Feedback-Based Learning of Timing in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) frequently display symptoms resembling those of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Importantly, these disorders are characterised by distinct changes in the dopaminergic system, which plays an important role in timing performance and feedback-based adjustments in timing performance. In a transdiagnostic approach, we examine how far NF1 and ADHD show distinct or comparable profiles of timing performance and feedback-based adjustments in timing. Method: We examined time estimation and learning processes in healthy control children (HC), children with ADHD with predominantly inattentive symptoms and those with NF1 using a feedback-based time estimation paradigm. Results: Healthy controls consistently responded closer to the correct time window than both patient groups, were less variable in their reaction times and displayed intact learning-based adjustments across time. The patient groups did not differ from each other regarding the number of in-time responses. In ADHD patients, the performance was rather unstable across time. No performance changes could be observed in patients with NF1 across the entire task. Conclusions: Children with ADHD and NF1 differ in feedback learning-based adjustments of time estimation processes. ADHD is characterised by behavioural fluctuations during the learning process. These are likely to be associated with inefficiencies in the dopaminergic system. NF1 is characterised by impairments of feedback learning which could be due to various neurotransmitter alterations occurring in addition to deficits in dopamine synthesis. Results show that despite the strong overlap in clinical phenotype and neuropsychological deficits between NF1 and ADHD, the underlying cognitive mechanisms are different.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12-21
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society
Volume28
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jan 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33573707
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/146788755
ORCID /0000-0003-3136-3296/work/147673524

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Dopamine, Interval timing, Learning deficits, Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Pacemaker-accumulator model, Reaction time variability, Time estimation