Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Dec 9:8:976.
doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00976. eCollection 2014.

Children with low working memory and children with ADHD: same or different?

Joni Holmes  1 , Kerry A Hilton  2 , Maurice Place  3 , Tracy P Alloway  4 , Julian G Elliott  5 , Susan E Gathercole  1
Affiliations

Children with low working memory and children with ADHD: same or different?

Joni Holmes et al. Front Hum Neurosci. .

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare working memory (WM), executive function, academic ability, and problem classroom behaviors in children aged 8-11 years who were either identified via routine screening as having low WM, or had been diagnosed with ADHD. Standardized assessments of WM, executive function and reading and mathematics were administered to 83 children with ADHD, 50 children with low WM and 50 typically developing children. Teachers rated problem behaviors on checklists measuring attention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, oppositional behavior, and difficulties associated with executive function in the classroom. The ADHD and low WM groups had highly similar WM and executive function profiles, but were distinguished in two key respects: children with ADHD had higher levels of rated and observed impulsive behavior, and children with low WM had slower response times. Possible mechanisms for these common and distinct deficits are discussed.

Keywords: ADHD; developmental disorders; executive function; intervention; working memory.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Alderson R. M., Rapport M. D., Hudec K. L., Sarver D. E., Kofler M. J. (2010). Competing core processes in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): do working memory deficiencies underlie behavioral inhibition deficits? J. Abnorm. Child Psychol. 38, 497–507. 10.1007/s10802-010-9387-0 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Alloway T. P. (2007). Automated Working Memory Assessment. London, UK: Pearson Assessment.
    1. Alloway T. P., Alloway R. G. (2010). Investigating the predictive roles of working memory and IQ in academic attainment. J. Exp. Child Psychol. 106, 20–29. 10.1016/j.jecp.2009.11.003 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Alloway T. P., Gathercole S. E., Kirkwood H., Elliott J. (2009). The cognitive and behavioral characteristics of children with low working memory. Child Dev. 80, 606–621. 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01282.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Alloway T. P., Gathercole S. E., Pickering S. J. (2006). Verbal and visuo-spatial short-term and working memory in children: are they separable? Child Dev. 77, 1698–1716. 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2006.00968.x - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources