Cognitive control under reward and non-reward conditions in children and adolescents with ADHD: an fMRI-study

Introduction and objective: Cognitive deficits in ADHD may be ameliorated by manipulating motivation using reward. We investigated whether reward interacts with cognitive control in ADHD. Methods: We used a go/no-go task where reward was parametrically manipulated: Behaviourally, in a sample of 39 individuals with ADHD and 21 controls and, second, using an event-related, rapid mixed-trial fMRI design in 15 boys with ADHD and 15 controls. Results: Behaviourally, on no-go trials, accuracy was significantly lower for individuals with ADHD than for controls. There were no group x reward interactions. FMRI results showed reduced IFG activation in ADHD on no-go trials. ROI analyses showed increasing activation in left caudate nucleus with reward for controls, but not for boys with ADHD. No interaction between reward and cognitive control was found. Discussion: These findings replicate earlier work on cognitive control deficits and decreased striatal response to reward cues in ADHD. However, we find no interaction between reward and inhibition. Conclusion: These results suggest that deficits in cognitive control remain a prominent feature of ADHD and cannot be (fully) compensated by manipulating motivation.status: publishe