Abstract
Despite growing interest in conceptualizing ADHD as involving disrupted emotion regulation, few studies have examined the
physiological mechanisms related to emotion regulation in children with this disorder. This study examined parasympathetic
and sympathetic nervous system reactivity via measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and cardiac pre-ejection period
(PEP) in children with ADHD (n = 32) and typically developing controls (n = 34), using a novel emotion task with four conditions: negative induction, negative suppression, positive induction, and
positive suppression of affect. Both groups showed strong task-response effects in RSA. However, typically developing children
showed systematic variation in parasympathetic activity (RSA) depending on both emotion valence (more activation for negative
emotion, reduced activation for positive emotion) and task demand (more activation for suppression than induction). In contrast,
children with ADHD displayed a stable pattern of elevated parasympathetic activity (RSA) across all task conditions compared
to baseline. No group differences in sympathetic activity (PEP) were observed. It is concluded ADHD in childhood is associated
with abnormal parasympathetic mechanisms involved in emotion regulation.
physiological mechanisms related to emotion regulation in children with this disorder. This study examined parasympathetic
and sympathetic nervous system reactivity via measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and cardiac pre-ejection period
(PEP) in children with ADHD (n = 32) and typically developing controls (n = 34), using a novel emotion task with four conditions: negative induction, negative suppression, positive induction, and
positive suppression of affect. Both groups showed strong task-response effects in RSA. However, typically developing children
showed systematic variation in parasympathetic activity (RSA) depending on both emotion valence (more activation for negative
emotion, reduced activation for positive emotion) and task demand (more activation for suppression than induction). In contrast,
children with ADHD displayed a stable pattern of elevated parasympathetic activity (RSA) across all task conditions compared
to baseline. No group differences in sympathetic activity (PEP) were observed. It is concluded ADHD in childhood is associated
with abnormal parasympathetic mechanisms involved in emotion regulation.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-011-9499-1
- Authors
- Erica D. Musser, Psychology Department, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
- Richard W. Backs, Psychology Department, Central Michigan University, 1200 North Franklin Street, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
- Colleen F. Schmitt, Psychology Department, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Jennifer C. Ablow, Psychology Department, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
- Jeffery R. Measelle, Psychology Department, University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
- Joel T. Nigg, Psychology Department, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627