Small-World Brain Functional Networks in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Revealed by EEG
Tian Liu1, Yanni Chen2, Pan Lin1
1The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China National Engineering Research Center of Health Care and Medical Devices, Xi'an Jiaotong University Branch, Xi'an, China.
Insights
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit altered brain network topology during attention tasks. Their brain networks show a shift towards ordered structures, unlike the efficient small-world networks seen in typically developing children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting attention and executive functions.
- Understanding the brain network alterations in ADHD is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
- Previous research suggests disruptions in brain connectivity in ADHD, but topological properties require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the topological properties of human brain attention networks in children with ADHD compared to controls.
- To examine how functional connectivity and network organization differ during a demanding attention task (Multi-Source Interference Task - MSIT).
- To explore the relationship between network topology and the pathophysiology of ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain activity in 13 children with ADHD and 13 typically developing controls.
- Calculated functional connectivity using synchronization likelihood (SL) between all pairwise EEG channels.
- Computed network topological properties, including clustering coefficients and path lengths, as a function of network degree (K).
Main Results:
- Normal control subjects exhibited efficient small-world topological properties in their attention networks.
- Children with ADHD showed altered topological properties, characterized by increased local and decreased global network characteristics.
- The ADHD group's network topology shifted towards a more ordered structure compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- ADHD is associated with significant alterations in the topological organization of brain attention networks.
- Findings support the hypothesis of dysfunctional segregation and integration within brain networks in ADHD.
- These results enhance the understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD.
Abstract:
We investigated the topologic properties of human brain attention-related functional networks associated with Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) performance using electroencephalography (EEG). Data were obtained from 13 children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 13 normal control children. Functional connectivity between all pairwise combinations of EEG channels was established by calculating synchronization likelihood (SL). The cluster coefficients and path lengths were computed as a function of degree K. The results showed that brain attention functional networks of normal control subjects had efficient small-world topologic properties, whereas these topologic properties were altered in ADHD. In particular, increased local characteristics combined with decreased global characteristics in ADHD led to a disorder-related shift of the network topologic structure toward ordered networks. These findings are consistent with a hypothesis of dysfunctional segregation and integration of the brain in ADHD, and enhance our understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism of this illness.
