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Sullivan AJ, Anderson J, Beatty M, Choi J, Jaccard J, Hawkins K, Pearlson G, Stevens MC. A randomized clinical trial to evaluate feasibility, tolerability, and preliminary target engagement for a novel executive working memory training in adolescents with ADHD. Behav Res Ther 2024; 181:104615. [PMID: 39173523 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Working memory training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has focused on increasing working memory capacity, with inconclusive evidence for its effectiveness. Alternative training targets are executive working memory (EWM) processes that promote flexibility or bolster stability of working memory contents to guide behavior via selective attention. This randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to assess feasibility, tolerability, and behavioral target engagement of a novel EWM training for ADHD. METHOD 62 ADHD-diagnosed adolescents (12-18 years) were randomized to EWM training or placebo arms for 20 remotely coached sessions conducted over 4-5 weeks. Primary outcome measures were behavioral changes on EWM tasks. Secondary outcomes were intervention tolerability, trial retention, and responsiveness to adaptive training difficulty manipulations. RESULTS Linear regression analyses found intervention participants showed medium effect size improvements, many of which were statistically significant, on Shifting and Filtering EWM task accuracy and Shifting and Updating reaction time measures. Intervention participants maintained strong self-rated motivation, mood, and engagement and progressed through the adaptive difficulty measures, which was further reflected in high trial retention. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that these EWM processes show promise as training targets for ADHD. The subsequent NIMH R33-funded extension clinical trial will seek to replicate and extend these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J Sullivan
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA.
| | - Jacey Anderson
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA
| | - Morgan Beatty
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA
| | - Jimmy Choi
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA
| | - James Jaccard
- New York University Silver School of Social Work, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Keith Hawkins
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Godfrey Pearlson
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Michael C Stevens
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
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2
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Huang Z, Li L, Lu Y, Meng J, Wu X. Effects of rope skipping exercise on working memory and cardiorespiratory fitness in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1381403. [PMID: 38846914 PMCID: PMC11153777 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1381403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit deficits in working memory (WM) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), both of which are closely associated with the core symptoms of ADHD. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rope skipping exercise (RSE) on the WM and CRF of children with ADHD, to provide a theoretical foundation for the optimization of exercise intervention programs tailored to children with ADHD. Methods This study recruited 55 children (age range 6-12 years) and randomly assigned them into three groups: the ADHD with RSE (AWRSE, n=22, mean age: 10.18 ± 1.10 years), the ADHD with sports game (SG) (AWSG, n=16, mean age: 9.38 ± 0.96 years), and the typically developing (TD) control group (CG, n=17, mean age: 8.94 ± 0.56 years). The AWRSE underwent a RSE intervention, while the other two groups participated in SG. The exercise intervention lasted for 8 weeks, with sessions held twice a week for 60 minutes each, at a moderate-to-vigorous-intensity (64-95% HRmax). All children in each group underwent pre-test and post-test, including height, weight, BMI, n-back, and 20mSRT. One-way analysis of variance (Ony-way ANOVA) and paired sample t-test were used to analyze inter- and intra-group differences respectively. Results Before the intervention, children with ADHD exhibited a significantly lower VO2max compared to the TD children (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the other indicators between the groups (p>0.05). After the intervention, no significant inter-group differences were found across all indices for the three groups of children (p > 0.05). The AWRSE had significant improvements in the accuracy of 1-back task, Pacer (laps), and VO2max (p<0.05), with the level of CRF approaching that of TD children. A significant decrease in response time for the 1-back task was observed in the CG. Conclusion An 8-week RSE intervention is an effective therapeutic approach for children with ADHD, significantly enhancing their WM and CRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyun Huang
- School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Li
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijuan Lu
- Shanghai Shiguang School, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Meng
- School of Sports and Health, Linyi University, Linyi, China
| | - Xueping Wu
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
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3
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Mind-body exercise affects attention switching and sustained attention in female adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A randomized, controlled trial with 6-month follow-up. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03216-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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4
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Executive Functioning and Emotion Regulation in Children with and without ADHD. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2021; 50:721-735. [PMID: 34762251 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00883-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Difficulties with emotion regulation affect the majority of youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and predict greater functional impairment than ADHD symptoms alone. Deficits in executive functioning are also present for most children with ADHD, and have been linked with emotion regulation difficulties in both clinical and neurotypical populations throughout development. The current study was the first to assess all three core executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, set shifting) simultaneously in a clinically-diverse sample of children with and without ADHD and common comorbidities and investigate the extent to which they uniquely predict emotion dysregulation. A sample of 151 children ages 8-13 years (M = 10.36, SD = 1.52; 52 girls; 70.2% White/Non-Hispanic) were assessed using a criterion battery of executive functioning tasks, teacher-reported ADHD symptoms, and parent-reported emotion regulation. Results of the bias-corrected, bootstrapped conditional effects path model revealed that better-developed working memory predicted better emotion regulation (β = 0.23) and fewer ADHD symptoms (β = -0.21 to -0.37), that ADHD symptoms (β = -0.18 to -0.20) independently predicted emotion dysregulation, and that working memory exerted indirect effects on emotion regulation through both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity (β = 0.04-0.07). Sensitivity analyses indicated that these effects were generally robust to control for age, sex, executive function interrelations, and inclusion/exclusion of children with co-occurring ASD. These findings underscore the importance of working memory (relative to inhibitory control and set shifting) and its relations with ADHD symptoms for understanding children's emotion regulation skills, and may help explain the limited efficacy of first-line ADHD treatments, which do not target working memory, for improving emotion regulation skills.
