Cognitive study of mathematics and attention event-related potentials for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Objective To explore the features of mathematics and attention event-related potential for children with ADHD and impaired neural mechanisms of executive function (EF). Methods The two groups children, 45 ADHD children and 45 normal children, were eight-to-eleven-year-old and there were no significant differences in the age and sex of two groups children . Both children performed mathematic and continuous performance test (CPT) tasks. Results Fz in Mathematic ERP: The N2 amplitudes (μV) in children with ADHD were significantly lower than those of control group in deciding error ((-11.86±6.01)μV vs (-8.38±3.52)μV), P 0.05). CPT: The Nogo P3 amplitudes in children with ADHD were significantly lower than control group((21.92±13.43)μV vs (30.65±17.10)μV), P<0.05). Conclusion The decrease of N2 amplitude while in deciding error indicate EF impairments deficits in working memory and decision-making ability.Nogo P3 amplitude of continuous performance task (CPT) in ADHD children indicate EF impairments deficits in response inhibition. Both P3 in attention CPT and N2 in mathematics could be used as sensitive index of EF impairments. Key words: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder children; Mathematic cognition; Event-related potentials; Attention; Executive function