Contingent negative variation (CNV) in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder - An experimental study using the continuous performance test (CPT)

Objectives: Evaluation of event-related:potentials for selective attention in attention deficit/hyperactivity disordered-children Methods: Selective attention processes were examined in a group of 18 boys aged 6 to 12 years with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder and comp ared with the data of a control group of 21 age and sex matched boys. Paral lel thereto the event-related potentials (ERP) were derived during the test at the electrode positions Fz, Cz, Pz, and Oz with reference to the linked pars. Results: Two components of the contingent negative variation (CNV) with dif ferent topography were identified in the ERP fallowing a preparatory stimul us (CNV-1: 600 to 1100 ms and CNV-2: 1000 to 1500 ms after: the stimulus). There were no group differences at the behavioural level (number of correct detected targets number of errors. Significant group differences resulted with regard to the topography of the two CNV components; Children with ADD showed an attenuated frontal CNV-I amplitude and a trend towards increased CNV-I and CNV-2 occipital amplitudes. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis of impaired frontal inhibit ory processes in children and ADD.