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5
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Al-Saad MSH, Al-Jabri B, Almarzouki AF. A Review of Working Memory Training in the Management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:686873. [PMID: 34366803 PMCID: PMC8334010 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.686873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders among children. Working memory deficits underlie many of the behavioural symptoms of ADHD. Alongside psychostimulant medications, strategies to improve working memory may play an important adjuvant role in the management of ADHD. In this study, we review the role of working memory deficits in ADHD, the evidence surrounding working memory training strategies in the management of the condition, and the factors affecting the success of these strategies in alleviating ADHD symptoms. More specifically, we review several non-pharmacological interventions that target working memory deficits in ADHD, with special emphasis on cognitive working memory training. We conclude that the development of evidence-based interventions such as computerised cognitive training (CCT) could provide an alternative or adjunct to the use of psychostimulants, especially in cases where side effects are a major issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Saleh Habsan Al-Saad
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Physiology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Public Health Sector, General Directorate of Health Affairs in Najran, Ministry of Health, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basma Al-Jabri
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abeer F Almarzouki
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Physiology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Irwin LN, Groves NB, Soto EF, Kofler MJ. Is There a Functional Relation Between Set Shifting and Hyperactivity in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2020; 26:1019-1027. [PMID: 32456747 PMCID: PMC7658020 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720000545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Replicated evidence indicates that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show disproportionate increases in hyperactivity/physical movement when their underdeveloped executive functions are taxed. However, our understanding of hyperactivity's relation with set shifting is limited, which is surprising given set shifting's importance as the third core executive function alongside working memory and inhibition. The aim of this study was to experimentally examine the effect of imposing set shifting and inhibition demands on objectively measured activity level in children with and without ADHD. METHOD The current study used a validated experimental manipulation to differentially evoke set shifting, inhibition, and general cognitive demands in a carefully phenotyped sample of children aged 8-13 years with ADHD (n = 43) and without ADHD (n = 34). Activity level was sampled during each task using multiple, high-precision actigraphs; total hyperactivity scores (THS) were calculated. RESULTS Results of the 2 × 5 Bayesian ANOVA for hyperactivity revealed strong support for a main effect of task (BF10 = 1.79 × 1018, p < .001, ω2 = .20), such that children upregulated their physical movement in response to general cognitive demands and set shifting demands specifically, but not in response to increased inhibition demands. Importantly, however, this manipulation did not disproportionally increase hyperactivity in ADHD as demonstrated by significant evidence against the task × group interaction (BF01 = 18.21, p = .48, ω2 = .002). CONCLUSIONS Inhibition demands do not cause children to upregulate their physical activity. Set shifting produces reliable increases in children's physical movement/hyperactivity over and above the effects of general cognitive demands but cannot specifically explain hyperactivity in children with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elia F. Soto
- Florida State University, Department of Psychology
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7
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Nejati V, Salehinejad MA, Nitsche MA, Najian A, Javadi AH. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Executive Dysfunctions in ADHD: Implications for Inhibitory Control, Interference Control, Working Memory, and Cognitive Flexibility. J Atten Disord 2020; 24:1928-1943. [PMID: 28938852 DOI: 10.1177/1087054717730611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Objective: This study examined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) on major executive functions (EFs), including response inhibition, executive control, working memory (WM), and cognitive flexibility/task switching in ADHD. Method: ADHD children received (a) left anodal/right cathodal DLPFC tDCS and (b) sham stimulation in Experiment 1 and (a) left anodal DLPFC/right cathodal OFC tDCS, (b) left cathodal DLPFC/right anodal OFC tDCS, and (c) sham stimulation in Experiment 2. The current intensity was 1 mA for 15 min with a 72-hr interval between sessions. Participants underwent Go/No-Go task, N-back test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and Stroop task after each tDCS condition. Results: Anodal left DLPFC tDCS most clearly affected executive control functions (e.g., WM, interference inhibition), while cathodal left DLPFC tDCS improved inhibitory control. Cognitive flexibility/task switching benefited from combined DLPFC-OFC, but not DLPFC stimulation alone. Conclusion: Task-specific stimulation protocols can improve EFs in ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Nejati
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Salehinejad
- Institute for Cognitive & Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.,University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Asal Najian
