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Development Neurocognition Disorders

Themes and actions

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults


  Contact person
Nathalie BEDOIN , Agathe MARCASTEL

Scientific framework and objectives

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopment disorder that affects 5-10% of school aged children. It is characterized by impulsivity, distractibility and hyperactivity. If hyperactivity disappears with age, the two other symptoms remain obstacles to personal development, social and professional life. We have created and standardized new experiments (visual and auditory) using behavioural data and Event Related Potentials (ERPs), to evaluate the impulsivity and distractibility of ADHD adults. A remediation program, based on computerized verbal exercises, then aims at reducing their attention disorders.

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ADHD is underestimated in adulthood while troubles remain frequent after adolescence. However, at that time, medication in terms of psychostimulants is often stopped.
We have created new neuropsychological tests to assess the nature of the underlying attentional deficits in particular regarding response inhibition (impulsivity), distractor inhibition (distractibility) and maintaining attention (sustained attention). An innovative feature of these tests is to propose auditory and visual modes of evaluation. This is of strong demand by physicians dealing with ADHD, strokes (which often imply visual deficits) or even psychiatric disorders. We also conduct ERP experiments with auditory Go/Nogo paradigm and dichotic listening paradigm to have a better understanding of neural supports of inhibition and their impairments in ADHD. They reveal that the ERP component of proactive inhibition (anticipated and goal-driven) ‒ N2 wave ‒ was often missing in our ADHD participants, sometimes to the benefit of the P3 wave (late interruption).
We have created a set of computerized tests based on speech perception (phonological and semantic analyses). In a sample of ADHD participants, training based on those exercises improved attentional performance, and the ERP correlates of response inhibition became more typical (appearance of N2/P3 couple), encouraging to continue on this path. The attentional tests and the remediation program are also tested on patients with traumatic brain injury and provide promising results.


  Financial support
  • Allocation doctorale ED Neurosciences et Cognition

    Minsitère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche
  • Labex ASLAN
    Impulsivity control in adults with ADHD
    Labex ASLAN - Université de Lyon
    2014

  Publications
  • Marcastel, A., Bedoin, N., Chastain-Neuschwander, V., Neuschwander, P., 2014, "Entraînement de l’inhibition de réponse chez des adultes TDAH : étude en potentiels évoqués", Journée d’Hiver de la Société de Neuropsychologie de Langue Française, Paris, 05 décembre 2014
  • Marcastel, A., Bedoin, N., 2016, "Diagnostiquer le TDAH chez les adultes : apports de l'électrophysiologie", Neurologies, 19:188, pp. 180-185
  • Marcastel, A., Bedoin, N., 2016, "Adultes TDAH : évaluation de l’impulsivité et de la distractibilité", Les Cahiers Pédagogiques, 525

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