Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2021 Nov;19(4):793-750. 10.9758/cpn.2021.19.4.739.

Comparison of Quantitative Electroencephalography between Tic Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychology, College of Health Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea
  • 2Department of Psychiatry, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Korea
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea

Abstract


Objective
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tic disorder (TD) are among the most common comorbid psychopathologies and have a shared genetic basis. The psychopathological and neurophysiological aspects of the mechanism underlying the comorbidity of both disorders have been investigated, but the pathophysiological aspects remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the neurophysiological characteristics of ADHD with those of TD using resting-state electroencephalography and exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) analysis.
Methods
We performed eLORETA analysis based on the resting-state scalp-recorded electrical potential distribution in 34 children with ADHD and 21 age-matched children with TD. Between-group differences in electroencephalography (EEG) current source density in delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands were investigated in each cortical region.
Results
Compared with the TD group, the ADHD group showed significantly increased theta activity in the frontal region (superior frontal gyrus, t = 3.37, p < 0.05; medial frontal gyrus, t = 3.35, p < 0.05). In contrast, children with TD showed decreased posterior alpha activity than those with ADHD (precuneus, t = −3.40, p < 0.05; posterior cingulate gyrus, t = −3.38, p < 0.05). These findings were only significant when the eyes were closed.
Conclusion
Increased theta activity in the frontal region is a neurophysiological marker that can distinguish ADHD from TD. Also, reduced posterior alpha activity might represent aberrant inhibitory control. Further research needs to confirm these characteristics by simultaneously measuring EEG-functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Keyword

ADHD; Tic disorder; Electroencephalography
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