Gender differences in attentional blink in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is more prevalent in boys than girls. However, there was a larger proportion of girls displaying inattentive symptoms compared to boys.

AIM: To investigate the gender differences in attentional blink in children with ADHD.

METHOD: A total of 99 children in the ADHD group and 99 children in the typically developing children group were assessed. All children completed a dual-task rapid continuous visual presentation paradigm.

RESULTS

The onset time of attentional blink in girls in the ADHD group was later than that in the typically developing children group (T1-lag1, P = 0.122 vs. P < 0.001), but it was identical between boys in the ADHD group and typically developing children group (T1-lag1, all P < 0.001). Attentional blink duration in girls in the ADHD group was shorter than that in the typically developing children group (T1-lag6, P = 0.084 vs. P = 0.033), but longer in boys in the ADHD group than in the typically developing children group (T1-lag8, P = 0.022 vs. P = 0.356).

CONCLUSION

The mechanism of attentional blink may differ between boys and girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.