Relation between resting EEG to cognitive performance and clinical symptoms in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is characterized by elevated levels of slow wave activity and reduced fast wave activity in resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG). In adults with ADHD, resting-state EEG findings are scarce and inconsistent. The present study examined whether the disparate findings are due EEG recording conditions (i.e., eyes-open vs. eyes-closed). A second goal of the current study was to assess relations between EEG spectral indices to performance measures obtained using a stop-signal task, and to behavioral ADHD symptoms. The present study included 24 adults with ADHD and 24 control adults. The EEG results showed a greater reduction in alpha power from eyes-closed to eyes-open (i.e., alpha attenuation) in ADHD compared to controls. In addition, theta/beta ratio was negatively correlated to the speed of responding to choice stimuli. These findings were interpreted vis-à-vis a biophysical model assuming that the hypo-arousal in ADHD is due to an overdrive of the nucleus coeruleus resulting in inhibitory activity of the thalamic reticular nucleus.
van Dongen-Boomsma
Martine
M
Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Lansbergen
Marieke M
MM
Bekker
Evelijne M
EM
Kooij
J J Sandra
JJ
van der Molen
Maurits
M
Kenemans
J Leon
JL
Buitelaar
Jan K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012146:Rest; D055815:Young Adult