Electrodermal lability predicts presentation rate effects and stimulant drug effects on paired associate learning in hyperactive children.

Abstract

ABSTRACTHyperactive children were divided into three groups (electrodermal labiles, electrodermal stabiles, and a medium group which fell in between) on the basis of the frequency of spontaneous electrodermal activity. Subsequent tests on a paired associate learning task revealed that the stabiles and medium groups performed poorly when stimulus‐response pairs were presented at a relatively slow rate, while for labiles there was no difference across rates. Treatment with stimulant medication abolished the differences across rates for the stabiles and the medium groups, but led to significantly more learning on the fast rate relative to the slow rate for labiles. While the placebo findings were consistent with a low arousal view of hyperactivity, the drug results suggested that stimulant medication corrects an imbalance in the mechanisms which govern sensitivity to task‐related stimulation, but induces an imbalance where none is present on placebo.