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Lam AP, de Sordi D, Müller HHO, Lam MC, Carl A, Kohse KP, Philipsen A. Aggravation of symptom severity in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder by latent Toxoplasma gondii infection: a case-control study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14382. [PMID: 32873854 PMCID: PMC7463265 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71084-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) has a high worldwide prevalence and an underestimated impact on neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous studies related T. gondii to disorders associated with the dysfunctional dopaminergic system. However, an association between T. gondii infection and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not yet been studied. In a sex- and age-matched case-control study, we investigated the seropositivity, serointensity, and avidity of latent T. gondii infection in adult ADHD patients and examined the influence of those variables on the symptomatology of ADHD. Of 140 participants, 20.0% were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG and 0% for anti-T. gondii IgM. T. gondii seropositivity was associated with 2.8-fold increase in the odds of ADHD in a confounder-adjusted multivariable analysis. Age and consumption of raw/undercooked meat were confirmed as significant predictors of T. gondii seropositivity. Multiple linear regression analysis of self-rated ADHD-related symptom severity in all participants revealed a significant association with T. gondii seropositivity, elevated IgG titers (serointensity), and stronger anti-T. gondii IgG avidity. Overall symptom severity was increased in seropositive ADHD patients compared to seronegative subjects with ADHD. In particular, hyperactivity was significantly associated with serointensity. We conclude that there is a high rate of T. gondii seropositivity in adults with ADHD. Additionally, our results suggest a clinical impact of latent T. gondii infection on ADHD-related symptoms in a serointensity- and avidity-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra P Lam
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. .,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Dominik de Sordi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biometry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Helge H O Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Chair of Integrative Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University, Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke, Witten/Herdecke, Germany
| | - Martin C Lam
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Carl
- Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Microbiology, Klinikum Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Klaus P Kohse
- Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Microbiology, Klinikum Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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9
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Kofler MJ, Groves NB, Singh LJ, Soto EF, Chan ES, Irwin LN, Miller CE. Rethinking hyperactivity in pediatric ADHD: Preliminary evidence for a reconceptualization of hyperactivity/impulsivity from the perspective of informant perceptual processes. Psychol Assess 2020; 32:752-767. [PMID: 32478528 PMCID: PMC7394731 DOI: 10.1037/pas0000856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hyperactivity is a core ADHD symptom that has been both positively and negatively associated with cognition and functional outcomes. The reason for these conflicting findings is unclear but may relate to subjective assessments that conflate excess physical movement (hyperactivity) with verbally intrusive/impulsive behaviors. The current study adopted a model-driven, rational-empirical approach to distinguish excess physical movement symptoms from other, auditorily perceived behaviors assessed under the "hyperactivity/impulsivity" umbrella. We then tested this alternative conceptualization's fit, reliability, replicability, convergent/divergent validity via actigraphy, and generalizability across informants (parents, teachers) in a well-characterized, clinically evaluated sample of 132 children ages 8-13 years (M = 10.34, SD = 1.51; 47 girls; 67% White/non-Hispanic). The current DSM hyperactivity/impulsivity item pool can be reliably reclassified by knowledgeable judges into items reflecting excess physical movement (visual hyperactivity) and auditory interruptions (verbal intrusion). This bifactor structure showed evidence for multidimensionality and superior model fit relative to traditional hyperactivity/impulsivity models. The resultant visual hyperactivity factor was reliable, replicable, and showed strong convergent validity evidence via associations with objectively assessed hyperactivity. The verbal intrusion factor also showed evidence for reliability and explained a substantive portion of reliable variance, but demonstrated lower estimated replicability. These findings provide preliminary support for conceptualizing ADHD symptoms from the perspective of their cognitive-perceptual impact on others, as well as differentiating excess physical movement (hyperactivity) from other behaviors assessed under the hyperactivity/impulsivity umbrella. "Verbal intrusion" appears to provide a better explanation than "impulsivity" for the reliable, non-hyperactivity variance assessed by these items, but the current item set appears insufficient for replicable measurement of this construct. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elia F. Soto
- Florida State University, Department of Psychology
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10
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Dekkers TJ, Rapport MD, Calub CA, Eckrich SJ, Irurita C. ADHD and hyperactivity: The influence of cognitive processing demands on gross motor activity level in children. Child Neuropsychol 2020; 27:63-82. [PMID: 32662360 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2020.1793924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Excessive gross motor activity is a prominent feature of children with ADHD, and accruing evidence indicates that their gross motor activity is significantly higher in situations associated with high relative to low working memory processing demands. It remains unknown, however, whether children's gross motor activity rises to an absolute level or accelerates incrementally as a function of increasingly more difficult cognitive processing demands imposed on the limited capacity working memory (WM) system - a question of both theoretical and applied significance. The present investigation examined the activity level of 8- to 12-year-old children with ADHD (n = 36) and Typically Developing (TD) children (n = 24) during multiple experimental conditions: a control condition with no storage and negligible WM processing demands; a short-term memory (STM) storage condition; and a sequence of WM conditions that required both STM and incrementally more difficult higher-order cognitive processing. Relative to the control condition, all children, regardless of diagnostic status, exhibited higher levels of gross motor activity while engaged in WM tasks that required STM alone and STM combined with upper level cognitive processing demands, and children with ADHD were motorically more active under all WM conditions relative to TD children. The increase in activity as a consequence of cognitive demand was similar for all experimental conditions. Findings suggest that upregulation of physical movement rises and remains relatively stable to promote arousal related mechanisms when engaged in cognitive activities involving WM for all children, and to a greater extent for children with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tycho J Dekkers
