Ex-Gaussian, Frequency and Reward Analyses Reveal Specificity of Reaction Time Fluctuations to ADHD and Not Autism Traits

Nicoletta Adamo, John Hodsoll, Philip Asherson, Jan K Buitelaar, Jonna Kuntsi, Nicoletta Adamo, John Hodsoll, Philip Asherson, Jan K Buitelaar, Jonna Kuntsi

Abstract

Both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been linked to increased reaction time variability (RTV), a marker of attentional fluctuation. Here we test whether specificity to either trait emerges when we examine (1) detailed ex-Gaussian and frequency RTV subcomponents, (2) effects while controlling for the other trait and (3) improvement in the RTV measures following rewards or a faster event rate. 1110 children aged 7-10 years from a population-based sample completed a Go/No-Go task under three conditions (slow, fast and incentives). We measured RTV with standard deviation of RT (SDRT), ex-Gaussian distribution measures (Sigma and Tau), RT fluctuations in cycles of ~14-90 s in all conditions (Slow-4 and Slow-5), and RT fluctuations in cycles of 2-14 s in the fast condition (Slow-2 and Slow-3). Parent-rated ADHD and ASD traits were obtained. All refined RTV components were linked to ADHD traits only and not to ASD traits, while Sigma did not relate to either trait. Although both ADHD and ASD social-communication traits were associated with SDRT, the association with social-communication impairments disappeared when controlling for ADHD traits. A reward-induced improvement in RTV measures, indicating malleability, emerged in relation to ADHD traits but not ASD traits. Under closer inspection, specificity emerges of high RTV to ADHD traits. For the clinician, our findings indicate that attentional fluctuation in children with high ASD traits may be due to co-occurring ADHD traits and emphasise how the effectiveness of rewards does not generalise from ADHD to ASD traits.

Keywords: ADHD; Autism; Reaction-time variability; Reward sensitivity.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

PA has received honoraria paid to King’s College London research and educational support funds for consultancy, speaking at sponsored events, educational support or research for Shire, Eli-Lilly, Novartis, Jannssen, Vifor Pharma, GW Pharma and QbTech. JKB has been consultant to/member of advisory board of and/ or speaker for Janssen Cilag BV, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myer Squibb, Shering Plough, UCB, Shire, Novartis and Servier; he is not an employee of any of these companies, nor a stock shareholder of any of these companies; he has no other financial or material support, including expert testimony, patents, and royalties. NA, JH and JK report no biomedical financial interests.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

The parents of all participating children provided informed consent.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean (SE) of the standard deviation of reaction time (SDRT), Sigma, Tau, Slow-5 and Slow-4 RT fluctuations in slow, fast and incentive conditions
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Relationship of the ex-Gaussian Tau with ASD and ADHD traits in slow, fast and incentive conditions. Means and 95% CIs are based on estimated marginal means of Tau as a function of mean centered ADHD and ASD traits, corrected for age and sex

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