Electromyography and functional neuroimaging markers associated with inhibitory processes in young adults with ADHD

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that affects not only children, but also adults. Barkley proposed one of the most influent theorical models, which describes cognitive impairments in inhibitory functions that are also associated with ADHD. This model highlights deficits in three different inhibitory functions (inhibition of prepotent responses, inhibition of an ongoing response and interference control) as being essential to the dysexecutive symptoms associated with the disorder. In this context, the current project intends to investigate the mechanisms involved in these three inhibitory functions in young adults with ADHD by the analysis of performance in a computerized task that combines the Stroop-matching and the stop-signal tasks. The variables of the task will be analyzed along with some physiological measures, such as electromyography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The latter have already been used to reveal cortical hypoactivation in young adults with ADHD during inhibitory tasks. Lastly, impulsivity (BIS-11 and UPPS) and executive impairments (BDEFS) self-report measures will also be used. We will search for difference between control and clinical (ADHD) groups in behavioral performance and physiological activations in the different task conditions, also considering impulsivity and executive impairments self-reports. It is expected that individuals with ADHD, with higher scores of impulsivity and executive impairments show worst performance in the inhibitory tasks and distinct patterns in physiological activities. We aim to investigate the cognitive and physiological mechanisms involved in the disorder, contributing to theories and models that seek to describe different ADHD presentations. (AU)