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Frontal P300 Decrement and Executive Dysfunction in Adolescents with Conduct Problems

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Abstract

This study investigated the cognitive and cerebral function of adolescents with conduct problems by neuropsychological battery (STIM) and event-related potential (ERP). Eighteen adolescents with conduct disorder, and 18 age-matched normal subjects were included. Such cognitive functions as attention, memory, executive function and problem solving were evaluated using subtests of STIM. ERP was measured using an auditory oddball paradigm. The conduct group showed a significantly lower hit rate on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) than the control group. In addition, the conduct group showed reduced P300 amplitude at Fz and Cz, and prolonged P300 latency at Fz, and there was a significant correlation between P300 amplitude and Stroop test performance. These results indicate that adolescents with conduct problems have impairments of executive function and inhibition, and that these impairments are associated with frontal dysfunction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seoul National University, Korea

    Myung-Sun Kim & Jae-Jin Kim

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Medical College, Neuroscience Institute, SNU-MRC & BK21 Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongon-dong Chongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

    Jun Soo Kwon

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  1. Myung-Sun Kim
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  2. Jae-Jin Kim
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Kim, MS., Kim, JJ. & Kwon, J.S. Frontal P300 Decrement and Executive Dysfunction in Adolescents with Conduct Problems. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 32, 93–106 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012299822274

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