Resting State fMRI in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: analyses in a sample of 95 vs 90 controls

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder comprises several different disturbances. Main processes involved comprise attention, emotional regulation, and reward. Despite serious scientific interest has arisen on the disorder, and despite several followed research pathways, a major understanding of affected cortical and sub-cortical systems is still lacking. Fuctional connectivity was measured in a sample of 95 ADHD and 90 neurotypical subjects aged from 7 to 18, through measurements of correlations between distant area, degree of centrality and regional homogeneity. The only measure to be significant was the correlation between distant areas, specifically between the caudate nucleus, the anterior cingulate and the right insula. Both regions pertain to the Salience Network, which has been implicated in the modulation of self-awareness through sensory information and cognition. The degree of correlation between observed regions had a linear relationship with ADHD symptomatology, and showed impressively different patterns of evolution in ADHD compared to neurotypical subjects. Finally, the connectivity scores allowed a fair discrimination of the ADHD group (Area Under the Curve > 0.7). In conclusion, these findings shed further light on the fundamental role covered by subcortical structures in ADHD pathogenesis and neurodevelopment; while stressing the interdependence of emotional, salience and reward processes in the pathophysiology of ADHD.