Intra-Subject Variability, Intelligence, and ADHD Traits in a Community-Based Sample

• Published in: Journal of attention disorders Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 67 - 79
• Main Authors: Schulz-Zhecheva, Yoanna, Voelkle, Manuel C., Beauducel, André, Biscaldi, Monica, Klein, Christoph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Child; Humans; Intelligence; Reaction Time; ADHD; intrasubject variability; diffusion model; fluid intelligence; ex-Gaussian model
• ISSN: 1087-0547; 1557-1246; 1557-1246
• DOI: 10.1177/10870547221118523

Objective: The present study investigates the predictive validity of intra-subject variability (ISV) for ADHD traits in a community-based sample and the stability of the relationship between ISV and fluid intelligence (gf) across the continuum of ADHD traits. Method: Age-residualized data from 426 participants (8–18 years, 6% ADHD) was used to investigate whether ex-Gaussian and DDM parameters derived from simple choice-reaction-time tasks can predict continuously assessed ADHD traits. Multiple-Group-Analyses and Latent-Moderated-Structural-Equations were used to test whether ADHD traits moderate the relationship between ISV and gf. Results: σ and μ of the ex-Gaussian model as well as DDM parameters drift rate (v) and boundary separation (a) significantly predicted general ADHD traits, while τ predicted attention difficulties specifically. Across the ADHD continuum, σ and v were significant predictors of gf. Conclusion: The results confirm the link between ISV and ADHD. The relationship between ISV and gf appears stable across the ADHD continuum.