Deficient intracortical inhibition in drug-naive children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is enhanced by methylphenidate

In children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), motoric hyperactivity is one of the striking abnormalities. Because this symptom might be due to an insufficient motor control, motor system excitability in 18 drug-naive ADHD-children aged 8–12 years was compared to 18 age-matched he...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 2000-04, Vol.284 (1), p.121-125
Main Authors: Moll, Gunther H, Heinrich, Hartmut, Trott, Götz-Erik, Wirth, Sigrun, Rothenberger, Aribert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - physiopathology
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Biological and medical sciences
Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology
Child
Children
Drug Utilization
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate - administration & dosage
Motor Cortex - drug effects
Motor Cortex - pathology
Motor Cortex - physiopathology
Motor system excitability
Neural Inhibition - drug effects
Neural Inhibition - physiology
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease)
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
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Summary:In children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), motoric hyperactivity is one of the striking abnormalities. Because this symptom might be due to an insufficient motor control, motor system excitability in 18 drug-naive ADHD-children aged 8–12 years was compared to 18 age-matched healthy children using the technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Whereas motor thresholds, cortical silent period, and intracortical facilitation did not differ between the two groups, ADHD-children had significantly reduced intracortical inhibition compared to healthy controls. In all ADHD-children, a second TMS could be started after their first intake of 10 mg methylphenidate. Under this medication, a significant enhancement in intracortical inhibition could be stated. This study provides the first evidence for inhibitory deficits within the motor cortex in ADHD-children and for an enhancement of inhibitory mechanisms in this brain region by methylphenidate.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/S0304-3940(00)00980-0