Executive function oculomotor tasks in girls with ADHD

Objective: To assess executive function in girls with attention-deficit/hyp eractivity disorder (ADHD) using oculomotor tasks as possible trait markers for neurobiological studies. Method: Thirty-two girls aged 6 to 13 years w ith DSM-IV ADHD and 20 age-matched, normal control girls were tested on a v ariety of oculomotor tasks requiring attention, working memory, and respons e inhibition, which included smooth pursuit, delayed response, and go-no go tasks. Results: Girls with ADHD performed the delayed response task correc tly an 32% of trials as measured by number of memory-guided saccades, in co ntrast to 62% of trials for control subjects (p = .0009). Patients made twi ce as many commission errors to no go stimuli (p = .0001) and 3 times as ma ny intrusion errors (saccades in the absence of go or no go stimuli; p = .0 04) during the go-no go task compared with controls. Smooth pursuit perform ance was statistically equivalent across subject groups. Repeated testing i n a subgroup of 15 patients revealed substantial practice effects on go-no go performance. Conclusions: The data confirm that girls with ADHD exhibit impairments in executive function, as has been reported in boys, implying a similar pathophysiology of ADHD in both sexes. However, practice effects m ay limit the utility of the oculomotor go-no go task far some neurobiologic al studies.