State regulation in adult ADHD: an event-related potential study

J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2006 Oct;28(7):1113-26. doi: 10.1080/13803390500212896.

Abstract

The state regulation hypothesis postulates that poor task performance of children with ADHD is related to poor energetical state control. The current study aimed to investigate whether such a deficit persists in adult ADHD. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during administration of a Go/No-Go task that incorporated the stressor presentation rate of stimuli. It was found that males with ADHD responded slower than control males in the slow condition, which was accompanied by smaller parietal P3s, suggesting less effort allocation. No group differences were found with respect to the response inhibition measures (errors of commission and the N2 effect). In conclusion, problems in state regulation seem to persist in male adults with ADHD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Decision Making / physiology
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Reaction Time / physiology*