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida , Orlando, FL, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, de Bascule , Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam UMC , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark D Rapport
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida , Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Catrina A Calub
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida , Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Samuel J Eckrich
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida , Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Carolina Irurita
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida , Orlando, FL, USA
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11
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Executive Functioning and Activity in Children: a Multimethod Examination of Working Memory, Inhibition, and Hyperactivity. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 48:1143-1153. [PMID: 32557161 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-020-00665-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Two primary methods of quantifying executive functioning include self- or other-reports (i.e., questionnaire-based EF) and cognitive test performance (i.e., task-based EF). Despite their lack of concordance with one another and relatively inconsistent associations with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, both approaches have been utilized in attempts to advance our understanding of the role of EF in symptoms of ADHD. The current study is the first to incorporate a direct assessment of behavior (i.e., actigraphy) to further clarify the relation between EF and hyperactivity using a multi-method approach in a sample of children with a range of ADHD symptoms. Fifty-two children between the ages of 8 and 12 completed a testing session during which performance on working memory and inhibition computerized tasks, as well as actigraphy data, were collected. Additionally, parent reports of hyperactivity/impulsivity, working memory, and inhibition were obtained. As expected, questionnaire-based measures of working memory and inhibition were strongly associated with parent-reported hyperactivity/impulsivity, whereas only the latter was associated significantly with mechanically assessed movement. In contrast, task-based working memory performance was more strongly associated with parent-reported hyperactivity/impulsivity relative to task-based inhibition. Further, both task-based working memory and task-based inhibition were similarly associated with mechanically-assessed movement. Finally, compared to questionnaire-based EF, both measures of task-based EF accounted for more variance in objectively-assessed movement. Collectively, these results highlight the measurement issues in the present literature, the importance of careful task and questionnaire design, and the value that alternative approaches (e.g., actigraphy) may provide with respect to advancing our understanding of EF.
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12
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Kofler MJ, Irwin LN, Soto EF, Groves NB, Harmon SL, Sarver DE. Executive Functioning Heterogeneity in Pediatric ADHD. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 47:273-286. [PMID: 29705926 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-018-0438-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Neurocognitive heterogeneity is increasingly recognized as a valid phenomenon in ADHD, with most estimates suggesting that executive dysfunction is present in only about 33%-50% of these children. However, recent critiques question the veracity of these estimates because our understanding of executive functioning in ADHD is based, in large part, on data from single tasks developed to detect gross neurological impairment rather than the specific executive processes hypothesized to underlie the ADHD phenotype. The current study is the first to comprehensively assess heterogeneity in all three primary executive functions in ADHD using a criterion battery that includes multiple tests per construct (working memory, inhibitory control, set shifting). Children ages 8-13 (M = 10.37, SD = 1.39) with and without ADHD (N = 136; 64 girls; 62% Caucasian/Non-Hispanic) completed a counterbalanced series of executive function tests. Accounting for task unreliability, results indicated significantly improved sensitivity and specificity relative to prior estimates, with 89% of children with ADHD demonstrating objectively-defined impairment on at least one executive function (62% impaired working memory, 27% impaired inhibitory control, 38% impaired set shifting; 54% impaired on one executive function, 35% impaired on two or all three executive functions). Children with working memory deficits showed higher parent- and teacher-reported ADHD inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms (BF10 = 5.23 × 104), and were slightly younger (BF10 = 11.35) than children without working memory deficits. Children with vs. without set shifting or inhibitory control deficits did not differ on ADHD symptoms, age, gender, IQ, SES, or medication status. Taken together, these findings confirm that ADHD is characterized by neurocognitive heterogeneity, while suggesting that contemporary, cognitively-informed criteria may provide improved precision for identifying a smaller number of neuropsychologically-impaired subtypes than previously described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Kofler
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA.
