title: Perceptual and response-dependent profiles of attention in children with ADHD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex developmental neuropsychiatric disorder, characterized by inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Recent literature suggests a potential core deficit underlying these behaviors may involve inefficient processing when contextual stimulation is low. In order to specify this inefficiency, the aim of the present study was to disentangle perceptual and response-based deficits of attention by supplementing classic reaction time (RT) measures with an accuracy-only test. Moreover, it was explored whether ADHD symptom severity was systematically related to perceptual and response-based processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied an RT-independent paradigm (Bundesen, 1990) and a sustained attention task (Dockree et al., 2006) to test visual attention in 24 recently diagnosed, medication-naïve children with ADHD, 14 clinical controls with pervasive developmental disorder, and 57 healthy controls. Outcome measures included perceptual processing speed, capacity of visual short-term memory, and errors of commission and omission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with ADHD processed information abnormally slow (d = 0.92), and performed poorly on RT variability and response stability (d's ranging from 0.60 to 1.08). In the ADHD group only, slowed visual processing speed was significantly related to response lapses (omission errors). This correlation was not explained by behavioral ratings of ADHD severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on combined assessment of perceptual and response-dependent variables of attention, the present study demonstrates a specific cognitive profile in children with ADHD. This profile distinguishes the disorder at a basic level of attentional functioning, and may define subgroups of children with ADHD in a way that is more sensitive than clinical rating scales. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Center for Visual Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen.
authors.forename: Ida Dyhr
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Caspersen
authors.affiliation: Center for Visual Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3595-6275
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Center for Visual Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen.
authors.forename: Signe
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1622-3108
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vangkilde
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre.
authors.forename: Kerstin Jessica
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Plessen
authors.affiliation: Center for Visual Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5781-238X
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Habekost
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading; D014796:Visual Perception