Hardware and software in the study ontogenetically persistent saccadic eye movements changes

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood with defined neurobiological substrate. Decease beginning in preschoolers persists in adolescence and even in adulthood [1]. Registration of saccadic eye movements (SEM) is one of the adequate procedures in ADHD objectification. The aim of this study was to analyze ontogenetically persistent SEMs parameters changes in ADHD from childhood to adolescence.

Durations and latencies of saccadic movements recorded in two age groups (7-9 and 10-12 years old) of children and two age groups (13-14 and 15-17 years old) of adolescents were compared. The statistical analysis of data was accomplished by using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test (program “Statistica 10”).

The analysis showed no statistically significant age-related changes in saccadic durations and this parameter proved to be the most ontogenetically constant. Saccadic latencies reliably decreased up to 13 years and after this age there were no reliable differences in two adolescent’s groups, so this saccadic parameter remained constantly changed during adolescence.

Functional deficit of brain-stem structures engaged in eye movement conduction proved to be the most ontogenetically constant which resulted in persistent saccadic durations increase. The frontal cortex function gradually improved during maturation till 13 years which resulted in saccadic latencies values, with no changes after this age.