title: Resting EEG theta activity predicts cognitive performance in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: Quantitative electroencephalography has contributed significantly to elucidating the neurobiologic mechanisms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The most consistent and robust electroencephalographic disturbance in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder has been abnormally increased theta band during resting conditions. Separate research using attention-demanding tests has elucidated cognitive disturbances that differentiate attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. This study attempts to integrate electroencephalographic and neuropsychological indices to determine whether cognitive performance is specifically related to increased theta. Theta activity was recorded during a resting condition for 46 children/adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and their sex- and age-matched control subjects. Accuracy and reaction time during an auditory oddball and a visual continuous performance test were then recorded. Compared with control subjects, the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder group manifested significantly increased (primarily left) frontal theta. Furthermore, the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder group scored significantly delayed reaction time and decreased accuracy in both tasks. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between frontal (primarily left) theta and oddball accuracy for the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder group compared with a significant relationship between posterior (primarily right) theta and reaction time in the continuous performance test for the control group. These results indicate that spatial neurophysiologic deficits in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be related to disturbances in signal detection. This observation has important implications for the role of trait-like biologic deficits in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder predicting performance in information processing.
authors.affiliation: The Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hermens
authors.forename: Eleonore X C
authors.initials: EX
authors.lastname: Soei
authors.forename: Simon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Evian
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Leanne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013826:Theta Rhythm