The preattentive change detection in preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a mismatch
Jinsong Zhang1, Meihui Qiu1, Jingxue Pan1
1Department of Medical Psychology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai.
Insights
Preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show reduced preattentive change detection. Event-related potentials (ERPs) revealed diminished mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a responses in ADHD patients compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children.
- Preattentive change detection and attentional shift are crucial cognitive functions potentially impacted in ADHD.
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) offer a neurophysiological window into these cognitive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate preattentive change detection in preschool children diagnosed with ADHD.
- To compare event-related potentials (ERPs), specifically mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a, between children with ADHD and typically developing controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a three-stimulus oddball paradigm to elicit ERPs.
- Measured mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a components in response to deviant and novel stimuli.
- Correlated P3a amplitude with cognitive (IQ) and behavioral measures (SNAP-IV Rating Scale).
Main Results:
- Preschool children with ADHD exhibited significantly reduced MMN amplitudes compared to controls.
- P3a amplitudes, associated with novelty detection, were also significantly diminished in the ADHD group.
- P3a amplitude positively correlated with IQ and negatively with hyperactivity, defiance, and conduct problems.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a neurophysiological basis for impaired preattentive change detection in preschool ADHD.
- The results highlight potential dysfunction in attentional shift mechanisms in young children with ADHD.
- ERPs provide valuable biomarkers for understanding cognitive deficits in ADHD.
Abstract:
To investigate the preattentive change detection in preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we compared the mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a of event-related potentials (ERPs) between preschool ADHD and normal children using three-stimulus oddball paradigm. Analyzing MMN and P3a components, we found that MMN elicited by deviants and P3a elicited by novelty were significantly reduced in patients than in controls. In addition, the P3a amplitude was positive correlated to IQ and negatively correlated to hyperactivity, antagonistic defiance and conduct problems in Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV Rating Scale, parent version. These data provided new neurophysiological evidence for the dysfunction of preattentive change detection and attentional shift in ADHD children.
