Distinct theta oscillation coherence patterns during visual selective attention in children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have problems with visual selective attention. The present study explored the phase coherence connectivity of theta oscillations in 76 typically developing (TD) children and 85 medication-naive children with ADHD (7–13 years) while they performed a visual search task. We identified distinct coherence modulation patterns in the theta frequency band in the TD and ADHD groups, with weaker coherence between the frontal and target-contralateral posterior areas than between the frontal and target-ipsilateral posterior areas. TD children demonstrated significant coherence modulation between frontal and right posterior (FRP) areas, whereas children with ADHD showed predominant modulation between frontal and left posterior (FLP) areas. Trials with greater FLP modulation were associated with faster responses in the ADHD group and more stable responses in the TD group. FLP modulation increased with age in TD children. These findings indicate that the theta coherence modulation between the frontal and posterior areas may reflect the efficient suppression of bottom-up sensory processing to prioritize top-down control. Compared with TD children, children with ADHD develop distinct specialized brain networks for visual attention. The FLP modulation in children with ADHD may signify compensatory maturation of neural networks involved in visual attention processes. • We examined theta oscillation phase coherence during visual attention in children. • TD children showed modulation of theta coherence in frontal-right posterior areas. • ADHD children showed frontal-left posterior (FLP) theta coherence modulation. • Higher theta FLP modulation linked to faster (ADHD) and tighter (TD) responses. • Theta FLP modulation increased with age in TD children.