| | - Lauren N Irwin
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Elia F Soto
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Nicole B Groves
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Sherelle L Harmon
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Dustin E Sarver
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Center for Advancement of Youth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
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13
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Groves NB, Kofler MJ, Wells EL, Day TN, Chan ESM. An Examination of Relations Among Working Memory, ADHD Symptoms, and Emotion Regulation. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 48:525-537. [PMID: 31900835 PMCID: PMC7318097 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-019-00612-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Emotion regulation difficulties are present in many, if not most, children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and confer risk for a host of adverse outcomes. Little is known, however, regarding the neurocognitive and behavioral mechanisms that underlie these difficulties. A well-characterized, clinically evaluated sample of 145 children ages 8-13 years (M = 10.33, SD = 1.47; 55 girls; 69% White/non-Hispanic) were administered multiple, counterbalanced working memory tests and assessed for emotion dysregulation and ADHD symptoms via multiple-informant reports. Bias-corrected, bootstrapped conditional effects modeling indicated that underdeveloped working memory exerted significant direct effects on emotion regulation in all tested models as well as indirect effects on emotion regulation via parent-reported hyperactive/impulsive symptoms (95% CIs excluded zero). Interestingly, hyperactive/impulsive symptoms also predicted emotion dysregulation when controlling for the influence of working memory. Inattention failed to predict emotion regulation difficulties in all tested models (all 95% CIs included zero). This pattern of results replicated across parent and teacher models and were robust to control for mono-informant bias, age, and gender. These findings suggest that emotion dysregulation in ADHD reflects, in part, both a direct outcome of underdeveloped working memory and an affective outcome of hyperactive and/or impulsive symptomatology, both attributable to and independent of the role of underlying working memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole B Groves
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Michael J Kofler
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA.
| | - Erica L Wells
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Taylor N Day
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Elizabeth S M Chan
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
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14
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Wells EL, Groves NB, Day TN, Harmon SL, Soto EF, Miller CE, Kofler MJ. Evidence against emotion inference deficits in children with ADHD. Emotion 2020; 21:665-677. [PMID: 32191096 DOI: 10.1037/emo0000732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Inconsistent evidence suggests that pediatric attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be associated with impairments in the ability to use context clues to infer the emotion states of others. However, the evidence base for these impairments is comprised of data from laboratory-based tests of emotion inference that may be confounded by demands on nonaffective cognitive processes that have been linked with ADHD. The current study builds on our previous study of facial affect recognition to address this limitation and investigate a potential mechanism underlying children's ability to infer emotion state from context clues. To do so, we used a fully crossed, counterbalanced experimental design that systematically manipulated emotion inference and working memory demands in 77 carefully phenotyped children ages 8-13 (Mage = 10.46, SD = 1.54; 66% Caucasian/Non-Hispanic; 42% female) with ADHD (n = 42) and without ADHD (n = 35). Results of Bayesian mixed-model ANOVAs indicated that using context clues to infer the emotion state of others competed for neurocognitive resources with the processes involved in rehearsing/maintaining information within working memory (BF₁₀ = 1.57 × 10¹⁹, d = 0.72). Importantly, there was significant evidence against the critical Group × Condition interaction for response times (BF₀₁ = 4.93), and no significant evidence for this interaction for accuracy (BF₀₁ = 2.40). In other words, children with ADHD do not infer emotions more slowly than children without ADHD (d = 0.13), and their small magnitude impairment in accuracy (d = 0.30) was attributable to their generally less accurate performance on choice-response tasks (i.e., across both emotion and control conditions). Taken together, the evidence indicates that emotion inference abilities are likely unimpaired in pediatric ADHD and that working memory is implicated in the ability to infer emotion from context for all children-not just children with ADHD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Wells EL, Day TN, Harmon SL, Groves NB, Kofler MJ. Are emotion recognition abilities intact in pediatric ADHD? Emotion 2019; 19:1192-1205. [PMID: 30475028 PMCID: PMC6535378 DOI: 10.1037/emo0000520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Extant studies suggest that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may make more errors and respond more slowly on tasks that require them to identify emotions based on facial affect. It is unclear, however, whether these findings reflect a unique deficit in emotion recognition, or more general difficulty with choice-response tasks (i.e., tasks that require participants to select among a set of competing options). In addition, ADHD is associated with executive dysfunction, but there is inconsistent evidence regarding the extent to which top-down cognitive control is involved in emotion recognition. The current study used a series of four counterbalanced tasks to systematically manipulate emotional content and working