A new German study has found that children with ADHD have difficulty with emotional memories. Children in the study were shown pictures with emotional connotations such as a scary looking animal as well as neutral images before bedtime. The children's brain activity was monitored while they slept.
The next morning the children were questioned about the images shown to them before bedtime. The children with ADHD, in comparison to their peers without ADHD, had trouble with these memory tests.
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The researchers noted that during sleep, the parts of the brain associated with emotional consolidation were less active in the children with ADHD. Adults and children in the study who did not have ADHD did have this type of brain activity during sleep.
The researchers surmised that this difficulty with emotional processing during sleep could be what causes a worsening of emotional and behavioural problems in children with ADHD. This study was a small one and more research in this area is planned to examine whether this difficulty with emotional processing continues into adulthood.
The study is published in Public Library of Science One. For more information, please click here.
©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action
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