ADHD and Spatial Attention in Children (2542)

Objective: To characterize and quantify the spatial bias of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) into specific components of “Aiming” and “Where” biases. Background: Asymmetric spatial bias in ADHD has been described in the literature, however sparingly, with inconsistent findings, and only in near space. Research in other populations demonstrated that spatial bias can be fractionated into “aiming” (motor-intentional) and “where” (perceptual-attentional) components, measurable when participants bisect lines in a direct manner and then in a “reversed” condition that reverses motor movement directions. Design/Methods: Sixteen children (10 with ADHD/ 6 neurotypical; age range 8–13 years old and average age 10.6 years) completed 64 computerized line bisection trials in near and far space in both direct and reversed conditions. Deviation from center was measured. Motor-intentional and perceptual-attentional bias components were then derived. Results: The ADHD group exhibited a leftward deviation in both the near-direct condition (mean: −5.10 mm, 95% CI: −7.98 to −2.22) and far-direct condition (mean: −2.78 mm, 95% CI: −5.50 to −0.03), while the neurotypical controls did not have deviations which excluded a zero bias in the near-direct condition (near- mean: −2.95 mm, 95% CI: −7.21 to 1.31; far-mean: −0.82 mm, 95% CI: −3.03 to 1.39). “Aiming” and “Where” components did not exclude zero biases in any conditions for either group. The groups were not significantly different for any condition or bias component. Conclusions: This is the first study to quantity near and far spatial bias in children with ADHD and to explore the components of this bias. Our findings suggest that children with ADHD have a consistent leftward near and also far spatial bias. Owing to large confidence intervals, bias components did not exclude a bias of zero. At this point, differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance. Further research with larger sample sizes will help to further clarify the findings. Disclosure: Dr. Barbayannis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ming has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for No compensation received, but serve as editor for Journal of Pediatric Neurology. Dr. Barrett has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with emedicine/WebMD. Dr. Barrett has received research support from Dart Neuroscience and Brightcloud International funded research projects she led through the Kessler Foundation.. Dr. Johnson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silverstein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kornitzer has nothing to disclose.