Investigating Motor Preparation in Autism Spectrum Disorder With and Without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract

This study investigated motor preparation and action-consequence prediction using the lateralized readiness potential (LRP). Motor impairments are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which commonly co-occur. Alterations in predictive processes may impact motor planning. Whether motor planning deficits are characteristic of ASD broadly or magnified in the context of co-morbid ADHD is unclear. ASD children with (ASD\u2009+\u2009ADHD; n\u2009=\u200912) and without (ASD\u2009-\u2009ADHD; n\u2009=\u20099) comorbid ADHD and typical controls (n\u2009=\u200929) performed voluntary motor actions that either did or did not result in auditory consequences. ASD\u2009-\u2009ADHD children demonstrated LRP enhancement when their action produced an effect while ASD\u2009+\u2009ADHD children had attenuated responses regardless of action-effect pairings. Findings suggest influence of ADHD comorbidity on motor preparation and prediction in ASD.