Association of inattention with slow-spindle density in sleep EEG of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

Yoshihiko Saito; Yoshimi Kaga; Eiji Nakagawa; Mariko Okubo; Kosuke Kohashi; Mikimasa Omori; Ayako Fukuda; Masumi Inagaki

doi:10.1016/j.braindev.2019.05.004

Association of inattention with slow-spindle density in sleep EEG of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

Brain Dev. 2019 Oct;41(9):751-759. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2019.05.004. Epub 2019 Jun 14.

Authors

Yoshihiko Saito¹, Yoshimi Kaga², Eiji Nakagawa³, Mariko Okubo¹, Kosuke Kohashi¹, Mikimasa Omori⁴, Ayako Fukuda⁴, Masumi Inagaki⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, NCNP of National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-machi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan.
² Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, NCNP of National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-machi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan. Electronic address: yoshi3st@ncnp.go.jp.
³ Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, NCNP of National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-machi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan; Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, NCNP of National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-machi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan.
⁴ Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, NCNP of National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-machi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan.

PMID: 31204192
DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2019.05.004

Abstract

Objective: We evaluated the power of slow sleep spindles during sleep stage 2 to clarify their relationship with executive function, especially with attention, in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: Subjects were 21 children with ADHD and 18 aged-matched, typically developing children (TDC). ADHD subjects were divided into groups of only ADHD and ADHD + autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We employed the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) to measure attention. We focused on sleep spindle frequencies (12-14 Hz) in sleep stage 2 and performed a power spectral analysis using fast Fourier transform techniques and compared sleep spindles with the variability of reaction time in CPT.

Results: In the CPT, reaction variabilities in ADHD and ADHD + ASD significantly differed from those in TDC. Twelve-hertz spindles were mainly distributed in the frontal pole and frontal area and 14-Hz spindles in the central area. The ratio of 12-Hz frontal spindle power was higher in ADHD than in TDC, especially in ADHD + ASD. Significant correlation between the ratio of 12-Hz spindles and reaction time variability was observed.

Conclusions: Twelve-hertz frontal spindle EEG activity may have positive associations with sustained attention function. Slow frontal spindles may be useful as a biomarker of inattention in children with ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; Electroencephalogram; Fast spindle; Inattention; Power spectrum.

MeSH terms

Attention / physiology
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / complications
Autism Spectrum Disorder / diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology
Brain / physiopathology*
Child
Electroencephalography*
Executive Function / physiology
Female
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Sleep / physiology*