Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Using Brain Activation (nir-HEG/Q-EEG) and Execution Measures (CPTs) in a ADHD Assessment Protocol
13:09

Using Brain Activation (nir-HEG/Q-EEG) and Execution Measures (CPTs) in a ADHD Assessment Protocol

Published on: April 1, 2018

Psychophysiological response of ADHD children to reward and extinction

F Iaboni1, V I Douglas, B Ditto

  • 1Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Psychophysiology
|January 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show differences in psychophysiological responses. ADHD children exhibited weaker behavioral inhibition and faster heart rate habituation during reward tasks.

Area of Science:

  • Psychophysiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Psychophysiological responsivity is linked to motivational systems.
  • Heart rate reactivity relates to the behavioral activation system.
  • Skin conductance reactivity relates to the behavioral inhibition system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate psychophysiological differences in children with ADHD.
  • To examine heart rate and skin conductance during reward and extinction.
  • To assess the functioning of behavioral activation and inhibition systems in ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • Compared heart rate and skin conductance in 18 children with ADHD and 18 controls.
  • Participants performed a repetitive motor task under reward and extinction conditions.
  • Utilized theoretical frameworks by Fowles and Gray.

Main Results:

  • Control children showed expected increases in heart rate (reward) and skin conductance (extinction).
  • ADHD children demonstrated impaired skin conductance response during extinction, indicating weaker behavioral inhibition.
  • ADHD children exhibited faster heart rate habituation to reward.

Conclusions:

  • ADHD is associated with a deficient behavioral inhibition system.
  • ADHD may involve altered functioning of the behavioral activation system.
  • Psychophysiological measures offer insights into ADHD-related motivational system differences.

More Related Videos

An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children05:04

An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children

Published on: October 4, 2018

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)10:02

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers01:23

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers

In psychology, reinforcement is a key concept in behavior modification. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments involving rats in what is known as a Skinner box. The rats learned to press a lever to receive food, a primary reinforcer that fulfilled their innate need for nourishment.
Effective reinforcers for humans vary depending on the individual and the context. Primary reinforcers, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, and pleasure, have inherent value and satisfy basic biological...
Reinforcement Schedules01:24

Reinforcement Schedules

Positive reinforcement is a powerful method for teaching new behaviors to both animals and humans. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments using rats in a Skinner box. When a rat pressed a lever, it received a food pellet. This immediate reward encouraged the rat to repeat the behavior. This method, where a reward follows every instance of the behavior, is known as continuous reinforcement. It is highly effective for establishing new behaviors quickly.
Once a behavior is learned,...
Timing and Consequences on Behavior01:08

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective. 
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
Behavior Modification01:21

Behavior Modification

Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Self-Regulation01:25

Self-Regulation

Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...