Cool and hot executive functions in medication-naive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder children
B-R Yang1, R C K Chan, N Gracia
1Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show deficits in both cool executive functions (working memory, response inhibition) and hot executive functions (delay aversion). A family history of ADHD is linked to impairments in cool executive functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Child Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Executive functions (EFs) are crucial cognitive processes that are often impaired in ADHD.
- EFs are broadly categorized into 'cool' (e.g., working memory, response inhibition) and 'hot' (e.g., delay aversion) domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cool and hot executive functions in children with and without ADHD.
- To investigate the influence of a family history of ADHD on executive function performance.
Main Methods:
- 100 children with ADHD (with and without family history) and 100 healthy controls, all medication-free, were assessed.
- Participants completed tasks measuring working memory, response inhibition, and delay aversion.
- Tasks included Digits backward, Corsi Block Task backward, Go/No-Go, Stop-Signal, Stroop, and two-choice delay tasks.
Main Results:
- Children with ADHD performed significantly worse on measures of response inhibition, working memory, and delay aversion compared to controls.
- ADHD children with a family history of ADHD showed greater impairments in response inhibition and working memory than those without a family history.
- No significant differences in delay aversion were found between ADHD subgroups based on family history.
Conclusions:
- ADHD is associated with deficits in both cool and hot executive functions.
- Impairments in cool executive functions in ADHD appear to be related to a family history of the disorder.
- This study clarifies the nature and extent of executive function deficits in children with ADHD.
Background:
This study aimed to compare 'cool' [working memory (WM) and response inhibition] and 'hot' (delay aversion) executive functions (EFs) in children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Method:
A total of 100 ADHD children (45 with family history of ADHD and 55 with no family history) and 100 healthy controls, all medication free, were tested on tasks related to the 'hot' (i.e. two choice-delay tasks) and 'cool' domains of EF (i.e. Digits backward, Corsi Block Task backward, Go/No-Go Task, Stop-Signal Task, and the Stroop).
Results:
Compared with the controls, children with ADHD were found to perform significantly worse on one or more measures of response inhibition, WM, and delay aversion after controlling for co-morbidities and estimated IQ. In addition, comparisons between ADHD children with family history of ADHD and those with no family history found significant differences on measures of response inhibition and WM but not delay aversion. These results are largely supported by results of two logistic regressions.
Conclusions:
ADHD was found to be associated with deficits on both cool and hot EFs. There is also evidence to suggest that cool EFs impairment is related to a family history of ADHD. Findings of this study have helped to elucidate the nature and extent of EF deficits in children with ADHD.
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