Thirty-six hyperkinetic and 36 control boys, ages 8-11, were studied on a rapid-tapping task. They were divided into three incentive groups: one allowed to respond freely (US), one encouraged to tap rapidly (S), and one given pennies for increasing their tapping rate (R). As expected, the R and S groups tapped more rapidly than the US groups. When analyzed separately, no significant incentive group differences were found for the hyperkinetics. The moderately fast tapping of the hyperkinetics, regardless of group, resulted in the US hyperkinetics tapping more rapidly than the US controls, but when incentive was introduced (S and R groups), the controls were able to tap faster than the hyperkinetics. This inability of the hyperkinetics to adaptively adjust to the changing incentive conditions was suggested to be a function of defects in brain structures regulating arousal and concentration.
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