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Atypical within- and between-hemisphere motor network functional connections in children with developmental
Kevin R McLeod1, Lisa Marie Langevin2, Deborah Dewey3
1Medical Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) share altered motor network connectivity. These neurodevelopmental disorders show disrupted hemispheric dominance in brain communication, impacting motor function differently.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common neurodevelopmental disorders with significant comorbidity.
- Previous research indicates altered brain region communication, especially within the motor network, in children with DCD and ADHD.
- Typical motor network function relies on hemispheric dominance, which may be disrupted in these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of DCD and ADHD by examining motor network functional connectivity.
- To explore alterations in within- and between-hemisphere functional connection strength in the motor network.
- To compare these alterations in children with DCD, ADHD, DCD + ADHD, and typically developing children.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to assess functional connections.
- Focus was on the left and right primary and sensory motor (SM1) cortices.
- Participants included children diagnosed with DCD, ADHD, DCD + ADHD, and typically developing controls.
Main Results:
- Children with DCD, ADHD, and DCD + ADHD exhibited atypical functional connection strength between SM1 and the basal ganglia and cerebellum.
- These atypical connections were observed both within and between hemispheres, disrupting normal hemispheric dominance.
- A correlation between motor function and specific functional connections (right SM1 to ACC, SMA, visuospatial regions) was found in DCD and DCD + ADHD groups, but not in the ADHD-only group.
Conclusions:
- Atypical motor network connections are a common neural mechanism underlying both DCD and ADHD, with distinct patterns contributing to each disorder.
- The findings support the role of disrupted hemispheric dominance in the motor network for these neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Behavioral phenotypes related to motor network development appear to differ between individuals with DCD and those with ADHD, as evidenced by the correlation findings.
Abstract:
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are highly comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders; however, the neural mechanisms of this comorbidity are poorly understood. Previous research has demonstrated that children with DCD and ADHD have altered brain region communication, particularly within the motor network. The structure and function of the motor network in a typically developing brain exhibits hemispheric dominance. It is plausible that functional deficits observed in children with DCD and ADHD are associated with neurodevelopmental alterations in within- and between-hemisphere motor network functional connection strength that disrupt this hemispheric dominance. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine functional connections of the left and right primary and sensory motor (SM1) cortices in children with DCD, ADHD and DCD + ADHD, relative to typically developing children. Our findings revealed that children with DCD, ADHD and DCD + ADHD exhibit atypical within- and between-hemisphere functional connection strength between SM1 and regions of the basal ganglia, as well as the cerebellum. Our findings further support the assertion that development of atypical motor network connections represents common and distinct neural mechanisms underlying DCD and ADHD. In children with DCD and DCD + ADHD (but not ADHD), a significant correlation was observed between clinical assessment of motor function and the strength of functional connections between right SM1 and anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area, and regions involved in visuospatial processing. This latter finding suggests that behavioral phenotypes associated with atypical motor network development differ between individuals with DCD and those with ADHD.
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