Magnetic resonance imaging correlates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.

Abstract

This study compared magnetic resonance imaging size differences in several brain regions and neurocognitive function in a group of male and female children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with no comorbid learning disorders with a normal control group of children. The ADHD group demonstrated smaller total brain, superior prefrontal, and right superior prefrontal volumes, as well as significantly smaller areas for cerebellar lobules I-V and VIII-X, total corpus callosum area, and splenium. No group differences were observed for the inferior prefrontal, caudate, or cerebellar volumes, or for the area of cerebellar lobules VI-VII. In the ADHD group but not in the control group, greater right superior prefrontal volume predicted poorer performance on a test of sustained attention. Patterns of brain abnormality did not differ in male and female children with ADHD.

Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners

“…Regions in this study showing differences between groups and correlations with hours of practice overlapped with regions showing abnormal structural and functional variation in persons with attention deficit disorders. For example, compared with normal controls, individuals with attention deficit disorders have shown activation differences in the sustained attention network (40), regions involved in response inhibition (22,(40)(41)(42), and reduction in size of prefrontal cortex and cerebellum (43). In addition, it is plausible from our results that meditation may strengthen the ability to inhibit cognitive and emotional mental processes such as rumination that can lead to or exacerbate stress, anxiety, or depression (44).…”

Effects of methylphenidate on resting-state brain activity in normal adults: an fMRI study

“…The importance of the prefrontal cortex in ADHD has been shown in many studies [2,9,19,21] . But in our study there was no notable activity in this area.…”

“…In structural imaging, the volumes of the whole brain, prefrontal cortex, left caudate nucleus, and cerebellum are all reduced [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] . Functional neuroimaging studies of patients with ADHD show the involvement of multiple neuronal systems in this disorder, including the prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, striatum and cerebellum [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] .…”

Biological Vulnerabilities to the Development of Psychopathology

“…Results indicated that at initial scan, patients exhibited smaller whole-brain volumes (see also Hill et al, 2003;Mostofsky, Cooper, Kates, Denckla, & Kaufmann, 2002, for other supportive evidence, but Filipek et al, 1997;Lyoo et al, 1996, for negative findings).…”

“…PET and fMRI studies have shown striatal activity to be reduced in ADHD patients (Durston et al;Lou, Henriksen, Bruhn, Borner, & Nielsen, 1989;Lou, Henriksen, & Bruhn, 1990;Vaidya et al, 1998). Volumetric abnormalities of the cerebellum have been found in ADHD patients, but there are inconsistencies concerning the specific localization of these abnormalities (Berquin et al, 1998;Castellanos et al, 1996;Hill et al, 2003). In addition to the evidence showing that ADHD stems from a dysfunction of the fronto-striatal-cerebellar pathway, ADHD is also influenced by other parallel circuits involving association areas (e.g., temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes) important to the integration of information (Sowell et al, 2003).…”