Maik Pertermann1, Annet Bluschke1, Veit Roessner1, Christian Beste2. 1. Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. 2. Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: christian.beste@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Various lines of research suggest that the stability of neural processes is low in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Considering overarching neural principles, this lack of stability relates to increased levels of neural noise. However, no study has directly examined neural noise in ADHD. Likewise, it is unknown whether the modulation of neural noise reflects a mechanistic link as to why methylphenidate (MPH) is effective in treating impulsivity in ADHD. METHODS: We compared neural noise between 29 juvenile patients with ADHD and 32 healthy control subjects and examined the effects of MPH. We examined 1/f neural noise of electroencephalogram data collected while participants performed a response inhibition (Go/NoGo) task. RESULTS: Specific during NoGo trials, children with ADHD showed more neural noise than healthy control subjects. This was especially the case with regard to the theta frequency band, which is very closely related to cognitive control. MPH treatment reduced neural noise in ADHD to the level of healthy control subjects. Correlational analyses showed a direct relationship between decreases in neural noise and increases in behavioral performance. Mechanistically, this can be explained by the MPH-induced increase in dopaminergic neurotransmission that enhances the signal-to-noise ratio in neural networks and thus reduces neural noise. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate increased (pink) neural noise in patients with ADHD and its reduction through MPH treatment. The study reveals an important mechanistic link as to why MPH is effective in treating impulsivity in ADHD.
BACKGROUND: Various lines of research suggest that the stability of neural processes is low in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Considering overarching neural principles, this lack of stability relates to increased levels of neural noise. However, no study has directly examined neural noise in ADHD. Likewise, it is unknown whether the modulation of neural noise reflects a mechanistic link as to why methylphenidate (MPH) is effective in treating impulsivity in ADHD. METHODS: We compared neural noise between 29 juvenile patients with ADHD and 32 healthy control subjects and examined the effects of MPH. We examined 1/f neural noise of electroencephalogram data collected while participants performed a response inhibition (Go/NoGo) task. RESULTS: Specific during NoGo trials, children with ADHD showed more neural noise than healthy control subjects. This was especially the case with regard to the theta frequency band, which is very closely related to cognitive control. MPH treatment reduced neural noise in ADHD to the level of healthy control subjects. Correlational analyses showed a direct relationship between decreases in neural noise and increases in behavioral performance. Mechanistically, this can be explained by the MPH-induced increase in dopaminergic neurotransmission that enhances the signal-to-noise ratio in neural networks and thus reduces neural noise. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate increased (pink) neural noise in patients with ADHD and its reduction through MPH treatment. The study reveals an important mechanistic link as to why MPH is effective in treating impulsivity in ADHD.
Authors: Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky; Isabella Sharrad; Caitlin A Howlett; Phillip M Alday; Andrew W Corcoran; Valeria Bellan; Erica Wilkinson; Reinhold Kliegl; Richard L Lewis; Steven L Small; Matthias Schlesewsky Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-08-26
Authors: Elena Eggert; Annet Bluschke; Adam Takacs; Maximilian Kleimaker; Alexander Münchau; Veit Roessner; Moritz Mückschel; Christian Beste Journal: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol Date: 2021-07-23 Impact factor: 5.176
Authors: Annet Bluschke; Nicolas Zink; Moritz Mückschel; Veit Roessner; Christian Beste Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2020-05-14 Impact factor: 4.785