Heart Rate Variability and Sustained Attention in ADHD Children
Authors: Börger N.1; van Der Meere J.1; Ronner A.1; Alberts E.1; Geuze R.1; Bogte H.2
Source: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Volume 27, Number 1, February 1999 , pp. 25-33(9)
Publisher: Springer
Abstract:
The major goal of the current study was to investigate the association between continuous performance tests (CPTs) and the heart rate variability (HRV) of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children. The HRV, specifically the 0.10-Hz component, may be considered to be a psychophysiological index of effort allocation (motivation): The less effort the subject allocates, the greater the 0.10-Hz component. Results indicated that, compared to controls, ADHD subjects had a greater 0.10-Hz component, which was associated with poor test performance over time. Thus, using a psychophysiological measure, we were able to confirm the clinical concept of ADHD from a motivational perspective.
Keywords: ADHD; sustained attention; heart rate variability
Language: English
Document Type: Research article
Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Experimental Clinical Psychology, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands 2: Universitair Centrum Groningen, Kinder en Jeugdpsychiatrie, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands

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