memory demands to determine (a) whether children with ADHD exhibit a unique facial affect recognition deficit and (b) the extent to which facial affect recognition is an automatic versus controlled process that depends in part on working memory. Bayesian results from a carefully phenotyped sample of 64 children ages 8 to 13 (M = 10.42, SD = 1.56; 26 girls; 67% Caucasian/non-Hispanic) with ADHD (n = 35) and without ADHD (n = 29) indicated that working memory is involved in children's ability to efficiently infer emotional state from facial affect (BF₁₀= 4.59 × 10¹⁴). Importantly, there was significant evidence against deficits in emotion recognition for children with ADHD. The ADHD/non-ADHD groups were statistically equivalent in terms of recognition accuracy (BF₀₁ = 1.32 × 10⁵⁴, d = -0.18), and the ADHD group's slower recognition speed was parsimoniously explained by difficulty with choice-response tasks rather than unique to emotional stimuli (BF₁₀ = 3.23, d = 0.31). These findings suggest that emotion recognition abilities are intact in children with ADHD, and highlight the need to control for impaired bottom-up (choice-response) and top-down abilities (working memory) when investigating emotional functioning in ADHD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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16
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Bieliński M, Lesiewska N, Junik R, Kamińska A, Tretyn A, Borkowska A. Dopaminergic Genes Polymorphisms and Prefrontal Cortex Efficiency Among Obese People - Whether Gender is a Differentiating Factor? Curr Mol Med 2019; 19:405-418. [PMID: 31032750 DOI: 10.2174/1566524019666190424143653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a chronic condition associated with poorer cognitive functioning. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a useful tool for evaluating executive functions. In this study, we assessed the association between dopaminergic gene polymorphisms: DAT1 (SLC6A3), COMTVal158Met, DRD4 (48-bp variable number of tandem repeats - VNTR) and WCST parameters to investigate the functions of the frontal lobes in obese individuals. OBJECTIVE To find the significant correlations between polymorphisms of DAT1, COMTVal158Met, DRD4 and executive functions in obese subjects. METHODS The analysis of the frequency of individual alleles was performed in 248 obese patients (179 women, 69 men). Evaluation of the prefrontal cortex function (operating memory and executive functions) was measured with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Separate analyzes were performed in age subgroups to determine different activities and regulation of genes in younger and older participants. RESULTS Scores of WCST parameters were different in the subgroups of women and men and in the age subgroups. Regarding the COMT gene, patients with A/A and G/A polymorphisms showed significantly better WCST results in WCST_P, WCST_CC and WCST_1st. Regarding DAT1 men with L/L and L/S made less non-perseverative errors, which was statistically significant. In DRD4, significantly better WCST_1st results were found only in older women with S allele. CONCLUSION Obtained results indicate the involvement of dopaminergic transmission in the regulation of prefrontal cortex function. Data analysis indicates that prefrontal cortex function may ensue, from different elements such as genetic factors, metabolic aspects of obesity, and hormonal activity (estrogen).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Bieliński
- Chair and Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Natalia Lesiewska
- Chair and Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Roman Junik
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Anna Kamińska
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Andrzej Tretyn
- Department of Biotechnology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
| | - Alina Borkowska
- Chair and Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland
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Salehinejad MA, Wischnewski M, Nejati V, Vicario CM, Nitsche MA. Transcranial direct current stimulation in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of neuropsychological deficits. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215095. [PMID: 30978259 PMCID: PMC6461252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising method for altering cortical excitability with clinical implications in neuropsychiatric diseases. Its application in neurodevelopmental disorders especially attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is in early stage and promising but its effectiveness has not been systematically examined yet. We conducted a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of tDCS on the most studied neuropsychological symptoms of ADHD, which is the first reported meta-analysis of tDCS studies on ADHD. Data from 10 randomized controlled studies (including 11 separate experiments) targeting inhibitory control, and/or working memory (WM) in ADHD were included. Results show that overall tDCS significantly improved inhibitory control. Sub-analyses further show that dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) (but not right inferior frontal gyrus) tDCS and anodal (but not cathodal) tDCS significantly improved inhibitory control with a small effect size. Anodal dlPFC-tDCS had the largest significant effect on inhibitory control with a small-to-medium effect size. Additionally, a significant improving effect of tDCS on inhibitory control accuracy (but not response time) and WM speed (but not accuracy) were found. Overall, this meta-analysis supports a beneficial effect of tDCS on inhibitory control and WM in ADHD with a small-to-medium effect size. TDCS seems to be a promising method for improving neuropsychological and cognitive deficits in ADHD. However, there might be a dissociation between neuropsychological deficits and clinical symptoms of ADHD and therefore, the significance of this meta-analysis for clinical purposes is limited. Future studies should systematically evaluate the role of inter-individual factors (i.e., ADHD subtype, types of the deficit) and stimulation parameters (i.e., site, polarity, intensity, duration, repetition rate) on tDCS efficacy in ADHD population and examine whether benefits are long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Salehinejad
