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ADHD,
CREATIVITY,
AND
METHYLPHENIDATE
Creativity,
measured
by
the
Torrance
nonverbal
thinking
test,
was
compared
in
19
boys
with
ADHD
and
21
control
subjects.
Boys
with
ADHD
received
methylphenidate
(mean
dose,
0.4
mg/kg)
before
the
first
of
two
test
sessions.
Torrance
scores
were
7%
lower
in
boys
with
ADHD compared
to
controls.
Methylphenidate
did
not
adversely
affect
creative
thinking
scores
in
ADHD
boys.
(Funk
JB
et
al.
Attention
deficit
hyperactivity
disorder,
creativity,
and the
effects
of
methylphenidate.
Pediatrics
April
1993;
91:
816-819).
(Reprints:
Jeanne
B
Funk
PhD,
Dept
of
Pediatrics,
Medical
College
of
Ohio,
PO
Box
10008,
Toledo,
OH
43699).
COMMENT.
The
results
suggest
that
impulsivity,
a
characteristic
of
ADHD
children,
is
not
fundamental
to
creativity;
and
creativity,
as
measured
by
the
nonverbal
Torrance
test,
is
not
impaired
by
methyl¬
phenidate.
VISUAL
EVENT
RELATED
POTENTIALS,
EEG,
AND
ADHD
The
effects
of
methylphenidate
(MPH)
and
sodium
valproate
(VPA)
on
the
visual
event
related
potentials
(VERP)
and
EEG
of
children
with
ADHD
were
evaluated
at
the
Department
of
Psychology,
Tel
Aviv
University,
Israel,
and
North
Shore
University
Hospital,
Cornell
Univ
Med College,
New
York.
Two
subgroups
of
ADHD
were
identified:
one
with
abnormal
and
the
other
with
normal
EEGs
and
VERPs.
The
amplitude
of
the
ERP
slow
negative
wave
was
reduced
by
MPH
and
VPA
in
the
abnormal
group
but
was
unaffected
in
the
group
with
normal
VERPs.
(Frank
Y.
Visual
event
related
potentials
after
methylphenidate
and
sodium
valproate
in
children
with
attention
deficit
hyperactivity
disorder.
Clin
EEG
Jan 1993;
24:19-24). (Reprints:
Yitzchak
Frank
MD,
Div
of
Pediatric
Neurology, North
Shore
University
Hospital,
300
Community
Drive,
Manhasset,
NY
11030).
COMMENT.
The
effect
of
medications
in
ADHD
children
appears
to
be
related
to
electrophysiological findings. A
positive
effect
is
expected
in
patients
with
abnormal
EEGs
and
VERPs.
DYSLEXIA
DYSLEXIA,
HANDEDNESS,
AND
IMMUNE
DISORDERS
An
association
between
dyslexia, left-handedness,
and
immune
disorders
was
investigated
in
734
Norwegian
grade
6
children,
aged
12
years,
at
the
Center
for
Reading
Research,
Stavanger,
Norway,
and
the
Department
of
Psychology,
University
of
Bergen.
In
the
sample
studied,
10%
of
students
were
dyslexic,
8%
were
left-handed,
35%
had
allergic
symptoms,
and
6%
were
asthmatics.
67%
of
left-handed
dyslexic
children
had
immune
disorders(P>.05);
26
42%
of
left-handed
children with
immune
disorders
had
dyslexia(P<.01);
and
32%
of
dyslexic
children
with
immune
disorders
were
left-handed(P<.05).
Of
the three
factors,
handedness
was
the
most
important
association.
(Tonnessen
FE
et
al.
Dyslexia,
left-handedness,
and
immune
disorders.
Arch
Neurol
April
1993;
50:
411-416).
(Reprints:
Dr
Tonnessen,
Center
for
Reading
Research,
Box
2504,
Ullandhaug,
N-4004
Stavanger,
Norway).
COMMENT.
The
Geschwind
theory
postulates
a
single
factor
underlying
dyslexia, left-handedness, and
immune
disorders.
The
results
of
this
study
suggest
that
left-handedness
and
dyslexia
are
more
important
than
immune
disorders
in
a
possible
three-way
association
of
these
conditions.
DYSLEXIA:
A
VISUAL
DISORDER?
Visual
evoked
potentials
were
measured
with
scalp
electrodes
in
eight
reading-disabled
children
aged
8
to
11
years
and
compared
to
a
control
group
of
13
age-matched
normal
readers
at
the
School
of
Optometry,
University
of
Missouri,
St
Louis.
Using
a
steady
background
and
a
low-spatial-frequency
target
(0.5
cycle/degree
visual
angle),
the
latencies
of
the
early
components
(N1
and
PI)
of
the
VER
were
longer
and
the
amplitude
of
the
subsequent
(Pl-
N2)
component
was
smaller
in
the
reading-disabled
than
in
normal
readers.
A
flickering
background
increased
the
latency
and
reduced
the
amplitude
of
the
early
components
of
the
VER
in
normal
readers, whereas
in
reading-disabled
children
only
the
amplitude
was
affected.
These
differences
were
most
likely
due
to a
sensory
deficit
and
slowed
response
in
the
magnicellular
visual
pathway
of
reading-disabled
children.
(Lehmkuhle
S
et
al.
Adefective
visual
pathway
in
children
with
reading
disability.
N
Engl
T
Med
April
8
1993;
328:
989-996).
(Reprints:
Stephen
Lehmkuhle
PhD,
School
of
Optometry,
University
of
Missouri-St
Louis,
8001
Natural
Bridge
Rd,
St
Louis,
MO
63121).
COMMENT.
These
findings
are
supported
by
previous anatomical
and
electrophysiological
studies
that
have
demonstrated
a
defective
magnicellular
visual
pathway
in
dyslexic
subjects.
Acause-and-effect
relation
between
these
slowed
visual
responses
and
the
reading
disability
remains
to
be
determined.
TOXIC
DISORDERS
.24
COGNITIVE
IMPROVEMENT
FOLLOWING LEAD
CHELATION
S
The
short
(7
weeks)
and long
(6
months)
term
effects
of
lowered
blood*
<
lead
levels
on
cognitive
performance
were
measured
in
154
previously
untreated
lead-poisoned
children,
aged
13
to
87
months,
examined
at
the
Department
of
Pediatrics,
Albert
Einstein
College
of
Medicine,
Montefiore
27