The purpose of this study was to investigate whether
inappropriate/excessive motor activity seen in children with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could be characterized as
Utilization Behavior (UB). Given evidence that the neuropathology of ADHD
may involve frontal-striatal systems, we investigated the possibility that
children with ADHD may demonstrate “utilization behavior.”
Utilization Behavior (UB) is a neurobehavioral syndrome documented in
individuals with damage or dysfunction in the frontal areas of the brain;
patients exhibiting UB are often described as reaching out and utilizing
objects in the environment in an automatic and inappropriate manner. The
sample consisted of two group of children; children with ADHD (n
= 32) and control children (n = 31). Children were assessed
individually in a testing room where various objects, selected to elicit
UB, were present. They completed cognitive tests and also were allowed to
engage in an unsupervised activity. Testing sessions were videotaped and
instances of physical activity (i.e., upper limb motor activity and
utilization of objects) were counted by two raters. Results indicated high
levels of object utilization in approximately one-half of the children
with ADHD, whereas almost no such behavior was observed in controls. This
behavior did not appear to be a result of generally heightened activity
levels or due to instruction set, but differed according to object
familiarity and object visibility. Levels of UB were statistically
associated with the severity of hyperactivity, as reported by parents, of
children with ADHD. This study suggests that inappropriate/excessive
motor activity may, at least in part, be characterized as UB in some
children with ADHD. (JINS, 2005, 11, 367–375.)