Exploring the performance differences on the flicker task and the conners' continuous performance test in adults with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the ability of the flicker task to demonstrate greater utility in discriminating performance in young adults with and without ADHD compared to the Conners' CPT (CCPT).


METHODS
Flicker task and CCPT performance were compared between an ADHD (n = 28) and control (n = 30) group of college students.


RESULTS
This study replicated previous flicker task findings, providing support for using the flicker task to demonstrate the robust nature of change blindness. However, the flicker task did not demonstrate better discriminative utility than the CCPT. Task-dependent measures correlated with ADHD rating scale indices of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, indicating that CPTs lack symptom domain specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
Results support the growing evidence that CPTs currently provide only modest utility for discriminating performance in adults with and without ADHD. Recommendations are provided regarding the future study of CPTs as a valid measure of ADHD performance and the potential utility of the flicker task.
Cohen
Andrew L
AL
Auburn University, AL 36849, USA. cohenal@auburn.edu
Shapiro
Steven K
SK
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D005425:Flicker Fusion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity