Choice-impulsivity in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A meta-analytic review

Visuospatial working memory underlies choice-impulsivity in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

“…Not surprisingly, measures of overall ADHD, inattention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity were all significantly correlated with choice-impulsivity, which is consistent with a wealth of previous findings of significant between-group differences on experimental measures of impulsivity (Antrop et al, 2006;Marx et al, 2011;Solanto et al, 2001). Nevertheless, the current study's large-magnitude effect size 2 (d = 1.10) is approximately two times larger than the mean effect sizes (d = .46 and .65, respectively) reported in recent meta-analytic reviews (Patros et al, 2014;Patros, Alderson, Hudec, & Kasper, 2012). The direction of the discrepancies between the current study and the previous metaanalytic reviews was surprising since the majority of studies included in the reviews utilized response-limited tasks (i.e., limited by the maximum amount of potential responses), which are typically associated with larger-magnitude effects relative to the current study's task that was time-limited (Sonuga- Barke et al, 1992).…”

Greater delay discounting among girls, but not boys, with ADHD correlates with cognitive control

“…Within the ADHD literature, choice-impulsivity has been measured using a variety of reward-based decision-making paradigms including choice-delay tasks and delay discounting tasks, both of which involve choices between smaller-sooner and larger-later rewards (see meta-analysis by Patros et al, 2016). It is noted that the primary discrepancies between choice-delay and delay discounting tasks are the dependent variables obtained (i.e., cumulative reward vs. indifference point, respectively) and the inclusion of fixed versus variable pre-reinforcement delays.…”

“…It is noted that the primary discrepancies between choice-delay and delay discounting tasks are the dependent variables obtained (i.e., cumulative reward vs. indifference point, respectively) and the inclusion of fixed versus variable pre-reinforcement delays. Nevertheless, across these tasks, children with ADHD generally exhibit a stronger preference for immediate reward (Patros et al, 2016). However, the majority of studies examining choice-impulsivity in children with ADHD have used choice-delay tasks (Patros et al, 2016) limiting our understanding of how children with ADHD perform on delay discounting tasks which tend to be more commonly used in the broader cognitive neuroscience literature and in studies of adult clinical populations (see reviews by Hamilton et al, 2015; Peters & Buchel, 2011).…”

The effects of physical activity on impulsive choice: Influence of sensitivity to reinforcement amount and delay

“…Impulsive choice is a diagnostic feature of ADHD and is a complicating factor in substance use and binge eating disorders (Bickel et al, 2012; Patros et al, 2016). The question remains whether exercise and other forms of physical activity are beneficial in clinical populations, at least in regard to their effects on impulsive choice (the effects of exercise on other features of psychological disorders – such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment – are less equivocal and are clearly beneficial).…”

“…Impulsive choice, operationally defined as choosing a smaller, immediate reinforcer over a larger, delayed reinforcer, is a diagnostic feature of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is a complicating factor in other disorders (e.g., substance use disorder, binge-eating disorder; Bickel et al, 2012; Patros et al, 2016). Impulsive choice is typically examined experimentally using delay-discounting procedures, in which the delay and magnitude of a reinforcer are systemically varied across two alternatives.…”