title: REM theta activity enhances inhibitory control in typically developing children but not children with ADHD symptoms.
abstract: Sleep disturbances impair cognitive functioning in typically developing populations. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a disorder characterized by impaired inhibitory control and attention, commonly experience sleep disturbances. Whether inhibitory impairments are related to sleep deficits in children with ADHD is unknown. Children with ADHD (n = 18; Mage= 6.70 years) and typically developing controls (n = 15; Mage= 6.73 years) completed a Go/No-Go task to measure inhibitory control and sustained attention before and after polysomnography-monitored overnight sleep. Inhibitory control and sustained attention were improved following overnight sleep in typically developing children. Moreover, morning inhibitory control was positively correlated with rapid eye movement (REM) theta activity in this group. Although REM theta activity was greater in children with ADHD compared to typically developing children, it was functionally insignificant. Neither inhibitory control nor sustained attention was improved following overnight sleep in children with ADHD symptoms, and neither of these behaviors was associated with REM theta activity in this group. Taken together, these results indicate that elevated REM theta activity may be functionally related to ADHD symptomology, possibly reflecting delayed cortical maturation.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 01003, USA.|Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Tobin 419/135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cremone
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Tobin 419/135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Lugo-Candelas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Tobin 419/135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 01003, USA.|Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Tobin 419/135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 01003, USA. rspencer@psych.umass.edu.|Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Tobin 419/135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA. rspencer@psych.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca M C
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017286:Polysomnography; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: ADHD; Inhibitory control; REM; Sleep; Sustained attention; Theta activity