Is the Continuous Performance Task a Valuable Research Tool for use with Children with Attention‐Deficit‐Hyperactivity Disorder?
Abstract
The Continuous Performance Task (CPT) has become a popular research tool used to distinguish children with Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) from their normal peers. Whether hyperactive children have a vigilance decrement remains an ongoing controversy. The theoretical basis of the CPT and variables known to influence performance are examined in order to interpret the inconsistencies evident in the research. Studies which employed the CPT in order to examine the possibility of sustained attention deficits in children with ADHD will be reviewed. The results are examined in light of group selection criteria, task variables and situational and external variables. It is concluded that there is no compelling evidence for a sustained deficit in ADHD children. An alternative theoretical model for understanding the results of CPT performance in ADHD children is provided.
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Omission errors are linked to attentional lapses, suggesting that long reaction times, the primary cause of reaction time variability, are due to inattention.
“Omission errors occur when a patient does not respond to a target stimulus and has been linked to attentional lapses [56], thus suggesting that long RTs, the primary cause of RTV, are due to inattention.”
From Reaction Time Variability in ADHD: A Review (2012) · cites this paper as [56]
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- Authors
- Corkum, P. V., & Siegel, L. S.
- Corresponding author
- Siegel, Linda S.
- Venue
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1993-10
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1217-1239
- ISSN
- 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7610
- OpenAlex
- W2061766502
- Cited by
- 378
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 1.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Keywords
- continuous performance test, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sustained attention, vigilance decrement, hyperactivity, children, task variables, external factors
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Discrimination Learning, Humans, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time
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