- Ruhr-University Bochum, International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Bochum, Germany
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Dortmund, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Miles Wischnewski
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Vahid Nejati
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Carmelo M. Vicario
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Dortmund, Germany
- University of Messina, Department of Scienze Cognitive della Formazione e degli Studi Culturali, Messina, Italy
| | - Michael A. Nitsche
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Dortmund, Germany
- University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Department of Neurology, Bochum, Germany
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18
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Kofler MJ, Sarver DE, Austin KE, Schaefer HS, Holland E, Aduen PA, Wells EL, Soto EF, Irwin LN, Schatschneider C, Lonigan CJ. Can working memory training work for ADHD? Development of central executive training and comparison with behavioral parent training. J Consult Clin Psychol 2019; 86:964-979. [PMID: 30507223 DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Working memory deficits have been linked experimentally and developmentally with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms/impairments. Unfortunately, substantial evidence indicates that extant working memory training programs fail to improve these symptoms/impairments. We hypothesized that this discrepancy may reflect insufficient targeting, such that extant protocols do not adequately engage the specific working memory components linked with the disorder's behavioral/functional impairments. METHOD The current study describes the development, empirical basis, and initial testing of central executive training (CET) relative to gold-standard behavioral parent training (BPT). Children with ADHD ages 8-13 (M = 10.43, SD = 1.59; 21 girls; 76% Caucasian/non-Hispanic) were treated using BPT (n = 27) or CET (n = 27). Detailed data analytic plans for the pre/post design were preregistered. Primary outcomes included phonological and visuospatial working memory, and secondary outcomes included actigraphy during working memory testing and two distal far-transfer tasks. Multiple feasibility/acceptability measures were included. RESULTS The BPT and CET samples did not differ on any pretreatment characteristics. CET was rated as highly acceptable by children and was equivalent to BPT in terms of feasibility/acceptability as evidenced by parent-reported high satisfaction, low barriers to participation, and large ADHD symptom reductions. CET was superior to BPT for improving working memory (Group × Time d = 1.06) as hypothesized. CET was also superior to BPT for reducing actigraph-measured hyperactivity during visuospatial working memory testing and both distal far-transfer tasks (Group × Time d = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS Results provide strong support for continued testing of CET and, if replicated, would support recent hypotheses that next-generation ADHD cognitive training protocols may overcome current limitations via improved targeting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dustin E Sarver
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Center for Advancement of Youth, University of Mississippi Medical Center
| | | | - Hillary S Schaefer
- Curry School of Education, University of Virginia and Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Tufts University
| | | | | | | | - Elia F Soto
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University
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Kofler MJ, Spiegel JA, Austin KE, Irwin LN, Soto EF, Sarver DE. Are Episodic Buffer Processes Intact in ADHD? Experimental Evidence and Linkage with Hyperactive Behavior. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 46:1171-1185. [PMID: 28952051 PMCID: PMC5871530 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-017-0346-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Working memory deficits are present in a substantial proportion of children with ADHD, and converging evidence links these deficits with ADHD-related behavioral and functional impairments. At the same time, working memory is not a unitary construct, and evidence is lacking regarding the role of several components of this system in ADHD. Preclinical behavioral studies are needed to fractionate the multicomponent working memory system, determine which specific subcomponent(s) are impaired in ADHD, and more importantly link these subcomponent(s) with specific ADHD-related behavioral symptoms/functional impairments. The current study reflects one piece of that puzzle, and focuses on the episodic buffer component of working memory. Across multiple testing days, a well-characterized sample of 86 children ages 8-13 (M=10.52, SD=1.54; 34 girls; 64% Caucasian/Non-Hispanic) with ADHD (n=49) and without ADHD (n=37) completed three counterbalanced working memory tests that were identical in all aspects except the key subcomponent process (phonological, visuospatial, episodic buffer). Gross motor movement during these and control tasks were measured using 4 high-precision actigraphs. There was no evidence of group differences in gender, age, SES, or IQ. Bayesian mixed-model ANOVAs indicated that the ADHD group performed significantly worse on all three working memory tests (d=1.17-1.44) and was significantly more hyperactive than controls (d=0.66-1.05) during the visuospatial and episodic buffer tests. In contrast, the ADHD and Non-ADHD groups were equivalent with regard to effects of episodic buffer demands on performance and hyperactive behavior. The most parsimonious conclusion is that the episodic buffer is likely intact in ADHD, and unrelated to ADHD hyperactivity symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Kofler
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA.
