Stimulus-preceding negativity in ADHD
Rosa van Mourik1, Tieme Janssen, Jaap Oosterlaan
1Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, r.van.mourik@vu.nl.
Insights
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can mentally prepare for events in short intervals, similar to their peers. Response preparation, measured by stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN), showed no group differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often exhibit impaired response preparation.
- Stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN) is a neurophysiological marker linked to response preparation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate response preparation in children with ADHD during short cue-stimulus intervals.
- To determine if ADHD affects the ability to prepare for upcoming events in time-constrained situations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to measure stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN).
- Compared SPN amplitudes between children with ADHD and typically developing children.
- Analyzed the relationship between SPN and reaction time.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in SPN were observed between children with ADHD and control groups.
- A robust positive correlation between SPN and mean reaction time was found in both groups.
- This suggests intact response preparation mechanisms in ADHD during brief intervals.
Conclusions:
- Children with ADHD demonstrate the capacity for mental preparation in short cue-stimulus intervals.
- The findings challenge the notion of universally disrupted response preparation in ADHD.
- Individual differences in reaction time may be more indicative of preparation capacity than group affiliation.
Abstract:
Children with ADHD often show disrupted response preparation as indicated by attenuated stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN). This study examined response preparation in a relatively short cue-stimulus interval. No differences in SPN occurred between children with ADHD and their normal peers. A strong positive relationship was found between SPN and mean reaction time in both groups. Children with ADHD are able to mentally prepare themselves for upcoming events in short cue-stimulus intervals.
