Using Pre-Pulse Inhibition and Electromyography (EMG) for Detecting Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuro-developmental disorders and is characterized by impulsivity, inattention, and motor restlessness behavior symptoms. Despite decades of academic research and intense study, controversies regarding diagnosis and appropriate assessment of this condition still abound. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response is one technique used for detecting various neuropsychiatric disorders. PPI is a gauge of inhibitory function and time-linked information processing when a weak sensory stimulus (the prepulse) inhibits the startle response caused by a sudden intense stimulus. Until now, PPI changes were not validated for ADHD diagnostics. In the current study, we focus on a combination between electromyography (EMG) techniques and a PPI paradigm for early assessment of ADHD among adults with ADHD. Eighty–seven college students participated in the experiment. 42 adults with ADHD (10 hyperactive/impulsive subtype, 18 inattentive subtype, and 14 combined subtype) and 45 healthy controls were administered an eye blink startle PPI paradigm. A significant difference in response to the acoustic startle stimulus was found between the three subgroups and the control group. Furthermore, we found a strong EMG difference between all ADHD subtypes in response to the startle stimulus. These findings open the opportunity for combined EMG and PPI strategy for better characterize sensorimotor gating in ADHD subtypes.