Evidence for an Error Monitoring Deficit in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Authors: Schachar R.J.¹; Chen S.²; Logan G.D.³; Ornstein T.J.²; Crosbie J.²; Ickowicz A.²; Pakulak A.²

Source: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Volume 32, Number 3, June 2004 , pp. 285-293(9)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

We studied error monitoring in ADHD and control children in a task requiring inhibition of a motor response. The extent of slowing following successful (stopped) and failed (nonstopped) inhibition was compared across groups. We also measured the time required to inhibit a response (stop signal reaction time, SSRT). Compared to controls, ADHD participants slowed less following nonstopped responses. Slowing did not vary with comorbid reading, oppositional, conduct or anxiety disorder, sex or ADHD subtype. Slowing after nonstopped responses was marginally, although significantly correlated with total ADHD symptoms and with age. ADHD participants had significantly longer SSRT than controls, but SSRT was not significantly correlated with slowing. The apparent deficit in error monitoring in ADHD and its independence from the inhibition deficit observed in ADHD has implications for executive control models of ADHD, performance problems associated with the disorder and for component theories of executive control.

Keywords: error monitoring; ADHD; inhibition; cognition

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:JACP.0000026142.11217.f2

Affiliations: 1: Brain and Behavior Program, Research Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada;, Email: russell.schachar@sickkids.ca 2: Brain and Behavior Program, Research Institute, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada 3: Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

Publication date: 2004-06-01

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• In this Subject: Neurology & Psychiatry ,  Pediatrics
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