The ipsilateral silent period in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Characterize maturation of transcallosal inhibition (ipsilateral silent period [iSP]) in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).


BACKGROUND
Maturation of the iSP is related to acquisition of fine motor skills in typically developing children suggesting that dexterous fine motor skills depend upon mature interhemispheric interactions. Since neuromotor maturation is abnormal in boys with ADHD we hypothesized that iSP maturation in these children would be abnormal. We studied iSP maturation in 12 boys with ADHD and 12 age-matched, typically developing boys, 7-13 years of age.


METHODS
Surface electromyographic activity was recorded from right first dorsal interosseus (FDI). During background activation, focal TMS was delivered at maximal stimulator output over the ipsilateral motor cortex.


RESULTS
Maturation of finger speed in boys with ADHD was significantly slower than that in the control group. The iSP latency decreased with age in the control group but not in the ADHD group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the presence of a complex relationship between abnormalities of certain interhemispheric interactions (as represented by iSP latency) and delayed maturation of neuromotor skills in boys with ADHD.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide preliminary physiologic evidence supporting delayed or abnormal development of interhemispheric interactions in boys with ADHD.
Garvey
Marjorie A
MA
Pediatric Movement Disorders Unit, Human Motor Control Section, MNB, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. marjorie.garvey@medstar.net
Barker
Christopher A
CA
Bartko
John J
JJ
Denckla
Martha B
MB
Wassermann
Eric M
EM
Castellanos
F Xavier
FX
Dell
Mary Lynn
ML
Ziemann
Ulf
U
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012737:Sex Factors