Multiple task interference is greater in children with ADHD

Joshua B. Ewen; Jeffrey S. Moher; Balaji M. Lakshmanan; Matthew Ryan; Priya Xavier; Nathan E. Crone; Martha B. Denckla; Howard Egeth; E. Mark Mahone

doi:10.1080/87565641.2011.632459

Multiple task interference is greater in children with ADHD

Joshua B. Ewen, Jeffrey S. Moher, Balaji M. Lakshmanan, Matthew Ryan, Priya Xavier, Nathan E. Crone, Martha B. Denckla, Howard Egeth, E. Mark Mahone

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is considerable lay discussion that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased difficulty with multitasking, but there are few experimental data. In the current study, we examine the simultaneous processing of two stimulus-response tasks using the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) effect. We hypothesized that children with ADHD would show a greater PRP effect, suggesting a prolonged "bottleneck" in stimulus-response processing. A total of 19 school-aged children with ADHD showed a prolonged PRP effect compared with 25 control children, suggesting a higher cognitive cost in ADHD for multitasking.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	119-133
Number of pages	15
Journal	Developmental Neuropsychology
Volume	37
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/87565641.2011.632459
State	Published - Feb 1 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Developmental and Educational Psychology

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10.1080/87565641.2011.632459

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title = "Multiple task interference is greater in children with ADHD",

abstract = "There is considerable lay discussion that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased difficulty with multitasking, but there are few experimental data. In the current study, we examine the simultaneous processing of two stimulus-response tasks using the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) effect. We hypothesized that children with ADHD would show a greater PRP effect, suggesting a prolonged {"}bottleneck{"} in stimulus-response processing. A total of 19 school-aged children with ADHD showed a prolonged PRP effect compared with 25 control children, suggesting a higher cognitive cost in ADHD for multitasking.",

author = "Ewen, {Joshua B.} and Moher, {Jeffrey S.} and Lakshmanan, {Balaji M.} and Matthew Ryan and Priya Xavier and Crone, {Nathan E.} and Denckla, {Martha B.} and Howard Egeth and Mahone, {E. Mark}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by NIH grants P50HD052121, K12NS001696, and K23NS073626. Correspondence should be addressed to Joshua B. Ewen, M.D., Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205. E-mail: [email protected]",

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AU - Ewen, Joshua B.

AU - Moher, Jeffrey S.

AU - Lakshmanan, Balaji M.

AU - Ryan, Matthew

AU - Xavier, Priya

AU - Crone, Nathan E.

AU - Denckla, Martha B.

AU - Egeth, Howard

AU - Mahone, E. Mark

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by NIH grants P50HD052121, K12NS001696, and K23NS073626. Correspondence should be addressed to Joshua B. Ewen, M.D., Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205. E-mail: [email protected]

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N2 - There is considerable lay discussion that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased difficulty with multitasking, but there are few experimental data. In the current study, we examine the simultaneous processing of two stimulus-response tasks using the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) effect. We hypothesized that children with ADHD would show a greater PRP effect, suggesting a prolonged "bottleneck" in stimulus-response processing. A total of 19 school-aged children with ADHD showed a prolonged PRP effect compared with 25 control children, suggesting a higher cognitive cost in ADHD for multitasking.

AB - There is considerable lay discussion that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased difficulty with multitasking, but there are few experimental data. In the current study, we examine the simultaneous processing of two stimulus-response tasks using the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) effect. We hypothesized that children with ADHD would show a greater PRP effect, suggesting a prolonged "bottleneck" in stimulus-response processing. A total of 19 school-aged children with ADHD showed a prolonged PRP effect compared with 25 control children, suggesting a higher cognitive cost in ADHD for multitasking.

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Multiple task interference is greater in children with ADHD

Abstract

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