Visual selective attention versus sustained attention in boys with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

This study examined selective attention and sustained attention in children with ADHD. Performance of 10-year-old boys on a visual cueing task was examined as a measure of selective attention. A subset of the original participants returned for a second study, during which they completed the Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT) as a measure of sustained attention. The results of this investigation suggest a dissociation between selective and sustained attention abilities in children with ADHD. Specifically, children with ADHD were able to perform as well as non-ADHD children on the selective attention task, while their performance on the sustained attention task indicated an impairment. These findings have important implications for designing academic interventions for children with ADHD. Additionally, these findings regarding the cognitive deficits associated with ADHD may be useful in guiding research investigating possible neuroanatomical dysfunction in ADHD.

Information processing speed in adults with ADHD

“…Thus, the CCPT-II did not demonstrate sensitivity to ADHD, as it failed to differentiate individuals with ADHD from normal, nonclinical controls. This finding is inconsistent with previous results reported by DeShazo et al (2001), Perugini et al (2000, and Walker et al (2000). However, these results are congruent with findings that have shown that the CCPT is not sensitive to the effects o f ADHD when the comparison group was a clinical control group (Katz et al, 1998;Kovner et al, 1998;McGee et al, 2000).…”

MAOA Influences the Trajectory of Attentional Development

“…This study should involve many time points and verify the genes involved in predicting risk and the eventual development of inattentive symptoms. Although it is unclear how reflexive attention and sustained attention are related (Hikosaka et al, 1993; Suzuki and Cavanagh, 1997; Barry et al, 2001; Berger et al, 2005; Andrade et al, 2009; Henderickx et al, 2010; Carrasco, 2011; Macaluso and Doricchi, 2013; Underbjerg et al, 2013; Dye and Hauser, 2014; Anderson, 2015), my previous work has indicated that reflexive attention is related to day-to-day attentional performance (Lundwall, 2013). Second, in conjunction with the above, several comparison intervention programs could be targeted earlier to determine which are most effective.…”

“…It can be contrasted to sustained attention, the other component of attention. Some studies suggest that reflexive and sustained attention are independent components of overall attention (Barry et al, 2001; Berger et al, 2005; Andrade et al, 2009; Underbjerg et al, 2013; Dye and Hauser, 2014). …”

Visual Selective Attention in Adults with ADHD: Electrophysiological Evidence of Facilitation and Suppression

“…However, many aspects of this disorder are still not well understood. For example, impairments in sustained attention and inhibition are thought to be primary deficits of the disorder [3]- [5].…”

“…In particular, it allows for examination of three different aspects of visual selective attention (preparatory facilitation, preparatory suppression, and stimulus suppression) that have not been examined in this population. Understanding these different aspects of selective attention may help to explain how it is possible that those with ADHD are able to compensate behaviorally in visual selective attention tasks [3] as well as to help understand ADHD more completely. It may also provide additional evidence in support of this four-component model of selective attention (i.e.…”