Indices of Heart Rate Variability and Performance During a Response-Conflict Task Are Differently Associated With ADHD and Autism

Abstract

We investigated autonomic arousal, attention and response conflict, in ADHD and autism. Heart rate variability (HRV), and behavioral/electrophysiological indices of performance, were recorded during a task with low and high levels of response conflict in 78 children/adolescents (7–15 years old) with ADHD, autism, comorbid ADHD+autism, or neurotypical. ANOVA models were used to investigate effects of ADHD and autism, while a mediation model was tested to clarify the relationship between ADHD and slower performance. Slower and less accurate performance characterized ADHD and autism; however, atypical electrophysiological indices differently characterized these conditions. The relationship between ADHD and slower task performance was mediated by reduced HRV in response to the cue stimulus. Autonomic hypo-arousal and difficulties in mobilizing energetic resources in response to sensory information (associated with ADHD), and atypical electrophysiological indices of information processing (associated with autism), might negatively affect cognitive performance in those with ADHD+autism.

Heart Rate Variability in Schizophrenia and Autism

“…For the few reports in adults, similar reductions are reported ( 35 ), particularly when under social ( 36 ), or sensory stimulation ( 37 ), reflecting impaired emotion regulation ( 38 ), worse inhibitory control ( 39 ), and more symptoms ( 40 ). HRV has also been found to mediate task performance (speed at responding to a cue) and this relationship differs subtly between autism and ADHD suggesting some specificity with diagnosis ( 41 ). However, there is a report of no HRV reduction in adults with autism compared to controls during a public speaking task ( 36 ), while others suggest that HRV may be more suppressed during rest than during a cognitive task ( 42 ), or that situational changes in HRV may be more blunted in autism than in controls ( 43 ).…”

A comparison of visual attention to pictures in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule in children and adolescents with ADHD and/or autism

“…A large proportion of the children recruited to the SAAND study also took part in this eye tracking study. Detailed methods and results from the SAAND study are reported elsewhere ( 24 , 28 , 29 ).…”

“…Children from ASD and ADHD support groups were also informed of the study by the support group convenor. Although many children had prior diagnoses of ASD or ADHD, some children (awaiting assessment) who were deemed high risk by CAMHS of a neurodevelopmental disorder were recruited as long as they met study inclusion criteria for the SAAND study ( 24 , 28 , 29 ). After referral to the research study, a full research diagnostic assessment was undertaken on each clinical case using the measures described in section 2.2 below.…”

Heart Rate Variability in Children and Adolescents with Autism, ADHD and Co-occurring Autism and ADHD, During Passive and Active Experimental Conditions

“…The present paper is focused on measures collected during the EEG battery only, which comprised a 3-min resting-state period, a ‘passive’ auditory oddball task and an ‘active’ response conflict task. A detailed description of the EEG setup, data collection and analyses (not presented in this paper) can be found in Bellato et al ( 2021 ), where we presented the main results from the EEG ‘active’ task.…”