What happens after a hyperactive child commits an error?
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Updated: Sep 22, 2026

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
J A Sergeant1, J van der Meere
1Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Children with a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity can correct errors, just as controls can. They differ from controls in how they adjust the speed of processing on a trial after they have committed an error. Controls are fast in responding after an error when cognitive load is small. When cognitive load is high, however, they take considerable time to ensure, after an error has occurred, that a correct response is given. After an error has been committed, hyperactive children, irrespective of the demands of load, have no response adjustment and maintain a constant rate of processing.
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