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Published on: September 12, 2011
Altered patterns of resting-state functional connectivity between the caudate and other brain regions in
Zhilong Yang1, Hongxing Li2, Wenjuan Tu2
1Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China.
Insights
Brain connectivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) shows differences in the dorsal caudate. These functional connectivity patterns in the ADHD brain may relate to symptom severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Child Psychology
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit structural and functional changes in the caudate nucleus.
- Investigating brain alterations is crucial for understanding ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the functional connectivity of the dorsal caudate with other brain regions in children diagnosed with ADHD.
- To identify specific brain networks affected in pediatric ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity.
- Compared functional connectivity in 30 children with ADHD against 33 typically developing children matched for age and gender.
Main Results:
- Found positive functional connectivity between the dorsal caudate and prefrontal areas, cingulate cortex, and temporal lobe.
- Observed negative functional connectivity in the precuneus, occipital cortices, and cerebellum.
- Correlated the connectivity between the left dorsal caudate and left inferior frontal gyrus with ADHD symptom severity.
Conclusions:
- Established distinct patterns of dorsal caudate functional connectivity in children with ADHD.
- Highlighted the role of the dorsal caudate in the neural circuitry of ADHD.
- Suggests potential imaging biomarkers for ADHD severity.
Background:
Structural and functional alterations occur in the caudate of patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here we aimed to investigate the functional connectivity between the dorsal caudate and other brain regions in ADHD children.
Methods:
Resting-state functional connectivity from 30 ADHD and 33 age- and gender-matched "normal" children were measured by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Results:
Positive connectivity with dorsal caudate was observed in the prefrontal areas, cingulate cortex and temporal lobe. Negative functional connectivity was observed in the precuneus, occipital cortices and cerebellum. The connectivity of left dorsal caudate to left inferior frontal gyrus was correlated with severity of ADHD.
Conclusions:
Connectivity of dorsal caudate with several brain regions was identified in ADHD children.
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