LE3 .A278 2003

2003

Brodeur, Darlene

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Clinical Psychology

Psychology

The present study was designed to investigate inhibitory and state regulatory deficits in groups with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, in both attended and unattended task conditions. The study included 24 children with ADHD, 19 clinical-control children (Clinic Referred, No ADHD), and 50 children with typical attention abilities. All children completed the "Go-No-Go" task, a computer-based task of attention and impulsivity. Focused attention was manipulated using a priming arrow, and reaction time and accuracy served as dependent variables. Results of the study indicated that children with ADHD and children in the clinical control group performed more poorly than children in the normative control group, and younger children performed more poorly than older children. Results failed to support the assertion that State Regulation is a unique deficit in children with ADHD, although failure to improve on the Go-No-Go task with age was found to be unique to this sample. Evidence was also found to suggest that children with attention difficulties and young children have difficulty with visual orienting skills. Implications of study results were examined, and possible areas for future research discussed.

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