# Verbal fluency tasks and attention problems in children with ADHD: evidence from fNIRS

## TL;DR

This study uses fNIRS to show that children with ADHD have reduced brain activity in a key area during verbal tasks, linking it to attention problems.

## Contribution

The study is among the first to use fNIRS to assess verbal fluency task-related brain activation in children aged 7–9 with ADHD.

## Key findings

- Children with ADHD showed significantly lower DLPFC activation during verbal fluency tasks compared to controls.
- Lower activation amplitude in the DLPFC correlated with higher inattention scores on clinical scales.
- fNIRS detected widespread negative activation patterns in children with ADHD during the task.

## Abstract

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a promising non-invasive neuroimaging tool for assessing cortical activity in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While Verbal Fluency Tasks (VFTs) are widely used in adolescents and adults, their application in younger children remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine cortical activation during a VFT in children with ADHD and its association with attention-related behavioral symptoms.

Thirteen children with ADHD (aged 7–9) and 13 matched neurotypically developed controls completed a VFT while undergoing fNIRS. Activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was analyzed using mean amplitude, center of gravity (COG), and initial slope. Associations with the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale (SNAP-IV) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) scores were examined.

Children with ADHD showed significantly lower DLPFC activation and widespread negative patterns compared to neurotypically developed peers (p < 0.05). Mean activation amplitude was significantly correlated with inattention scores on both the SNAP-IV and DSM-V scales.

fNIRS revealed altered DLPFC activation in children with ADHD during VFT, underscoring its potential as an objective tool to support clinical assessment of attention deficits in younger populations.