Deficits in visuo-spatial working memory, inhibition and oculomotor control in boys with ADHD and their non-affected brothers

• Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission 2008-02, Vol.115 (2), p.249-260
• Main Authors: Rommelse, N. N. J., Van der Stigchel, S., Witlox, J., Geldof, C., Deijen, J.-B., Theeuwes, J., Oosterlaan, J., Sergeant, J. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - complications; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Child; Eye Movements - physiology; Humans; Inhibition (Psychology); Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Memory Disorders - etiology; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurosciences; Photic Stimulation - methods; Psychiatry; Reaction Time - physiology; Siblings; Space Perception - physiology
• ISSN: 0300-9564; 1435-1463
• DOI: 10.1007/s00702-007-0865-7

Summary Few studies have assessed visuo-spatial working memory and inhibition in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by recording saccades and consequently little additional knowledge has been gathered on oculomotor functioning in ADHD. Moreover, this is the first study to report the performance of non-affected siblings of children with ADHD, which may shed light on the familiality of deficits. A total of 14 boys with ADHD, 18 non-affected brothers, and 15 control boys aged 7–14 years, were administered a memory-guided saccade task with delays of three and seven seconds. Familial deficits were found in accuracy of visuo-spatial working memory, percentage of anticipatory saccades, and tendency to overshoot saccades relative to controls. These findings suggest memory-guided saccade deficits may relate to a familial predisposition for ADHD.