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Using Brain Activation (nir-HEG/Q-EEG) and Execution Measures (CPTs) in a ADHD Assessment Protocol
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Increased prefrontal oxygenation related to distractor-resistant working memory in children with

Satoshi Tsujimoto1, Akira Yasumura, Yushiro Yamashita

  • 1Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-Ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan. tsujimoto@ruby.kobe-u.ac.jp

Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|February 7, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show working memory deficits due to distraction. Their prefrontal cortex shows higher activation, suggesting inefficient processing underlies these attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related impairments.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with cognitive deficits, particularly in working memory.
  • Understanding the neural mechanisms of working memory in ADHD is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of distraction on working memory performance in children with ADHD.
  • To explore the underlying neural mechanisms, specifically prefrontal cortex activation, during a working memory task in ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure hemodynamic activity in the prefrontal cortex.
  • 16 children with ADHD and 10 typically developing (TD) children completed a working memory task with and without distraction.

Main Results:

  • Children with ADHD performed significantly worse on the working memory task, especially when distraction was present.
  • The ADHD group exhibited higher prefrontal cortex activation compared to the TD group.
  • Higher prefrontal activation in the ADHD group correlated positively with symptom severity.

Conclusions:

  • Impaired inhibition of distraction contributes to working memory deficits in children with ADHD.
  • Inefficient prefrontal cortex processing is a likely neural basis for these working memory impairments in ADHD.

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