scholarly journals Cognitive Modeling Suggests That Attentional Failures Drive Longer Stop-Signal Reaction Time Estimates in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 856-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Weigard ◽  
Andrew Heathcote ◽  
Dóra Matzke ◽  
Cynthia Huang-Pollock

Mean stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) is frequently employed as a measure of response inhibition in cognitive neuroscience research on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, this measurement model is limited by two factors that may bias SSRT estimation in this population: (a) excessive skew in “go” RT distributions and (b) trigger failures, or instances in which individuals fail to trigger an inhibition process in response to the stop signal. We used a Bayesian parametric approach that allows unbiased estimation of the shape of entire SSRT distributions and the probability of trigger failures to clarify mechanisms of stop-signal task deficits in ADHD. Children with ADHD displayed greater positive skew than their peers in both go RT and SSRT distributions. However, they also displayed more frequent trigger failures, which appeared to drive ADHD-related stopping difficulties. Results suggest that performance on the stop-signal task among children with ADHD reflects impairments in early attentional processes, rather than inefficiency in the stop process.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0241352
Author(s):  
Kristin N. Meyer ◽  
Rosario Santillana ◽  
Brian Miller ◽  
Wes Clapp ◽  
Marcus Way ◽  
...  

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed psychological disorder of childhood. Medication and cognitive behavioral therapy are effective treatments for many children; however, adherence to medication and therapy regimens is low. Thus, identifying effective adjunct treatments is imperative. Previous studies exploring computerized training programs as supplementary treatments have targeted working memory or attention. However, many lines of research suggest inhibitory control (IC) plays a central role in ADHD pathophysiology, which makes IC a potential intervention target. In this randomized control trial (NCT03363568), we target IC using a modified stop-signal task (SST) training designed by NeuroScouting, LLC in 40 children with ADHD, aged 8 to 11 years. Children were randomly assigned to adaptive treatment (n = 20) or non-adaptive control (n = 20) with identical stimuli and task goals. Children trained at home for at least 5 days a week (about 15m/day) for 4-weeks. Relative to the control group, the treatment group showed decreased relative theta power in resting EEG and trending improvements in parent ratings of attention (i.e. decreases in inattentive behaviors). Both groups showed improved SST performance. There was not evidence for treatment effects on hyperactivity or teacher ratings of symptoms. Results suggest training IC alone has potential to positively impact symptoms of ADHD and provide evidence for neural underpinnings of this impact (change in theta power; change in N200 latency). This shows promising initial results for the use of computerized training of IC in children with ADHD as a potential adjunct treatment option for children with ADHD.


i-Perception ◽  
10.1068/if674 ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 674-674
Author(s):  
Hisn-Wei Wu ◽  
Jeng-Yi Tyan ◽  
Li-Chin Lin ◽  
Yi-Min Tien ◽  
Tun-Shin Lo ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (5) ◽  
pp. 2568-2578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolaas A. J. Puts ◽  
Ashley D. Harris ◽  
Mark Mikkelsen ◽  
Mark Tommerdahl ◽  
Richard A. E. Edden ◽  
...  

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by an inability to concentrate, heightened activity, and hypermotoric behavior, but sensory (e.g., tactile) problems are common. The literature on tactile impairments in ADHD is limited, with most work employing clinical observations or questionnaires. We studied tactile processing in children with ADHD and hypothesized that children with ADHD would show reduced performance in tasks closely linked to inhibition. Sixty-seven children with ADHD and 62 typically developing children (TDC) performed a battery of tasks grouped in domains: simple and choice reaction time; static and dynamic detection threshold (probing feedforward inhibition); amplitude discrimination without adaptation and with dual and single-site adaptation (probing lateral inhibition and adaptation); sequential and simultaneous frequency discrimination (previously linked to GABA); and temporal order judgment with and without a synchronous carrier stimulus. Children with ADHD could discriminate different amplitudes without adaptation, suggesting lateral inhibition is intact, but were negatively affected in all adaptation conditions, whereas TDC were only affected during single-site adaptation. Children with ADHD also showed normal frequency discrimination. Children with ADHD showed slower reaction times and higher detection threshold, likely driven by IQ and inattention, because reaction time and detection thresholds correlated with IQ and subtle motor signs. Children with ADHD showed a pattern of altered tactile processing on specific tasks, suggesting that higher cognitive function and cortical mechanisms related to adaptation are affected in ADHD, but no clear conclusion can be drawn toward impaired inhibition. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This manuscript presents the first tactile psychophysical study testing different aspects of tactile processing in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), using large cohort sizes of 67 children with ADHD and 65 Typically Developing Children. This study demonstrates impaired tactile processing in children with ADHD, on some, but not all tasks (showing this is not just due to attention), related to impaired cortical mechanisms. Furthermore, both IQ and soft motor skill abnormalities (common in ADHD) are correlated with tactile abnormalities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Wen Huang ◽  
Chung-Ju Huang ◽  
Chiao-Ling Hung ◽  
Chia-Hao Shih ◽  
Tsung-Min Hung

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are characterized by a deviant pattern of brain oscillations during resting state, particularly elevated theta power and increased theta/alpha and theta/beta ratios that are related to cognitive functioning. Physical fitness has been found beneficial to cognitive performance in a wide age population. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between physical fitness and resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillations in children with ADHD. EEG was recorded during eyes-open resting for 28 children (23 boys and 5 girls, 8.66 ± 1.10 years) with ADHD, and a battery of physical fitness assessments including flexibility, muscular endurance, power, and agility tests were administered. The results indicated that ADHD children with higher power fitness exhibited a smaller theta/alpha ratio than those with lower power fitness. These findings suggest that power fitness may be associated with improved attentional self-control in children with ADHD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-283
Author(s):  
Mihail Silviu Tudosie ◽  
Elena Truta ◽  
Ana Maria Davitoiu ◽  
Luminita Stanciulescu ◽  
George Jinescu ◽  
...  

During one year (september 2013 � september 2014), 50 children from the residential institution for children SOS Satele Copiilor Bucharest, where included in our research. The children were distributed in two groups: Group A which consisted of 25 children (12 girls, 13 boys) who were not diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Group B which consisted of 25 children (14 boys, 11 girls) who were diagnosed with ADHD. Initially, the two groups were subjected at a psycho-diagnostic battery of tests, one of them being the Evaluating the Health State of children with ADHD questionnaire elaborated by us, particularly for this research, with the purpose of highlighting the direct link between the children health state and their ADHD symptoms. This study sought to determine the concentration of copper in urine samples from a group of children with ADHD and a group of normal children, to highlight the role of copper in the development of ADHD symptoms. Levels of copper concentration in urine samples from the two groups were processed by Student�s t-Test. Statistical analysis showed that the arithmetic averages of copper concentration in urine samples, of the two groups do not differ significantly, so copper may be causing ADHD symptoms occur. The copper content in urine samples has been determined using atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace.


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