The current study examined the hemodynamic response during the Go/NoGo task in children with/without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using near-infrared spectroscopy, oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb concentration changes in the frontal areas were compared during the conditions with/without inhibitory demand. Compared with typically developing children, children with ADHD showed significantly reduced activation during the conditions with inhibitory demand (NoGo-condition) in the frontal areas. However, no significant differences in activation during the conditions without inhibitory demand (Go-condition) were found between the two groups. The current findings revealed that children with ADHD exhibit an altered hemodynamic response specifically during response inhibition, but not during response execution, and suggested the clinical usefulness of near-infrared spectroscopy for the evaluation of response inhibition deficits in children with ADHD.
: Twelve subjects performed a tracking task and a memory search task simultaneously on a computer screen. The dual task continued for approximately 10 min and was repeated three times, interrupted by a short break for subjective ratings: the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and the Check List of Mental Condition. Event related potentials (ERP) evoked by the presentation of memory task stimuli were also recorded. All the subjects participated in three experimental sessions, which varied in difficulty of tracking task. Results demonstrated that the NASA-TLX and ERP were sensitive only to the change in task difficulty and were not affected by time-on-task or interaction between task difficulty and time-on-task.
Problems related to attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness are known to impact social, academic, and vocational success. When the problems begin in childhood and lead to impaired functioning, the syndrome is identified as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Symptoms of the syndrome persist into adolescence and adulthood for many individuals, but less is known about characteristics of adults compared to children, especially adults attending university. Furthermore, there is little cross-national and cross-cultural research. This study compared DSM-IV-TR ADHD symptoms of US university students (N=271) to Japanese peers (N=712). Comparison of group means on a DSM-IV-TR-based checklist indicated that Japanese students reported more problems with inattention (and overall ADHD symptoms) but not hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Although differences were statistically significant, effect sizes were small, indicating that for practical purposes, the students reported similar levels of symptoms. Japanese students reported higher rates of meeting or exceeding symptom counts that comprise diagnostic criteria for ADHD, but differences were quite small. Using DSM-IV-TR thresholds, 5.70% of US students and 6.27% of Japanese students reported enough symptoms to meet the cut-off for inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, or combined type during childhood. With regard to recent problems, 2.66% of US students and 4.52% of Japanese students reported enough symptoms to meet the cut-off for one of the three subtypes. Comparisons using other methods of calculating rates are also provided. This research adds to the limited knowledge of ADHD symptoms in university students across countries and it supports the view that ADHD is not merely a cultural construct. This study is among the first to identify potential attention problems in Japanese university students.
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