Developmental trajectory of hot and cold executive functions in children with and without attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Background: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a delayed development. Two main cognitive models of ADHD are executive (cold) and motivational (hot) models. In this study, we aimed to compare the development of hot and cold executive functions in children with and without ADHD. Methods and procedures: Forty-six children with ADHD symptoms (56% boys) and forty-four typically developing controls (54% boys), in three age groups of 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 years, were participated in the study. Go/No-Go Task (GNGT), One-Back Test (OBT) and Shifting Attention Test (SAT), Delay Discounting Test (DDT) and Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) were used for assessment. Outcomes and results: Children with ADHD showed lower performance in GNG, OBT, SAT, and BART, but intact performance in DDT. The tasks' performance was significantly different between three age groups in GNG and SAT, but similar in OBT and BART. The interaction effect was significant only for the BART measures. Conclusions and implications: Children with ADHD compared to typically developing children, experience impaired hot and cold executive functions. The cognitive delay was found only in risky decision making as a hot executive function.

Automated summary

This study compared the development of hot and cold executive functions in children with and without ADHD. The results showed that children with ADHD performed worse in several tests, indicating a delayed development of their executive functions. However, their performance in the delay discounting test was similar to typically developing children. The study suggests a delay in the hot executive functions related to decision making in children with ADHD.