| | - Jamie A Spiegel
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Kristin E Austin
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Lauren N Irwin
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Elia F Soto
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA
| | - Dustin E Sarver
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advancement of Youth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
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20
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Working Memory and Motor Activity: A Comparison Across Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Healthy Control Groups. Behav Ther 2018; 49:419-434. [PMID: 29704970 DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Converging findings from recent research suggest a functional relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related hyperactivity and demands on working memory (WM) in both children and adults. Excessive motor activity such as restlessness and fidgeting are not pathognomonic symptoms of ADHD, however, and are often associated with other diagnoses such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Further, previous research indicates that anticipatory processing associated with anxiety can directly interfere with storage and rehearsal processes of WM. The topographical similarity of excessive motor activity seen in both ADHD and anxiety disorders, as well as similar WM deficits, may indicate a common relationship between WM deficits and increased motor activity. The relationship between objectively measured motor activity (actigraphy) and PH and visuospatial WM demands in adults with ADHD (n = 21), adults with GAD (n = 21), and healthy control adults (n = 20) was examined. Although all groups exhibited significant increases in activity from control to WM conditions, the ADHD group exhibited a disproportionate increase in activity, while activity exhibited by the GAD and healthy control groups was not different. Findings indicate that ADHD-related hyperactivity is uniquely related to WM demands, and appear to suggest that adults with GAD are no more active relative to healthy control adults during a cognitively demanding laboratory task.
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21
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Patros CHG, Alderson RM, Hudec KL, Tarle SJ, Lea SE. Hyperactivity in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The influence of underlying visuospatial working memory and self-control processes. J Exp Child Psychol 2016; 154:1-12. [PMID: 27776326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2016.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Changes in motor activity were examined across control and executive function (EF) tasks that differ with regard to demands placed on visuospatial working memory (VS-WM) and self-control processes. Motor activity was measured via actigraphy in 8- to 12-year-old boys with (n=15) and without (n=17) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the completion of VS-WM, self-control, and control tasks. Results indicated that boys with ADHD, relative to typically developing boys, exhibited greater motor activity across tasks, and both groups' activity was greater during EF tasks relative to control tasks. Lastly, VS-WM performance, relative to self-control performance, accounted for significantly more variance in activity across both VS-WM and self-control tasks. Collectively, findings suggest that ADHD-related hyperactivity is positively related to increased cognitive demands and appears to be better explained by deficient VS-WM rather than insufficient self-control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor H G Patros
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - R Matt Alderson
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
| | - Kristen L Hudec
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Stephanie J Tarle
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Sarah E Lea
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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22
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Kofler MJ, Raiker JS, Sarver DE, Wells EL, Soto EF. Is hyperactivity ubiquitous in ADHD or dependent on environmental demands? Evidence from meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 2016; 46:12-24. [PMID: 27131918 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hyperactivity, or excess gross motor activity, is considered a core and ubiquitous characteristic of ADHD. Alternate models question this premise, and propose that hyperactive behavior reflects, to a large extent, purposeful behavior to cope with environmental demands that interact with underlying neurobiological vulnerabilities. The present review critically evaluates the ubiquity and environmental modifiability of hyperactivity in ADHD through meta-analysis of 63 studies of mechanically measured activity level in children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD relative to typically developing groups. Random effects models corrected for publication bias confirmed elevated gross motor activity in ADHD (d=0.86); surprisingly, neither participant age (child vs. adult) nor the proportion of each ADHD sample diagnosed with the inattentive subtype/presentation moderated this effect. In contrast, activity level assessed during high cognitive load conditions in general (d=1.14) and high executive functioning demands in particular (d=1.39) revealed significantly higher effect sizes than activity level during low cognitive load (d=0.36) and in-class schoolwork (d=0.50) settings. Low stimulation environments, more rigorous diagnostic practices, actigraph measurement of movement frequency and intensity, and ADHD samples that included fewer females were also associated with larger effects. Overall, the results are inconsistent with DSM-5 and ADHD models that a) describe hyperactivity as ubiquitous behavior, b) predict a developmental decline in hyperactivity, or c) differentiate subtypes/presentations according to perceived differences in hyperactive behavior. Instead, results suggest that the presence and magnitude of hyperactive behavior in ADHD may be influenced to a considerable extent by environmental factors in general, and cognitive/executive functioning demands in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Kofler
- Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301, United States.
| | - Joseph S Raiker
- Florida International University
- Department of Psychology Center for Children and Families 11200 SW 8th St.
- Miami, FL 33199, United States
| | - Dustin E Sarver
- University of Mississippi Medical CenterDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Child Development Center for Advancement of Youth (CAY) 2500 North State Street Jackson, MS 39216, United States
| | - Erica L Wells
- Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301, United States
| | - Elia F Soto
- Florida State University, Department of Psychology, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301, United States
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