Electroencephalographic and Neuroimaging Asymmetry Correlation in Patients with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
M Longarzo1, C Cavaliere1, V Alfano1
1IRCCS SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80142 Naples, Italy.
Neural Plasticity
|September 21, 2020
Summary
This study found that electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) asymmetry indices correlate in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly in the inattention subgroup. Altered alpha and theta EEG bands suggest attentional processing deficits in ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
- Hemispheric asymmetry in brain structure and function is increasingly recognized as a potential biomarker for ADHD.
- Integrating electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers a multimodal approach to investigate brain function in ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the correlation between EEG and neuroimaging (fMRI) asymmetry indices in different ADHD subgroups (inattention, motion, mixed).
- To analyze EEG power in specific frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha) in relation to hemispheric asymmetry.
- To identify potential neural correlates of cognitive impairments in ADHD using a combined EEG-fMRI approach.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-two subjects from the Healthy Brain Network Biobank were analyzed.
- Pearson's correlation, ANOVA, and partial least square analyses were performed on EEG and fMRI asymmetry indices.
- EEG power analysis focused on delta, theta, and alpha bands in frontal and temporal areas.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between fMRI and power-EEG asymmetry indices in the inattention subgroup, specifically in frontal and temporal regions for theta and alpha bands.
- An anticorrelation was observed in the delta band within the same regions and subgroup.
- Significant patterns of hemispheric asymmetry were identified across EEG bands, linked to cognitive impairments in ADHD.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that hemispheric asymmetry, measurable by both EEG and fMRI, is a relevant factor in ADHD pathophysiology.
- Altered alpha and theta EEG bands in the inattention group indicate widespread deficiencies in basic attentional processing.
- This study highlights the utility of multimodal neuroimaging techniques for understanding ADHD heterogeneity and underlying neural mechanisms.
