Aufmerksamkeitsnetzwerke bei Kindern mit und ohne Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHD)

Attention deficits are one of the core symptoms of children suffering from attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It remains unclear however whether the severity of these attention deficits is age- dependent and which specific attention aspects are impaired. Our studies are based on an attention model that proposes three anatomically distinct independent attention networks that are used in dependence of the specific task requirements. The anterior attention network functions as a control or executive system, while the posterior attention system is responsible for the allocation of attention in space and for attention selectivity. The third attention network resembles attention intensity and is responsible for maintaining an alert state over time and is anatomically less distinct than the other two systems. The following studies aim at first describing the specific neurocognitive deficit of children with ADHD and secondly relating these deficits to neuroanatomic correlates. Further, we were interested in examining age-related differences in the attention deficit of pre- and grade-schoolers with ADHD. Neuropsychological test-batteries, a paradigm based on the above mentioned attention model and oculomotor tasks were used. In order to be able to relate the findings in ADHD patients to normal development of the attention aspects healthy control subjects were also studied. Results in the control children suggested, that all three attention networks continue to develop during grade- school years. The executive attention system seems to be the last to function on an adult-like level. Comparing healthy and ADHD children the patient group was impaired with respect to attention intensity, and here specifically in maintaining an alert state over time, and in executive attention. The most pronounced deficits were found in the ADHD group when an already initiated response was to be stopped or a common response set had to be varied. Allocation of attention in space was impaired in ADHD children only if the attention focus had to be disengaged from an irrelevant stimulus. We conclude that ADHD preschoolers suffer from quite similar but not exactly the same attention deficits than grade-school patients. Our results further imply that the most pronounced deficits can be found in the anterior executive attention network. The vigilance network seems to be impaired as well in children with ADHD.

Grantor dc:publisher

Publikationsserver der RWTH Aachen University

Year dc:date

2005

Author dc:creator

• Hanisch, Charlotte

Contributors dc:contributor

• Willmes-von Hinckeldey, Klaus

• info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/610
• Medizin
• ADHD
• Entwicklung
• Aufmerksamkeit

Statement dc:rights

• info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Language dc:language

ger

Identifier

https://publications.rwth-aachen.de/search?p=id:%22RWTH-CONV-122011%22

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:publications.rwth-aachen.de:60290