Do ADHD Symptom Clusters Moderate the Association Between Autistic Traits & Error-Related Negativity in Children With
Elia F Soto1,2, Marie Shuter2, Nicole Shea2
1Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|May 15, 2026
Summary
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms influence how autistic traits relate to error monitoring in children. Attention problems specifically impacted error-related negativity (ERN) and its difference (ΔERN) in children with autism spectrum disorder (autism).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Existing research on error-monitoring (error-related negativity; ERN) in children with autism spectrum disorder (autism) presents mixed findings.
- The moderating role of co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms on neurocognitive processes in autism remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the moderating effects of parent-reported ADHD symptoms (inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity) on the relationship between autistic traits and event-related potential (ERP) error-monitoring (ERN and ΔERN) in children with and without autism.
- This study is the first to examine these specific moderating roles.
Main Methods:
- Forty children (10-17 years) diagnosed with (n=17) or without (n=23) autism, matched for age and IQ, participated.
- Participants completed a flanker task while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded.
- Autistic traits were assessed using the Autism Quotient, and ADHD symptoms were measured via parent reports on the BASC-2/3 Attention Problems and Hyperactivity subscales. Moderation analyses were conducted.
Main Results:
- Children with autism exhibited higher parent-reported Attention Problems and Hyperactivity scores, and lower accuracy on the flanker task compared to neurotypical peers.
- Attention Problems significantly moderated the association between autistic traits and both the ERN and ΔERN.
- Hyperactivity symptoms moderated the relationship between autistic traits and the ERN, but not the ΔERN.
Conclusions:
- This study highlights the significant impact of co-occurring ADHD symptoms on error-monitoring neural processes in children with autism spectrum disorder.
- Findings underscore the necessity of controlling for comorbid ADHD symptomology in future research investigating ERPs in autism samples.
- This research is a crucial step towards understanding the complex interplay between autism and ADHD in neurodevelopment.
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