Rolandic spikes increase impulsivity in ADHD - a neuropsychological pilot study
Martin Holtmann1, Astrid Matei, Ulrike Hellmann
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. holtmann@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Brain & Development
|June 8, 2006
Summary
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Rolandic spikes show worse performance on cognitive tests measuring inhibition and attention. This suggests spikes may worsen ADHD symptoms, increasing impulsivity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Rolandic spikes are a type of epileptiform discharge observed in the brain's EEG, often in children.
- The relationship between Rolandic spikes and ADHD's neuropsychological profile requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Rolandic spikes and the neuropsychological functioning of children diagnosed with ADHD.
- To compare the cognitive performance of ADHD children with Rolandic spikes to those without epileptiform discharges and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 48 children (aged 6.7-14.9 years) was studied, including 16 ADHD children with Rolandic spikes, 16 ADHD children without epileptiform discharges, and 16 healthy controls.
- Participants were matched for age, gender, and IQ.
- A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery was administered, focusing on attention, cognitive efficiency, response inhibition, visuospatial and auditory-verbal short-term memory, and language function (e.g., CPT-AX, Stroop test).
Main Results:
- ADHD children with Rolandic spikes demonstrated significantly poorer performance on specific Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Stroop test measures compared to both ADHD children without spikes and healthy controls.
- Children with Rolandic spikes made more commission errors, indicating impaired response inhibition.
- Difficulties were pronounced in the Stroop color-word condition, with lower interference scores suggesting poorer interference control.
Conclusions:
- This pilot study suggests that Rolandic spikes, or associated neurological dysfunction, may exacerbate ADHD symptoms in some children.
- The presence of Rolandic spikes appears to be linked to increased impulsivity, specifically deficient response inhibition and reduced interference control in children with ADHD.
