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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the Brain

Evidence From Electrophysiological Studies

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

This chapter examines the electrophysiological correlates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. As a growing number of children are diagnosed with this disorder, researchers are increasingly interested in ADHD and the cognitive processes of affected children. According to Schroeder and Gordon (1), ADHD is the most frequently diagnosed childhood disorder, with a prevalence of 3–7% among school-aged children (2). Although ADHD affects adults as well, this chapter focuses on the occurrence of this disorder in children. The sections below present brief diagnostic criteria of ADHD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) (2), provide an explanation of the diagnostic subtypes of the disorder, highlight comorbidity and subtype issues relating to event-related potentials (ERPs), examine electrophysiological findings regarding attention in children with the disorder, and investigate electrophysiological correlates of the disorder in relation to drug interventions. (For additional in-depth reviews of ADHD and ERPs, see refs. 3 and 4).

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Fonaryova Key, A.P., Ferguson, M., Molfese, D.L. (2005). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the Brain. In: Gozal, D., Molfese, D.L. (eds) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Contemporary Clinical Neuroscience. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-891-9:359

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-891-9:359

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-312-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-891-5

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