Examining Heterogeneity in Short-Term Memory via Autonomic Nervous System Functioning Among Youth with ADHD: A
Kathleen E Feeney1, Stephanie S J Morris1, Anthony R Ward1,2
1Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Short-term memory (STM) impairments in youth with ADHD are linked to parasympathetic nervous system functioning. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) changes during tasks predict STM deficits in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- Short-term memory (STM) deficits are common in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but variability exists.
- Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) functioning, specifically respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), may explain this heterogeneity.
- Previous research suggests a link between RSA and STM in ADHD, but findings require replication and extension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate and extend prior findings on the role of PNS functioning in STM heterogeneity among youth with ADHD.
- To investigate the moderating effects of RSA and electrodermal activity (EDA) on the relationship between STM and ADHD.
- To examine psychophysiological differences in RSA and EDA between children with and without ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 285 children (ages 6-12), including 143 with ADHD.
- Collected parent-reported psychopathology and youth visual-spatial STM task performance.
- Recorded psychophysiological data (heart rate, respiration, skin conductance) to derive RSA and EDA indexes.
Main Results:
- Youth with ADHD showed lower STM, lower resting RSA, and reduced task-based RSA increase compared to controls.
- RSA moderated the STM-ADHD association, with low STM linked to ADHD during RSA increase.
- In ADHD-only analyses, EDA moderated the STM-ADHD symptom link, with low STM associated with elevated symptoms during EDA augmentation.
Conclusions:
- Parasympathetic functioning (RSA) plays a significant role in STM impairments in youth with ADHD, with specific patterns of change during tasks being crucial.
- Electrodermal activity (EDA) further moderates the relationship between STM performance and ADHD symptom severity within the ADHD group.
- Findings highlight the importance of psychophysiological measures in understanding the heterogeneity of cognitive deficits in ADHD and suggest directions for future research.
