Deficient interference control during working memory updating in adults with ADHD: An event-related potential study

- We investigate neurophysiological correlates (ERPs) of interference control and load effects on working memory updating in adults with ADHD.
- Stimulus contingent N200 modulations are absent in adults with ADHD: High interfering lures and simple non-targets elicit comparable N200 waveforms in ADHD subjects.
- Results indicate inadequate stimulus discrimination, deficient interference control in WM and most probably inefficient allocation of attentional resources in adults with ADHD.

ObjectiveLittle is known about the underlying mechanisms of poor working memory (WM) performance of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study investigates interference and load effects during WM updating by use of event-related potentials.MethodForty ADHD patients and 41 controls performed verbal n-back tasks under conditions of low and high WM load. Intrusion probes, i.e., lures, were implemented to challenge interference control abilities during WM processing.ResultsStimulus-dependent N200 amplitude modulation and behavioral performance in lure trials were reduced in adults with ADHD compared to healthy controls. Also, P300 amplitudes tended to be less sensitive to WM load in patients with ADHD.ConclusionOur findings provide electrophysiological evidence for inaccurate discrimination of stimulus categories. Particularly, deficient interference control may lead to overt WM deficits in adult subjects with ADHD.SignificanceThe current findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the neural substrates of executive dysfunction in adult ADHD, focusing on the domain of WM.