EEG theta and beta power spectra in adolescents with ADHD versus adolescents with ASD + ADHD

Abstract

Attention problems are common in youngsters with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as in adolescents with combined autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD. However, it is unknown whether there is psychophysiological overlap and/or a difference in electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra between ADHD and comorbid ASD and ADHD (ASD + ADHD), on and off stimulant medication. To explore potential differences and overlap, measures of theta and beta power in adolescents diagnosed with ADHD (n = 33) versus adolescents with combined ASD + ADHD (n = 20), categorized by stimulant medication use (57 % of the total sample), were compared. EEG measures were acquired in three conditions: (1) resting state, eyes closed (2) resting state, eyes open and (3) during an oddball task. In addition, performance on the d2 attention test was analyzed. Adolescents with ADHD displayed more absolute theta activity than adolescents with ASD + ADHD during the eyes open and task conditions, independent of stimulant medication use. In addition, only the adolescents with ADHD showed an association between diminished attention test performance and increased theta in the eyes open condition. Results of the current study suggest that although there is behavioral overlap between ADHD characteristics in adolescents with ADHD and adolescents with combined ASD + ADHD, the underlying psychophysiological mechanisms may be different. Adolescents with ASD + ADHD exhibited fewer of the EEG physiological signs usually associated with ADHD, although there was an overlap in attentional problems between the groups. This may indicate that treatments developed for ADHD work differently in some adolescents with ASD + ADHD and adolescents with ADHD only.

Resting-State Neurophysiological Activity Patterns in Young People with ASD, ADHD, and ASD + ADHD

“…There are limited comparisons of resting-state neurophysiological activity in children with ASD + ADHD. Previous inconsistent studies have reported elevated beta power in children with ADHD and co-occurring ASD traits compared to children with ADHD-only (Clarke et al 2011 ), or increased resting-state theta power in adolescents with ADHD-only compared to adolescents with ASD + ADHD, interpreted as reflecting hypoarousal in the adolescents with ADHD without ASD compared to those with ASD + ADHD (Bink et al 2015 ). However, these study designs do not enable a test of whether differences in the comorbid group reflect co-occurring ASD symptoms or rather the effects of multiple neurodevelopmental pathophysiologies.…”

EEG Source Localization and Attention Differences Between Children Exposed to Drugs in Utero and Those with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study

“…Theta (4.0-8.0 Hz) showed a nonsignificant trend toward elevated CSD in IUDE as contrasted with the ADHD group at BA 19 and associated posterior regions. This is an important finding given the indications that excess theta power has been associated with a higher likelihood of having ADHD and the potential comodulated slowing between theta and alpha power (Bink et al, 2015;Gloss, Varma, Pringsheim, & Nuwer, 2016;Koehler et al, 2009;Tye, Rijsdijk, & McLoughlin, 2014). Mazaheri and colleagues (2010) found a functional disconnection between frontal and occipital regions in children with ADHD as contrasted with normal controls and suggested a deficit in top-down regulated attentional processes.…”

Commonalities and specificities between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism-spectrum disorders: can epidemiology contribute?

“…Although this mostly refers to genetic or neuroimaging marks-such as those identified by Sarkar et al in relation to conduct disorder [22], other biological signs may also be relevant. In a study conducted among 53 adolescents with ADHD or ADHD + ASD, Bink et al [5] report differences in electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra between these two groups on different experimental tasks. Specifically, youths with ADHD had higher levels of theta activity than those with ADHD + ASD in the eyes open task, suggesting that while both groups show symptoms of inattention, their causes may be different-underarousal in adolescents with ADHD and abnormal neural connectivity in ADHD + ASD.…”