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Indices of heart rate variability and performance during a response-conflict task are differently associated with ADHD and autism

Bellato, Alessio; Arora, Iti; Kochhar, Puja; Hollis, Chris; Groom, Madeleine J.

Indices of heart rate variability and performance during a response-conflict task are differently associated with ADHD and autism Thumbnail


Authors

Alessio Bellato

Iti Arora

Puja Kochhar

CHRIS HOLLIS chris.hollis@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Digital Mental Health

Dr MADDIE GROOM maddie.groom@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Neurodevelopmental Conditions



Abstract

Objective. We investigated autonomic arousal, attention and response conflict, in ADHD and autism.

Method. Heart rate variability (HRV), and behavioural and electrophysiological indices of performance, were recorded during a task with low and high levels of response conflict in 78 children/adolescents (7-15 years old) with ADHD, autism, comorbid ADHD+autism, or neurotypical. ANOVA models were used to investigate effects of ADHD and autism, while a mediation model was tested to clarify the relationship between ADHD and slower performance.

Results. Slower and less accurate performance characterised ADHD and autism; however, atypical electrophysiological indices differently characterised these conditions. The relationship between ADHD and slower task performance was mediated by reduced HRV in response to the cue stimulus.

Conclusions. Autonomic hypo-arousal and difficulties in mobilising energetic resources in response to sensory information (associated with ADHD), and atypical electrophysiological indices of information processing (associated with autism), might negatively affect cognitive performance in those with ADHD+autism.

Citation

Bellato, A., Arora, I., Kochhar, P., Hollis, C., & Groom, M. J. (2002). Indices of heart rate variability and performance during a response-conflict task are differently associated with ADHD and autism. Journal of Attention Disorders, 26(3), 434-446. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054720972793

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 10, 2020
Online Publication Date Feb 4, 2021
Publication Date 2002-02
Deposit Date Nov 9, 2020
Publicly Available Date Nov 9, 2020
Journal Journal of Attention Disorders
Print ISSN 1087-0547
Electronic ISSN 1557-1246
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 26
Issue 3
Pages 434-446
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054720972793
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5030712
Publisher URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1087054720972793

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