Altered oscillatory activity pattern during reconfiguration processes of perception-action representations in adolescents with AD(H)D.

Deficiencies in cognitive control have been commonly associated with AD(H)D. Yet, perception-action integration, one of the fundamental components of cognition and central to goal-directed behavior, and its underlying neurophysiological mechanisms have received little attention in AD(H)D research. An investigation of these mechanisms might help to aim for a more comprehensive understanding of neuropsychological models of the disorder, and by that help to provide insights into how cognitive control and executive functioning deficits may arise in AD(H)D. In the current study, we therefore examined both behavioral performance and oscillatory activity of perception-action integration processes in children and adolescents (9-17 years of age) with AD(H)D (n = 30) compared to a neurotypical control group (n = 38) using a simplified version of an established event-file paradigm. Overall, study results suggest that individuals with AD(H)D experience greater difficulties in the reconfiguration process of updating earlier established perception-action representations. Behaviorally, this was indicated not only by the poorer general performance of the AD(H)D group but especially in binding incompatible trials, namely trials requiring reconfiguration processes. Neurophysiological data indicate that behavioral deficits in AD(H)D likely develop due to a reduced ability to modulate alpha-band activity when updating existing perception-action representations, with no significant alpha-band modulated differences across task demands, rather than due to impairments in theta band modulation. By this, the study highlights the importance of modulating both theta and alpha band activity for the successful management of perception-action representations, and further supports the assumption that AD(H)D might reflect a disorder of deficient alpha band modulation.