHD comparison group (N=51). Auditory-verbal and visual-spatial WM were assessed using the Digit Span and Spatial Span subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Integrated - Fourth Edition. WM maintenance and manipulation were assessed via forward and backward span indices, respectively. Data were analyzed using a 3-way Group (ADHD vs. non-ADHD)×Modality (Auditory-Verbal vs. Visual-Spatial)×Condition (Forward vs. Backward) Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Secondary analyses examined differences between Combined and Predominantly Inattentive ADHD presentations. Significant Group×Condition (p=.02) and Group×Modality (p=.03) interactions indicated differentially poorer performance by those with ADHD on backward relative to forward and visual-spatial relative to auditory-verbal tasks, respectively. The 3-way interaction was not significant. Analyses targeting ADHD presentations yielded a significant Group×Condition interaction (p=.009) such that children with ADHD-Predominantly Inattentive Presentation performed differentially poorer on backward relative to forward tasks compared to the children with ADHD-Combined Presentation. Findings indicate a specific pattern of WM weaknesses (i.e., WM manipulation and visual-spatial tasks) for children with ADHD. Furthermore, differential patterns of WM performance were found for children with ADHD-Predominantly Inattentive versus Combined Presentations. (JINS, 2016, 22, 1–11)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 679-687
Author(s):  
Fei-Fei Si ◽  
Lu Liu ◽  
Hai-Mei Li ◽  
Li Sun ◽  
Qing-Jiu Cao ◽  
...  

Objective Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents. The present study investigated the cortical morphology features and their relationship with working memory (WM).Methods In the present study, a total of 36 medication naïve children with ADHD (aged from 8 to 15 years) and 36 age- and gendermatched healthy control (HC) children were included. The digit span test was used to evaluate WM. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine the characteristics of cortical morphology. Firstly, we compared the cortical morphology features between two groups to identify the potential structural alterations of cortical volume, surface, thickness, and curvature in children with ADHD. Then, the correlation between the brain structural abnormalities and WM was further explored in children with ADHD.Results Compared with the HC children, the children with ADHD showed reduced cortical volumes in the left lateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) (p=6.67×10-6) and left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (p=3.88×10-4). In addition, the cortical volume of left lateral STG was positively correlated with WM (r=0.36, p=0.029).Conclusion Though preliminary, these findings suggest that the reduced cortical volumes of left lateral STG may contribute to the pathogenesis of ADHD and correlate with WM in children with ADHD.


Author(s):  
Raghumahanti Raghuveer ◽  
. Ruchi

Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may develop during the preschool years of the child and extend into adulthood. ADHD also leads to impaired Working Memory (WM) creating problems in various functions. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of behavioural parent training and structured games on WM of children with ADHD. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study was conducted in 18 schools of Ghaziabad City, Uttar Pradesh, India. Seventy subjects were selected based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) criteria. Group A (n=35) received structured games and Group B (n=35) received Behavioural Parent Training (BPT). Seguin Form Board Test Time (SFBTT) was recorded as outcome on baseline and 5th week. Student’s paired and unpaired t-test was done. SPSS 22.0 version was the software used and p<0.05 was considered as level of significance. Results: Analysed data showed significant results within structured games group with t=2.355, p<0.05, and no significant result within BPT group with t=-0.776, p>0.05. Between group comparison showed significant difference with t=-2.804, p<0.05. Conclusion: Training of WM in form of structured games can be an effective method when compared to BPT in children with ADHD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane E. Schreiber ◽  
Katherine L. Possin ◽  
Jonathan M. Girard ◽  
Celiane Rey-Casserly

AbstractTheories of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increasingly highlight the role of neuropsychological impairment in ADHD; however, a consistent and identifiable pattern of performance on tests is not well established. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Executive Abilities: Measures and Instruments for Neurobehavioral Evaluation and Research (EXAMINER) battery provides measures of common variance across multiple executive function tests within specific domains and was used to characterize which executive functions are most affected in children with ADHD. Thirty-two children (24 male), ages 8–15 years (M = 12.02; SD = 2.29), diagnosed with ADHD and no comorbid disorder completed the NIH EXAMINER battery. Sixty age and gender matched healthy controls were chosen from a database of participants enrolled in the NIH EXAMINER multi-site study. Children with ADHD performed worse on the working memory score compared with the controls. No differences were found on the cognitive control or fluency scores. For children with ADHD, poorer working memory performance predicted parent report of child learning problems. Cognitive control and fluency scores did not predict learning problems. In summary, working memory emerges as a primary impairment in children with ADHD who have no comorbid disorders. Furthermore, working memory weaknesses may underlie the academic problems often seen in children with ADHD. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–11)


