Thalamic shape and connectivity abnormalities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is linked to abnormalities in brain networks, particularly the cortico-striato-thalmo-cortical (CSTC) loops.
• These CSTC loops are crucial for attention and executive functions, which are impaired in individuals with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural differences in the thalamus and its white matter connections in children with ADHD compared to neurotypical controls.
• To explore the relationship between these structural abnormalities and cognitive deficits in attention and executive functions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from 19 children with ADHD and 19 controls.
• Applied shape-based analysis to assess thalamic morphology and probabilistic diffusion tractography to evaluate white matter connectivity.

Main Results:

• Significant regional atrophy was observed in the left thalamus of children with ADHD.
• Children with ADHD exhibited decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) and reduced tract volume between the thalamus and striatum, hippocampus, and prefrontal lobe.

Conclusions:

• Structural abnormalities in the thalamus and reduced white matter integrity are present in children with ADHD.
• These findings suggest that thalamic and associated CSTC loop alterations may represent the neuroanatomical basis for attention and executive dysfunction in ADHD.