This study aims to explore the differences of event-related potential (ERP) between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and normal children, so that these differences provide scientific basis for the diagnosis of ADHD. Eight children were identified to be ADHD group by the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-IV), and the control group also consisted of 8 normal children. Modified visual-continuous performance test (CPT) was used as the experiment paradigm. The experiment included two major conditions, i. e. Go and NoGo. All the 16 subjects participated in the study. A high density EEG acquisition instrument was used to record the EEG signal and processed these EEG data by means of ERP and spectrum analysis. P2-N2 peak-peak value and spectral peak around 11 Hz were analyzed between ADHD subjects and those in the control group, and then statistical tests were applied to these two groups. Results showed that: (1) Under the condition of Go, ADHD group had a significant lower P2-N2 peak-peak value than the values in the control group (P < 0.05); but under the condition of NoGo there was no significant difference in between. (2) Compared with the control group, the ADHD group had significant lower spectral amplitude around 11 Hz under the condition of NoGo (P < 0.05). However, under the condition of Go the difference was insignificant. In conclusion, there is certain cognitive dysfunction in ADHD children. P2-N2 peak-peak value and spectral peak around 11 Hz could be considered as clinical evaluation indexes of ADHD children's cognitive function. These two objective indexes provide an early diagnosis and effective treatment of ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Cognition Disorders ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Electroencephalography ; Evoked Potentials ; Humans