Larger deficits in brain networks for response inhibition than for visual selective attention in attention deficit
James R Booth1, Douglas D Burman, Joel R Meyer
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. j-booth@northwestern.edu
Insights
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show reduced brain activity in response inhibition tasks. This contrasts with their performance on selective attention tasks, suggesting a specific deficit in inhibitory control for ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Investigated brain activation differences in children with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare brain activity in 12 ADHD and 12 control children (ages 9-12).
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine neural correlates of cognitive task performance in children with ADHD.
- To identify specific brain regions and functions affected by ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Assessed visual selective attention using a visual search task with distracters.
- Measured response inhibition using a go/no-go task.
- Analyzed brain activation patterns using fMRI.
Main Results:
- Limited differences were observed in the selective attention task, with controls showing greater activation in the superior parietal lobule.
- Significant group differences emerged in the response inhibition task, with controls exhibiting greater activation in fronto-striatal regions (including frontal gyri, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus).
Conclusions:
- Widespread hypoactivity in ADHD children during the go/no-go task supports the hypothesis of a specific deficit in response inhibition.
- Findings suggest that impaired inhibitory control is a key feature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Background:
Brain activation differences between 12 control and 12 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children (9- to 12-year-olds) were examined on two cognitive tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Method:
Visual selective attention was measured with the visual search of a conjunction target (red triangle) in a field of distracters and response inhibition was measured with a go/no-go task.
Results:
There were limited group differences in the selective attention task, with control children showing significantly greater intensity of activation in a small area of the superior parietal lobule region of interest. There were large group differences in the response inhibition task, with control children showing significantly greater intensity of activation in fronto-striatal regions of interest including the inferior, middle, superior and medial frontal gyri as well as the caudate nucleus and globus pallidus.
Conclusion:
The widespread hypoactivity for the ADHD children on the go/no-go task is consistent with the hypothesis that response inhibition is a specific deficit in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
