The discriminate value of event-related potentials in executive function of ADHD and comorbidity of ADHD and ASD

Chuanxue Tan; Huimin Zhou; Miao Yang; Chunyang Li; Huanli Chen; Li He; Ting Yang; Jie Chen; Jie Zhang; Tingyu Li

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-94156-1

Scientific Reports (Mar 2025)

The discriminate value of event-related potentials in executive function of ADHD and comorbidity of ADHD and ASD

Chuanxue Tan,
Huimin Zhou,
Miao Yang,
Chunyang Li,
Huanli Chen,
Li He,
Ting Yang,
Jie Chen,
Jie Zhang,
Tingyu Li

Affiliations

Chuanxue Tan: Children’S Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’S Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders
Huimin Zhou: Department of Child Health Care, The Children’S Hospital Affiliated of Xi ’an Jiaotong University
Miao Yang: Department of Child Health Care, The Children’S Hospital Affiliated of Xi ’an Jiaotong University
Chunyang Li: Department of Child Health Care, The Children’S Hospital Affiliated of Xi ’an Jiaotong University
Huanli Chen: Department of Child Health Care, The Children’S Hospital Affiliated of Xi ’an Jiaotong University
Li He: Department of Child Health Care, The Children’S Hospital Affiliated of Xi ’an Jiaotong University
Ting Yang: Children’S Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’S Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders
Jie Chen: Children’S Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’S Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders
Jie Zhang: Department of Child Health Care, The Children’S Hospital Affiliated of Xi ’an Jiaotong University
Tingyu Li: Children’S Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’S Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94156-1
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Purpose The study aimed to assess the value of event-related potentials (ERP) of executive functions in distinguishing between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD combined with autism spectrum disorder (ADHD&ASD). Methods This retrospective analysis included 204 participants divided into three groups: ADHD&ASD (64/204), ADHD (70/204), and typical development (TD) (70/204). Neuropsychological tests, including the Digit Span Test, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), Trail Making Test at its Chinese equivalent version, the Shape Trail Test (STT), and the Stroop Color Word Interference Test, were compared across groups. ERP measures, such as latency and amplitude at the frontal zone (Fz), central zone (Cz), and parietal zone (Pz), along with reaction times and target stimulus hits using an oddball paradigm, were analyzed. Post-hoc analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves identified key indicators for distinguishing ADHD from ADHD&ASD. Results Significant differences were found in ERP and BRIEF indicators (P < 0.001), as well as selected TMT and Stroop parameters (P < 0.05) across the groups. The ADHD&ASD group exhibited notably higher Fz, Cz, and Pz latencies, interference times, and reaction times compared to the ADHD group (P < 0.05). With the exception of word meaning interference time, the area under ROC curves (AUC) of the remaining five indicators exceeds 0.8. Particularly noteworthy is the combined ROC curve of Fz latency and average reaction time, which demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of 88.68%, 97.14%, and 0.938 (95%CI: 0.885–0.990, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion ERP measurements using oddball paradigms hold strong potential for distinguishing ADHD from ADHD&ASD, enabling the development of more targeted treatment approaches through precise neurophysiological markers.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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