ADHD symptoms and neural correlates of executive functioning in autistic and non-autistic youth
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Erin Kang
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 2:30 PM
Description
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects executive functioning (EF) and working memory (WM; Doyle, 2006), and can be comorbid with autism (Hours et al., 2022). Investigating differences in neurodivergent individuals’ neural processing can inform treatment approaches (Johnstone et al., 2013). Observing event-related potentials (ERPs) enables the analysis of neural correlates of EF; task-switching (SwP), working memory (P3b), and reward processing (RewP). This project aims to elucidate relationships between ERPs and ADHD symptom severity in autistic and non-autistic youth. 63 parents (Mage=12.0, SDage= 2.8, MIQ=109.0, 42.1% Female; 60.3% autistic; 59.1%White) reported their child’s ADHD symptoms (CASI–5; Gadow et al., 2013) and EF (BRIEF-2; Gioia et al., 2015). Youth were administered EF tasks (DKEFS; Delis et al., 2001). Bivariate correlations suggest ADHD symptoms are associated with EF measured by both DKEFS (rs=-.318, ps<0.04) and BRIEF-2 WM (r=.714, p<.001). However, association of ADHD symptoms with neural correlates of EF differed by autism status: SwP (all subtypes of ADHD; rs=-.504, ps<.03) and RewP (combined symptoms only; r=.0376, p=.048) only correlated with ADHD symptoms in non-autistic youth. P3b did not relate to ADHD symptoms. This suggests that ADHD-related set-shifting and reward processing difficulties (cognitive flexibility deficits) reflect in neural activity of non-autistic youth only. These results suggest that neural mechanisms underlying ADHD symptoms differ by autism status, indicating different compensatory strategies, adaptive neurodevelopmental differences, or alternative pathways affecting EF and RewP in autistic individuals (Martinez et al., 2024).
ADHD symptoms and neural correlates of executive functioning in autistic and non-autistic youth
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects executive functioning (EF) and working memory (WM; Doyle, 2006), and can be comorbid with autism (Hours et al., 2022). Investigating differences in neurodivergent individuals’ neural processing can inform treatment approaches (Johnstone et al., 2013). Observing event-related potentials (ERPs) enables the analysis of neural correlates of EF; task-switching (SwP), working memory (P3b), and reward processing (RewP). This project aims to elucidate relationships between ERPs and ADHD symptom severity in autistic and non-autistic youth. 63 parents (Mage=12.0, SDage= 2.8, MIQ=109.0, 42.1% Female; 60.3% autistic; 59.1%White) reported their child’s ADHD symptoms (CASI–5; Gadow et al., 2013) and EF (BRIEF-2; Gioia et al., 2015). Youth were administered EF tasks (DKEFS; Delis et al., 2001). Bivariate correlations suggest ADHD symptoms are associated with EF measured by both DKEFS (rs=-.318, ps<0.04) and BRIEF-2 WM (r=.714, p<.001). However, association of ADHD symptoms with neural correlates of EF differed by autism status: SwP (all subtypes of ADHD; rs=-.504, ps<.03) and RewP (combined symptoms only; r=.0376, p=.048) only correlated with ADHD symptoms in non-autistic youth. P3b did not relate to ADHD symptoms. This suggests that ADHD-related set-shifting and reward processing difficulties (cognitive flexibility deficits) reflect in neural activity of non-autistic youth only. These results suggest that neural mechanisms underlying ADHD symptoms differ by autism status, indicating different compensatory strategies, adaptive neurodevelopmental differences, or alternative pathways affecting EF and RewP in autistic individuals (Martinez et al., 2024).
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.