Oculomotor anomalies in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: evidence for deficits in response preparation and inhibition.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine patterns of executive and oculomotor control in a group of both boys and girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Cross-sectional study of 120 children aged 8 to 12 years, including 60 with ADHD (24 girls) and 60 typically developing controls (29 girls). Oculomotor paradigms included visually guided saccades (VGS), antisaccades, memory-guided saccades, and a go/no-go test, with variables of interest emphasizing response preparation, response inhibition, and working memory. RESULTS: As a group, children with ADHD demonstrated significant deficits in oculomotor response preparation (VGS latency and variability) and response inhibition but not working memory. Girls, but not boys with ADHD, had significantly longer VGS latencies, even after controlling for differences in ADHD symptom severity. The ADHD subtypes did not differ on response preparation or inhibition measures; however, children with the Inattentive subtype were less accurate on the working memory task than those with the Combined subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Sex differences in children with ADHD extend beyond symptom presentation to the development of oculomotor control. Saccade latency may represent a specific deficit among girls with ADHD.

Author information

Author/s: Mahone, E Mark (EM); Mostofsky, Stewart H (SH); Lasker, Adrian G (AG); Zee, David (D); Denckla, Martha B (MB);

Affiliation: Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. mahone(-atsign-)kennedykrieger.org

Grants: HD-24061 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; K02 NS044850 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; NS 35359 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 NS043480 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 NS047781 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 NS050153 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; UL1-RR025005 (Agency:NCRR NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 48 (issue 7) : pp 749-56

Dates: Created 2009/06/24; Completed 2009/10/05;

PMID: 19465877, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/5/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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