Electrodermal Activity in Hyperactive Boys Who Are Methylphenidate Responders

Abstract

Hyperactive boys being treated with methylphenidate medication were randomly divided into two groups. In one of the hyperactive groups (n = 18) methylphenidate was withheld for approximately 72 hrs before testing. Boys in the other hyperactive group (n = 20) continued to take their usual daily doses of methylphenidate. Normal boys formed a third group (n = 20). The following electrodermal measures were taken: basal resistance, frequency of non‐specific responses, specific response amplitude to an auditory signal, and number of trials to habituation. Normal and off‐drug hyperactive groups differed significantly on specific response amplitude, and trials to habituation. In addition, frequency of non‐specific responses approached significance. These differences indicated lower reactivity in the off‐drug hyperactive group. Off‐drug and on‐drug hyperactive groups differed significantly on frequency of non‐specific responses. In addition, trials to habituation approached significance. These differences again indicated lower reactivity in the off‐drug hyperactive group.

Methylphenidate effects in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: electrodermal and ERP measures during a continuous performance task

“…Satterfield and Dawson (1971) found lower levels of skin conductance in hyperkinetic children than controls, interpreting these results to indicate underarousal of the reticular activating system, but others have reported no difference (Cohen and Douglas 1972;Rapoport et al 1980). Several studies have reported smaller amplitude SCRs in AD/HD (Cohen and Douglas 1972;Spring et al 1974;Zahn et al 1975;Shibigaki et al 1993). Satterfield and Dawson (1971), using SCL as a measure, found psychostimulants elevated abnormally low arousal levels in AD/HD.…”

“…Cohen et al (1971) reported a higher resting SCL after medication but no change in SCRs. Conversely, Spring et al (1974) found increased SCRs but no difference in SCL with medication. Similarly, Rapoport et al (1980) reported no variation in skin conductance after stimulant medication-smaller SCRs were obtained in some tasks.…”

The effect of methylphenidate on response inhibition and the event-related potential of children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…In contrast, others have reported no difference (Cohen and Douglas, 1972). Cohen et al (1971) reported higher resting skin conductance level (SCL) after medication; while conversely, Spring et al (1974) found no difference in SCL due to medication. This study examines SCL as an index of tonic arousal pre-and post-medication in children with AD/HD, concurrently with electrophysiological measures of inhibitory processing.…”

Autonomic hypoactivity in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the influence of methylphenidate

“…Studies examining arousal response s triggered by stimuli in ADHD are rare too, although there is some evidence that during periods of activating tasks, ADHD patients are characterized by reduced cortical and autonomic arousal (Spring et al 1974;Mangina et al 2000). Autonomic reactivity towards discrete stimuli can be measured by skin conductance responses (SCRs) refl ecting autonomic arousal responses.…”