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

Abstract

Cognitive neuroscience models suggest both reward valuation and cognitive control contribute to reward-based decision-making. The current study examined the relationship between cognitive control and delay discounting (i.e., choosing smaller, immediate over larger, delayed rewards) in a large sample of boys and girls diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; N = 95) and typically developing control children (TD; N = 59). Specifically, we examined performance on multiple measures of cognitive control (i.e., Go/No-Go task, Stop Signal task, and Spatial Span task) and delay discounting (i.e., Classic Delay Discounting and Real-Time Delay Discounting tasks), as well as the relationship between these measures. Results indicated that sex moderated the effects of group on task performance. Specifically, girls with ADHD, but not boys with the disorder, exhibited atypical delay discounting of real-time rewards. Results from correlational analyses indicated that delay discounting and cognitive control were not significantly correlated in the overall sample. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that among girls with ADHD poorer spatial working memory and inhibitory control predicted greater real-time discounting. Collectively, findings provide support for distinct patterns of cognitive control and delay discounting among school-aged girls and boys with ADHD. Additionally, findings suggest that among girls with ADHD, those who exhibit relatively poor working memory and inhibitory control might be a particularly vulnerable subgroup with the greatest propensity to exhibit maladaptive decision-making.

Behavioral and Neuroanatomical Account of Impulsivity in Parkinson's Disease

“…However, PD-ICD patients in these studies had either lower IQ or working memory deficits or were more depressed than non-impulsive patients. All of these factors were previously associated with greater discounting (83)(84)(85)(86). Consistently with our findings, another study (28) reported similar delay discounting comparing PD-ICD and HC.…”

Predicted DRD4 prefrontal gene expression moderates snack intake and stress perception in response to the environment in adolescents

“…Food go/no-go. Guidelines for exclusions as described in Patros et al [37] were followed. No participants needed to be excluded due to the proportion of go trials with RTs <200 ms exceeding .30, or omission error rate exceeding .50 (n = 0), indicating adequate attention during task presentation.…”

Neural Correlates of the Dual-Pathway Model for ADHD in Adolescents

“…Previous behavioral studies have reported that children with ADHD have cognitive and motivational deficits (13,14), both of which independently contribute to ADHD symptoms (15)(16)(17). However, it is still under debate whether the cognitive and motivational deficits are independent from (18,19) or associated with each other (20,21). Recent studies seem to suggest a functional overlap between these two pathways, for example, WM training could also improve DD (22,23).…”