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Low frequency oscillations of response time explain parent ratings of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity

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Abstract

Greater intra-subject variability (ISV) in response time is a heritable endophenotype of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Spontaneous low frequency oscillations (LFO: 0.01–0.1 Hz) observed in brain functional magnetic resonance signals might account for such behavioral variability. Recently, we demonstrated that ISV in response time (RT) explained ratings of ADHD symptoms. Building on this finding, here we hypothesized that LFO in RT time series would explain these ratings, both independently and in addition to RT coefficient of variation (CV). To measure RT LFO, we applied Morlet wavelet transform to the previously collected RT data. Our community sample consisted of 98 children (including 66 boys, mean age 9.9 ± 1.4 years), who completed four computer Tasks of Executive Control. Conners’ Parent Rating Scale ratings were obtained. RT LFO of three tasks significantly explained ratings of inattention, hyperactivity and three global Conners’ subscales. In addition, RT LFO during two tasks that included an inhibitory component increased the proportions of variance explained in subscales of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, beyond the effects of RT-CV. Three specific low frequency bands (Slow-5: 0.01–0.027 Hz; Slow-4: 0.027–0.073 Hz; Slow-3: 0.073–0.20 Hz) were strongly related to the ADHD scales. We conclude that RT LFO predict dimensional ratings of ADHD symptoms both independently and in addition to RTCV. Results suggest that frequency analyses are a suitable methodology to link behavioral responses to putative underlying physiological processes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation to MAM, CDM, LGG; support from the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation and grant R01MH081218 to FXC; and collaboration of staff members and families from Bellevue Hospital Center and Roberto Clemente Family Therapy Center.

Conflict of interest

María Ángeles Mairena reports no conflicts of interest. Adriana Di Martino reports no conflicts of interest. Cristina Domínguez-Martín has received support for educational travel and conference attendance from Group Bristol-Myers Squibb, Juste S.A.Q.F., Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, and Janssen-Cilag, and research support from Lilly. Lorena Gómez-Guerrero has received support for educational travel and conference attendance from Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, Almirall, and Juste S.A.Q.F. and support for educational materials from Schering-Plough, Lundbeck, and Astra Zeneca. Gerard Gioia is an author of an instrument used in this research study: the tasks of executive control. This instrument is published by Psychological Assessment Resources,Inc. Eva Petkova reports no conflicts of interest. F. Xavier Castellanos reports no conflicts of interest.

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Correspondence to María Ángeles Mairena.

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Mairena, M.Á., Martino, A.D., Domínguez-Martín, C. et al. Low frequency oscillations of response time explain parent ratings of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 21, 101–109 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0237-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0237-6

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