Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

To explore whether children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have altered the functional connectivity between the executive control network and the default mode network.

Exploratory study of a diagnostic test, prospective, case and control design. A total of 56 participants were recruited consecutively (29 inattentive or combined ADHD subtype and 27 controls) between 7 and 16 years old, male, right dominance. DSM-5 was applied as reference test and a battery of neuropsychological tests to confirm the diagnosis and assess comorbidities. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed as an index test. The application and evaluation of the tests was blind. The brain regions were chosen a priori and the region of interest technique was used. The functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was evaluated with: the precuneus (P), the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPC).

The functional connectivity in each of the associations evaluated in the patients with ADHD compared with the controls were: P_D=0.41 vs 0.44; CCP_D=0.43 vs 0.53; CPDM_D=0.75 vs. 0.79; P_I=0.40 vs 0.41; CCP_I=0.48 vs 0.53; CPDM_I=0.76 vs. 0.72). D: right side I: left side. Value of p> 0.05.

Cerebral functional connectivity at rest is lower in ADHD patients when compared with healthy controls, however, the difference was not statistically significant.