2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana Bolfer ◽  
Sandra Pasquali Pacheco ◽  
Miriam Harumi Tsunemi ◽  
Walter Souza Carreira ◽  
Beatriz Borba Casella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective To compare children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), before and after the use of methylphenidate, and a control group, using tests of working memory, inhibition capacity and mental flexibility. Methods Neuropsychological tests were administrated to 53 boys, 9–12 years old: the WISC-III digit span backward, and arithmetic; Stroop Color; and Trail Making Tests. The case group included 23 boys with ADHD, who were combined type, treatment-naive, and with normal intelligence without comorbidities. The control group (n = 30) were age and gender matched. After three months on methylphenidate, the ADHD children were retested. The control group was also retested after three months. Results Before treatment, ADHD children had lower scores than the control group on the tests (p ≤ 0.001) and after methylphenidate had fewer test errors than before (p ≤ 0.001) Conclusion Methylphenidate treatment improves the working memory, inhibitory control and mental flexibility of ADHD boys.


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 896-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Zambrano-Sanchez ◽  
Jose A. Martinez-Cortes ◽  
Minerva Dehesa-Moreno ◽  
Yolanda del Rio-Carlos ◽  
Adrian Poblano

Objective To compare frequency of sleep disorders (SD) and executive dysfunction (ED) in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a control group. Method We studied 156 children with ADHD with a mean age of 8.5 years, and a control group with 111 children with a mean age of 8.3 years. We utilized the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) to screen SD and the working memory measurement from the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC-IV) to screen ED. Results We did not observe an increased frequency of SD in children with ADHD compared with the controls. However, we did identify ED in children with ADHD; additionally a significant correlation was observed between the type of ADHD and SD and among ED, WISC-IV measurements, and type of SD in children with ADHD. Conclusion An increase of SD frequency in children with ADHD was not observed, but we did identify ED in children with ADHD. Additionally, a correlation among ADHD types, SD, ED, and WISC-IV measurements was observed in children with ADHD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 978
Author(s):  
shira frances-israeli ◽  
inbar trinczer ◽  
shlomit greenberg-yuval ◽  
roy amit ◽  
noa rotman ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260295
Author(s):  
Dongha Lee ◽  
Elizabeth Quattrocki Knight ◽  
Hyunjoo Song ◽  
Saebyul Lee ◽  
Chongwon Pae ◽  
...  

The heterogeneous presentation of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive core symptoms in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) warrants further investigation into brain network connectivity as a basis for subtype divisions in this prevalent disorder. With diffusion and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Healthy Brain Network database, we analyzed both structural and functional network efficiency and structure-functional network (SC-FC) coupling at the default mode (DMN), executive control (ECN), and salience (SAN) intrinsic networks in 201 children diagnosed with the inattentive subtype (ADHD-I), the combined subtype (ADHD-C), and typically developing children (TDC) to characterize ADHD symptoms relative to TDC and to test differences between ADHD subtypes. Relative to TDC, children with ADHD had lower structural connectivity and network efficiency in the DMN, without significant group differences in functional networks. Children with ADHD-C had higher SC-FC coupling, a finding consistent with diminished cognitive flexibility, for all subnetworks compared to TDC. The ADHD-C group also demonstrated increased SC-FC coupling in the DMN compared to the ADHD-I group. The correlation between SC-FC coupling and hyperactivity scores was negative in the ADHD-I, but not in the ADHD-C group. The current study suggests that ADHD-C and ADHD-I may differ with respect to their underlying neuronal connectivity and that the added dimensionality of hyperactivity may not explain this distinction.


Revista CEFAC ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 692-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Aparecida Zuanetti ◽  
Marília Buzzo Lugli ◽  
Ângela Cristina Pontes Fernandes ◽  
Mônica da Silva Trabuco Soares ◽  
Kelly da Silva ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Purpose: to compare aspects of memory, learning and oral comprehension between children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and children with Anxiety Disorder (AD). Methods: thirty-two children (7-10 years) were divided into: G1 - children diagnosed with ADHD, and G2 - children diagnosed with AD. The children were not under drug treatment. The tests applied assessed working memory (phonological loop and visuospatial sketch), learning, episodic memory and oral comprehension. Results: both groups showed changes in working memory for visuospatial sketch and phonological loop (worse performance in pseudowords in the ADHD group and digit-reversed order for children with AD), and in oral comprehension. Group comparison showed a statistically significant difference regarding the most complex level of the oral comprehension test and the repetition of nonwords with three syllables. Both groups showed a suitable performance in learning ability, however, the group of children with ADHD suffered from backward interference, with no memory consolidation, showing low episodic memory performance. Conclusion: children with ADHD and anxiety disorder showed various altered cognitive skills, although group comparison revealed that children with ADHD exhibited worse cognitive performance.


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