Baroreflex sensitivity during rest and executive functioning in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The TRAILS...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Cardiovascular Physiology

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with executive function (EF) deficits and neurophysiological hypoarousal.
• Baroreceptor activation, part of blood pressure regulation, may influence cognitive-attentional processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if higher resting baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) predicts poorer EF performance in children with ADHD.
• To explore the relationship between BRS and EF across ADHD, healthy, and clinic-referred comparison groups.

Main Methods:

• Regression analysis was used to examine the association between resting BRS and EF measures (speed, accuracy).
• The study included 10-12-year-old children with ADHD (n=181) and comparison samples (healthy n=194; clinic-referred n=260).
• Specific subgroups (ADHD combined type, boys, unmedicated children) were analyzed for differential effects.

Main Results:

• Higher resting BRS was positively associated with poorer EF performance, including response variability, working memory, and response inhibition, particularly in ADHD combined type, boys, and unmedicated children.
• Comparison samples showed partly negative associations between BRS and EF.
• These findings indicate a link between physiological regulation and cognitive function in ADHD.

Conclusions:

• Elevated resting baroreflex sensitivity is related to diminished cognitive performance in children with ADHD.
• Results suggest that visceral afferent signals influence higher-order cognitive functions.
• The study implies dysregulation in the energetic state contributes to ADHD symptoms.