Can auditory warning signals normalize eye movements in children with ADHD?

We examined 71 children, of which 1/3 had a diagnosis of ADHD, using both dimensional analyses and group comparisons. Previously reported findings of reduced saccadic latency and increased latency variability were replicated. Importantly, saccadic latency was normalized by auditory warning signals. Analyses of pupil dilation, a physiological index of arousal and locus coeruleus-noradrenergic activity, confirmed that warning signals led to enhanced arousal. Our findings are novel and contribute to our understanding of arousal and attention in ADHD and have implications for treatment and interventions.

http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00787-020-01484-w

Source: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - January 31, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research