Longitudinal Stability of Neural Correlates of Pediatric Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study of Event Related Potentials and Electroencephalography.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Stability and developmental effects of electroencephalography (EEG) and event related potential (ERP) correlates of ADHD are understudied. This pilot study examined stability and developmental changes in ERP and EEG metrics of interest. METHODS: Thirty-seven 7 to 11-year-old children with ADHD and 15 typically developing (TD) children completed EEG twice, 11 to 36 months apart. A series of mixed effects linear models were run to examine stability and developmental effects of EEG and ERP metrics. RESULTS: Stability and developmental effects of EEG and ERP correlates of ADHD varied considerably across metrics. P3 amplitude was stable over time and showed diverging developmental trajectories across groups. Developmental differences were apparent in error related ERPs and resting aperiodic exponent. Theta-beta ratio was stable over time among all children. CONCLUSIONS: Developmental trajectories of EEG and ERP correlates of ADHD are candidate diagnostic markers. Replication with larger samples is needed.