A study on the competitive frequency fluctuation structure of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and normal control children

Objective: To investigate the difference of competitive frequency fluctuation structure between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) children and normal children. Methods: The frequency fluctuation structure, visual test of variables of attention(TOVA) and Conners' behavior scale of 29 ADHD children diagnosed by the DSM Ⅲ R criteria were compared with those of 29 normal controls. Results: The predominant frequency of normal children's alpha synergetic structure was 10 Hz, and ADHD's was 9 Hz, which was slower. The second frequency of the normal was 9 Hz, but ADHD had two second frequencies, which were 10 Hz and 8 Hz. ADHD had significantly less 10 Hz activity than normal controls( P 0.05). The children with less 10 Hz activity had longer response time and more reponse time variation of visual TOVA( r =-0.32～-0.40, P 0.05). The more the 12 Hz and 13 Hz activity ADHD had on temporal region, the higher the anxiety factor scores of Conners' scale they got( r =0.37～0.44, P 0.05). Conclusion: ADHD have inappropriate alpha synergetic structure, and poor brain self organizing ability.