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Motor persistence and inhibition in autism and ADHD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2006

E. MARK MAHONE ,
STEPHANIE K. POWELL ,
CHRISTOPHER W. LOFTIS ,
MELISSA C. GOLDBERG ,
MARTHA B. DENCKLA  and
STEWART H. MOSTOFSKY
E. MARK MAHONE
Affiliation:
Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
STEPHANIE K. POWELL
Affiliation:
Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
CHRISTOPHER W. LOFTIS
Affiliation:
Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
MELISSA C. GOLDBERG
Affiliation:
Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
MARTHA B. DENCKLA
Affiliation:
Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
STEWART H. MOSTOFSKY
Affiliation:
Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Abstract

The present study compared performance of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and high functioning autism (HFA) with that of controls on 4 tasks assessing 2 components of motor control: motor response inhibition and motor persistence. A total of 136 children (52 ADHD, 24 HFA, 60 controls) ages 7 to 13 years completed 2 measures of motor inhibition (Conflicting Motor Response and Contralateral Motor Response Tasks) and 2 measures of motor persistence (Lateral Gaze Fixation and NEPSY Statue). After controlling for age, IQ, gender, and basic motor speed, children with ADHD performed significantly more poorly than controls on the Conflicting Motor Response and Contralateral Motor Response Tasks, as well as on Statue. In contrast, children with HFA achieved lower scores than controls only on measures of motor persistence, with no concomitant impairment on either motor inhibition task. These results are consistent with prior research that has demonstrated relatively spared motor inhibition in autism. The findings highlight the utility of brief assessments of motor control in delineating the unique neurobehavioral phenotypes of ADHD and HFA. (JINS, 2006, 12, 622–631.)

Keywords

Neuropsychological testsMotor skillExecutive functionDevelopmental disordersChildDevelopment
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , September 2006 , pp. 622 - 631
Copyright
© 2006 The International Neuropsychological Society

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