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Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in boys with cleft lip and palate: relationship to ventromedial

Peggy Nopoulos1, Aaron D Boes, Althea Jabines

  • 1Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, W278 GH, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA, Peggy-nopoulos@uiowa.edu.

Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
|December 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Boys with isolated clefts of the lip and/or palate (ICLP) show increased hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention (HII). This is linked to enlarged right ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) volume, suggesting abnormal brain development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Medicine

Background:

  • Isolated clefts of the lip and/or palate (ICLP) are common congenital conditions.
  • Behavioral issues like hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention (HII) are frequently observed in children with ICLP.
  • The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a crucial role in regulating behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate structural differences in the vmPFC in boys with ICLP compared to controls.
  • To correlate vmPFC structure with behavioral measures of HII in boys with ICLP.
  • To explore the neurobiological underpinnings of behavioral differences in ICLP.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess vmPFC volume in 50 boys with ICLP and 60 healthy controls.
  • Quantitative behavioral data on HII were collected from parents and teachers using the Pediatric Behavior Scale.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to compare structural and behavioral measures between groups and to assess their relationship.

Main Results:

  • Boys with ICLP exhibited significantly higher HII ratings than the control group.
  • A significantly increased volume of the right vmPFC was observed in boys with ICLP.
  • A positive correlation between vmPFC volume and HII scores was found in the ICLP group, whereas a negative correlation was observed in controls.

Conclusions:

  • Enlarged right vmPFC volume in boys with ICLP is associated with increased HII.
  • These findings suggest that abnormal vmPFC development may underlie the behavioral challenges observed in children with ICLP.
  • Altered brain structure, specifically in the vmPFC, is a potential etiological factor for HII in this population.

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