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Inhibitory processes in adults with persistent childhood onset ADHD
Joel T Nigg1, Karin M Butler, Cynthia L Huang-Pollock
1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1117, USA. nigg@msu.edu
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|February 28, 2002
Summary
Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with effortful motor inhibition, not automatic information suppression. This suggests persistent executive motor inhibition deficits contribute to adult ADHD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The executive behavioral inhibition deficit theory of ADHD is debated in adults.
- ADHD diagnosis in adulthood requires further investigation into underlying cognitive mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine inhibitory control in high-functioning young adults with persistent ADHD compared to controls.
- To investigate the role of executive behavioral inhibition in adult ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized antisaccade and negative priming tasks to measure inhibitory control.
- Compared performance between adults with persistent ADHD and a neurotypical control group.
Main Results:
- Adults with ADHD demonstrated impaired effortful inhibition of oculomotor responses.
- Individuals with ADHD exhibited normal automatic suppression of irrelevant information.
- Performance on antisaccade and negative priming tasks suggests distinct inhibition systems.
Conclusions:
- ADHD-related inhibitory deficits in adults appear specific to effortful motor control.
- Persistent ADHD symptoms into adulthood correlate with enduring executive motor inhibition deficits.
- The findings support distinct neural systems underlying different types of inhibition.