Event related potentials study of aberrations in voice control mechanisms in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

•Impulsiveness is considered as a key characteristic of persons with ADHD.•Aberrant brain activity associated with impulsivity is manifested in motor control-related bioelectrical brain responses.•Bioelectrical responses primarily reflecting involuntary motor vocal control reflexes have shorter latencies in adults with ADHD.

ObjectiveThe present study was designed to test for neural signs of impulsivity related to voice motor control in young adults with ADHD using EEG recordings in a voice pitch perturbation paradigm.MethodsTwo age-matched groups of young adults were presented with brief pitch shifts of auditory feedback during vocalization. Compensatory behavioral and corresponding bioelectrical brain responses were elicited by the pitch-shifted voice feedback.ResultsThe analysis of bioelectrical responses showed that the ADHD group had shorter peak latency and onset time of motor-related bioelectrical brain responses as compared to the controls.ConclusionsThese results were interpreted to suggest differences in executive functions between ADHD and control participants.SignificanceWe hypothesize that more rapid motor-related bioelectrical responses found in the present study may be a manifestation of impulsiveness in adults with ADHD at the involuntary level of voice control.