Differential P300 Signatures of Executive Dysfunction in Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Borderline Intellectual Functioning

Abanoz, Elif; Korkmaz, Onur Erdem; Duru, Adil Deniz; Esin, İbrahim Selçuk · 2026 · Crossref

DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2026.261539

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Summary

This study investigates the distinct behavioral and neurophysiological profiles of executive dysfunction in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF). While both conditions involve executive deficits, their underlying cognitive mechanisms remain insufficiently differentiated. The research aimed to delineate these differences by comparing children with ADHD, those with BIF, and typically developing controls using computerized cognitive tasks and electroencephalography (EEG). The study included 66 right-handed participants aged 10–16 years: 23 with ADHD, 21 with BIF, and 22 healthy controls. Groups were matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic status, though parental education levels differed. Participants completed Stroop and Go/No-Go tasks while EEG data were recorded. Behavioral metrics included reaction times, accuracy, omission errors, and commission errors. Electrophysiological analysis focused on P300 event-related potential amplitude and latency at frontal (F3, F4) and central (C3) electrode sites. The Stroop task assessed selective attention and processing speed, while the auditory Go/No-Go task evaluated response inhibition. Results revealed divergent cognitive profiles. Children with BIF exhibited significantly slower reaction times and higher omission errors in both tasks compared to ADHD and control groups. Electrophysiologically, the BIF group showed prolonged P300 latency at the F4 electrode during the Go/No-Go task, indicating delayed cognitive processing and attentional inefficiency. Correlational analyses in the BIF group linked longer P300 latency with fewer commission errors and more correct responses, suggesting that extended processing time supports accuracy in this population. Conversely, children with ADHD demonstrated faster reaction times but significantly higher commission errors, reflecting impulsivity and impaired inhibitory control. No significant group differences were found in P300 amplitude or latency during the Stroop task. In the Go/No-Go task, ADHD participants showed positive correlations between reaction time and P300 amplitude at C3 and F4 sites. The findings indicate that while ADHD and BIF share executive dysfunction, they are characterized by distinct neurocognitive mechanisms. ADHD is primarily associated with disinhibition and rapid, error-prone responding, whereas BIF is defined by reduced processing speed and attentional lapses. The differential P300 signatures, particularly prolonged latency in BIF, provide convergent neurophysiological markers that may aid in distinguishing between these conditions. These results support the development of individualized diagnostic and intervention strategies tailored to the specific cognitive deficits of each disorder. Limitations include the small sample size and lack of correction for multiple comparisons, which may affect the generalizability and statistical robustness of the findings.

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• neuro workload indices