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Evidence of Altered Habenular Intrinsic Functional Connectivity in Pediatric ADHD

Melissa Arfuso1, Ramiro Salas2, F Xavier Castellanos3

  • 1Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA.

Journal of Attention Disorders
|April 25, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show altered habenula-putamen intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC). This study explored habenula iFC in ADHD, finding reduced connectivity in affected children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • The habenula, a key epithalamic region, influences dopaminergic circuits relevant to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • Dysregulation in neural circuits is hypothesized to underlie ADHD pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) of the habenula in children diagnosed with ADHD.
  • To compare habenula iFC between children with ADHD and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 112 children (75 ADHD, 37 controls, aged 5-9 years).
  • Habenula regions of interest (ROIs) were identified, and seed-based iFC analyses were conducted.
  • Group comparisons of iFC were performed for both habenula and thalamic ROIs to assess specificity.

Main Results:

  • Children with ADHD demonstrated significantly reduced habenula-putamen iFC compared to healthy children.
  • No overlapping group differences in iFC were observed between habenula and thalamic regions, supporting specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Preliminary evidence suggests disrupted habenula-putamen iFC in pediatric ADHD.
  • These findings highlight a potential role for the habenula-putamen circuit in ADHD, warranting further investigation.

Keywords:
ADHDdopaminefunctional connectivityhabenula

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