title: Sustained attention and executive functioning performance in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: The aim of this study was to further refine the cognitive phenotype of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with respect to the ability to sustain attention and executive functioning. Participants were 34 boys with ADHD (combined type) and 28 normal controls. The groups were closely matched for age and IQ. All participants were 12 years of age. Both groups performed a computerized sustained attention task and a response interference task. Measures related to speed, accuracy, and time on task were collected. We found that children with ADHD performed slower, less accurately, more impulsively, and with less stability than controls. Both groups produced more errors with increasing time on task, reflecting reduced vigilance. Importantly, no interaction with time on task was found. The overall pattern of results suggests that measures related to accuracy are more informative than measures related to speed of responding in refining the cognitive phenotype of ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, Free university of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stins
authors.forename: Marieke S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tollenaar
authors.forename: Dorine I E
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Slaats-Willemse
authors.forename: Jan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Buitelaar
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Swaab-Barneveld
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.forename: Tinca C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Polderman
authors.forename: Dorret I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Boomsma
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors