ADHD and the brain clock: Rhythm as a diagnostic marker?

Yet another study (n=11; a pilot study so generalization is limited) implicating the IQ brain clock (mental time-keeping) and a clinical disorder---ADHD. The possible role of the brain clock and dopamine and ADHD is nothing new and has been reported previously at this blog (click here, here, and here.)

This study found that adults with ADHD lose their ability to keep rhythm (maintaining a tapping beat) when the tempo is varied. This pilot study suggest that the "effective span of rhythmic feel" is apparently contracted (narrower) in ADHD adults when compared to normals.

Might this not suggest that a sensitive metronome-based measurement technology (e.g., the measurement component of Interactive Metronome - conflict of interest disclosure---I'm on the scientific advisory board for IM), that can carefully calibrate the ability to maintain the "feel" for varying tempo's/rhythms mights serve as a diagnostic marker for possible ADHD?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm....interesting idea.

However....caution is in order. This is a small pilot study and only with adults. Generalization to a larger population and children and adolescents is not possible. Also....ADHD is a complex diagnosis that cannot be reduced to a single test, sign, marker, etc.

I'm excited as a researcher...as this continues to point towards the importance of the IQ Brain Clock


Technorati Tags: psycholgoy, education, educational psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology, special education, LD, brain clock, dopamine, rhythm, tempo

IQ Brain Clock brain localization overview

I previously blogged about a special issue of Acta Neurobiologiae devoted to the minds brain clock. I provided a TOC and links to the papers. I just now skimmed one of the papers by Rubia & Smith (2004):

RUBIA K. and SMITH A. The neural correlates of cognitive time management: a review 

My conclusion is that this is an excellent overview of the basic empirical research and theoretical literature regarding mental time-keeping (i.e., the IQ Brain Clock). It also provides a nice summary of the general consensus re: the major areas of the brain believed to be involved in motor and cognitive timing, areas featured in prior posts here. Below is a copy of the first concluding paragraph...where I've added tag links to all prior IQ Brain Clock posts that refer to these brain areas or concepts. I will shortly add Rubia to the mental timing scholars blogroll and this article to the key research articles section of this blog.

• In conclusion, this review on the neural correlates of cognitive time management shows that predominantly right hemispheric dorsolateral and inferior prefrontal cortices, anterior cingulate, the SMA, the basal ganglia and the lateral cerebellar hemispheres appear to be involved in both functions of motor timing and time estimation. Furthermore, the review shows that the dichotomy between motor and perceptive timing functions may be artificial. Both functions appear to be mediated by identical neural networks and may be inseparable.