title: Environmental Stimulation Does Not Reduce Impulsive Choice in ADHD: A "Pink Noise" Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The preference for sooner smaller over larger later rewards is a prominent manifestation of impulsivity in ADHD. According to the State Regulation Deficit (SRD) model, this impulsive choice is the result of impaired regulation of arousal level and can be alleviated by adding environmental stimulation to increase levels of arousal.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test this prediction, we studied the effects of adding background "pink noise" on impulsive choice using a classical and new adjusting choice delay task in a sample of 25 children with ADHD and 28 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with ADHD made more impulsive choices than controls. Adding noise did not reduce impulsive choice in ADHD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings add to the existing evidence on impulsive choice in ADHD, but no evidence is found for the SRD model's explanation of this behavioral style. Alternative explanations for impulsive choice in ADHD are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Belgium baris.metin@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Metin
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roeyers
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wiersema
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jaap J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Meere
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Roos
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasthuys
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Belgium University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sonuga-Barke
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009622:Noise; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012201:Reward
keywords: ADHD; delay aversion; impulsivity; pink noise; state regulation deficits