Children with ADHD symptoms show deficits in reactive but not proactive inhibition, irrespective of their formal diagnosis

Branko M. Van Hulst*, Patrick De Zeeuw, Chantal Vlaskamp, Yvonne Rijks, Bram B. Zandbelt, Sarah Durston

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background Attenuated inhibitory control is one of the most robust findings in the neuropsychology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, it is unclear whether this represents a deficit in outright stopping (reactive inhibition), whether it relates to a deficit in anticipatory response slowing (proactive inhibition), or both. In addition, children with other development disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often have symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity similar to children with ADHD. These may relate to similar underlying changes in inhibitory processing.Methods In this study, we used a modified stop-signal task to dissociate reactive and proactive inhibition. We included not only children with ADHD, but also children primarily diagnosed with an ASD and high parent-rated levels of ADHD symptoms.Results We replicated the well-documented finding of attenuated reactive inhibition in children with ADHD. In addition, we found a similar deficit in children with ASD and a similar level of ADHD symptoms. In contrast, we found no evidence for deficits in proactive inhibition in either clinical group.Conclusions These findings re-emphasize the role of reactive inhibition in children with ADHD and ADHD symptoms. Moreover, our findings stress the importance of a trans-diagnostic approach to the relationship between behavior and neuropsychology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2515-2521
Number of pages7
JournalPsychological Medicine
Volume48
Issue number15
Early online date8 Feb 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018

Keywords

  • Attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity
  • child
  • cognitive control
  • neuropsychology
  • proactive inhibition
  • reactive inhibition
  • trans-diagnostic
  • Humans
  • Proactive Inhibition
  • Male
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/physiopathology
  • Executive Function/physiology
  • Psychomotor Performance/physiology
  • Child
  • Reactive Inhibition

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