Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder without validated and objective diagnostic procedures. Several neurological dysfunctions in the frontal circuit, in the thalamus, and in the cerebellum have been observed in subjects with ADHD. These cortical and subcortical areas are responsible for eye movement control. Therefore, studying eye movements could be a useful tool to better understand neuronal alterations in subjects with ADHD. The aim of the present study was firstly to compare the quality of pursuit eye movements in a group of 40 children with ADHD (age 8.2 ± 1.2) and in a group of 40 sex-, IQ-, age-matched typically developing (TD) children; secondly, we aimed to examine if a short visuo-attentional training could affect pursuit performances in children with ADHD. Findings showed that children with ADHD presented a greater number of catch-up saccade and lower pursuit gain compared to TD children. Differently to TD children, in children with ADHD, the number of catch-up saccades and the pursuit gain were not significantly correlated with children’s age. Furthermore, a short visuo-attentional training period can only slightly improve pursuit performance in children with ADHD, leading to a decrease of the occurrence of catch-up saccades only, albeit the effect size was small. The absence of any improvement in pursuit performance with age could be explained by the fact that the prefrontal and fronto-cerebellar circuits responsible for pursuit triggering are still immature. Pursuit eye movements can be used as a useful tool for ADHD diagnosis. However, attentional mechanisms controlled by these cortical structures could be improved by a short visuo-attentional training period. Further studies will be necessary to explore the effects of a longer visuo-attentional training period on oculomotor tasks in order to clarify how adaptive mechanisms are able to increase the attentional capabilities in children with ADHD.
Highlights
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) represents a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperactive behaviors and difficulties in controlling motor impulses and paying attention [1]
Children with ADHD frequently display impairments in prosaccades, in anti-saccades, or in smooth pursuits
We explored the benefit of a short visuo-attentional training on pursuit abilities in the same group of children with ADHD
Summary
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) represents a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperactive behaviors and difficulties in controlling motor impulses and paying attention [1]. Brain Sci. 2020, 10, 816 major issue in terms of public health, more objective approaches, preferably based on precise and valid diagnostic tools, are required [3]. Preliminary evidence suggested that some of the oculomotor abnormalities reported in ADHD could provide detailed information about the function of brain networks, of the executive dysfunctions reported in these kinds of patients [4]. Children with ADHD frequently display impairments in prosaccades (saccade made in the direction of the target), in anti-saccades (saccade made in the opposite direction of the target), or in smooth pursuits. Longer latencies have been observed during prosaccades [5], as well as an increased number of errors during anti-saccade tasks and frequent intrusive saccades during smooth pursuit in subjects with ADHD when compared to controls [6]
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