Response inhibition and interference control in children with AD/HD: A visual ERP investigation

Abstract

Children with Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) show deficits in executive inhibitory functions such as behavioral inhibition and interference control, but investigations of both of these domains in the same groups of children is scarce, especially with concurrent consideration of ERP indices of inhibitory processes. Twenty children with AD/HD and 20 matched controls aged between 8 and 14 years performed visual Go–Nogo (30% Nogo) and Flanker tasks while EEG was recorded. Results indicated that children with AD/HD traded off speed for accuracy in the Go–Nogo task, resulting in similar levels of response inhibition accuracy; in the Flanker task response speed and errors were at control levels, while misses were increased and showed an enhanced interference effect. In the Go–Nogo task, the AD/HD group showed reduced Go/Nogo P2, a reduced central N2 Nogo > Go effect, and a more anterior Go/Nogo P3 compared to controls. For the Flanker task, the AD/HD group showed delayed N1 and P2, dramatically reduced N2 to Incongruent stimuli, enhanced N2 to Neutral stimuli, as well as increased P3 to Incongruent stimuli, compared to controls. These results indicate that Go–Nogo behavioral inhibition and Flanker interference control were not equally impaired in children with AD/HD, and that factors such as effort, arousal and motivation require further investigation.