An event related potential (ERP) study of symptomatic and asymptomatic adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Stas Simon Krupenia

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

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Abstract

This study recorded Event Related Potentials (ERPs) during completion of a Continuous Performance Task (CPT) in order to identify the contribution of response inhibition, working memory, and response monitoring to the pattern of hyperactive and impulsive and inattentive behaviour observed in patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Four ERP components, Nogo N2, Nogo P3, Go P3, and the ERN were examined and compared using a symptomatic and asymptomatic ADHD sample, and a healthy control group. The Nogo N2 had the expected frontal scalp distribution and was affected by changes to inhibitory demands. It was also suggested that this component was not wholly determined by inhibitory processing and may have been influenced by differing presentation rates of the Go stimulus, a template matching process or an in-depth response strategy. Source localisation analysis suggested a right frontal generator for this component. The Nogo P3 had the expected central distribution and had equal amplitude for those participants that were more efficient at inhibiting behaviours compared to those participants that were less efficient inhibitors. Contrary to expectations, the Nogo P3 was not affected by increasing the inhibitory demands of the task and was suggested as being a less reliable indicator of response inhibition in the present study. The Go P3 had the expected centro-parietal distribution, and appeared to provide a reliable index of working memory. Response inhibition and working memory were not impaired in the sample of symptomatic and asymptomatic ADHD adults used in this study. The symptomatic group elicited a slightly enhanced ERN compared to the asymptomatic and control groups, indicating that deficits in response monitoring may contribute to the pattern of problematic behaviour observed in people with ADHD.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
Publication statusUnpublished - 2003

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