Researchers working to curb impulsivity in children with ADHD

Central Michigan University researchers are one step closer to helping children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder improve their self-control.

ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed chronic psychiatric conditions in today's school-aged children and is based on such behavioral criteria as mpulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention and learning disabilities.

CMU associate professor of psychology Mark Reilly, along with experimental psychology graduate students Andrew Fox and Dennis Hand, recently published a study that investigated impulsivity in two strains of rat. The spontaneously hypertensive rat has been proposed as a rodent model of ADHD because the rats have behavioral characteristics similar to those seen in humans diagnosed with ADHD. In the study, the impulsivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats was compared to their parent strain without hypertension, Wistar-Kyoto rats, using a self-control choice task that was originally developed in humans.

The study concluded that the spontaneously hypertensive rats were more impulsive than the Wistar-Kyoto rats by demonstrating greater preference for smaller, immediate food rewards over larger, delayed ones. The results suggest that, like humans, the spontaneously hypertensive rats are hypersensitive to delayed consequences; they do not wait for better outcomes.

"A good animal model of impulsivity will lead to a better understanding of ADHD," said Reilly. "This experiment is a more directed look at impulsivity. We are investigating the behavioral characteristics of the spontaneously hypertensive rats in order to assist in developing pharmacological and behavioral therapies to be used in the treatment of ADHD."

Reilly's research strengthens the validity of the spontaneously hypertensive rat as a model of ADHD. The procedure used in this study may lend itself well to testing the effects of next generation ADHD drugs and commonly prescribed psychomotor stimulants such as methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Women with PCOS and obesity have smaller babies, study finds