The ADHD Response-Inhibition Deficit as Measured by the Stop Task: Replication with DSM–IV Combined Type, Extension, and Qualification
Abstract
Although response inhibition has been proposed as a core element of child attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the literature is heavily reliant on studies using DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria, older methods of measuring response inhibition, samples of boys, and failing to control thoroughly for comorbid problems--both as diagnoses and as subclinical variation. The present study replicated a deficit in response inhibition in the ADHD combined type (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994) using samples matched on age and sex. The study replicated an effect size of approximately d = .6 in boys with ADHD, and observed an even larger effect size for girls, although the Sex x Group interaction was nonsignificant. Children with ADHD also had problems with response output, shown by variable responding. Excluding comorbid conduct disorder, reading disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder from the sample did not alter the results. Correlations indicated that response inhibition was associated with both attentional problems and reading level. Covarying for reading problems did not eliminate the ADHD group effect, but the association of response inhibition with reading clearly requires further examination. Overall, the study supported the role of response inhibition in the DSM-IV ADHD combined type, but with key qualifications as to degree of specificity in reference both to comorbid problems and other executive functions.
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Reaction time variability correlates with measures of behavioral inattention, and in a minority of studies also with hyperactivity-impulsivity.
“Where relations between RTV and the ADHD symptom domains have been examined, RTV has correlated with measures of behavioral inattention [48,52,53] but has also been found to correlate with hyperactivityimpulsivity in a minority of studies”
From Reaction Time Variability in ADHD: A Review (2012) · cites this paper as [48]
Research on reaction time variability and ADHD symptom domains or subtypes has not convincingly associated reaction time variability with either symptom domain or any specific symptom, although relations with inattention are more consistent.
“Research examining relations between RTV and the ADHD symptom domains or ADHD subtypes has not been convincingly associated with either ADHD symptom domain or any specific ADHD symptoms, although relations between RTV and inattention seem to be more consistent in the literature [48,52,53].”
From Reaction Time Variability in ADHD: A Review (2012) · cites this paper as [48]
The commonality between motor response selection and response inhibition is reflected in executive deficits associated with ADHD, where impairments in both motor response inhibition and motor response selection/execution are observed.
“The commonality between motor response selection and response inhibition is further reflected in the executive deficits associated with ADHD, where impairments in both motor response inhibition (Aron & Poldrack, 2005; Barkley, 1997; Nigg, 1999) and motor response selection/execution (Banaschewski et al., 2004; Ben-Pazi et al., 2003; Rubia et al., 2003) are observed.”
From Meta-analysis of Go/No-go tasks demonstrating that fMRI activation associated with response inhibition is task-dependent (2008) · cites this paper as Nigg, 1999
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- Authors
- Nigg, J. T.
- Affiliations
- Michigan State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Nigg, Joel T.
- ORCID
- Nigg, Joel T.
- Venue
- Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Published
- 1999-10
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 393-402
- ISSN
- 0091-0627 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-2835
- OpenAlex
- W243090151
- Cited by
- 249
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 4.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Eli Lilly and Company
- Michigan State University
- National Institutes of Health (1r03mh057244-01)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R03-MH57244)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, response inhibition, stop-signal task, replication, comorbidities, executive function, sex differences, reading level, attention deficits, children
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Female, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Male, Models, Psychological, Reaction Time, Regression Analysis, Single-Blind Method
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