Right Superior Frontal Gyrus Cortical Thickness in Pediatric ADHD

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and hyperactivity.
• Structural brain differences, particularly in prefrontal regions, are implicated in ADHD pathophysiology.
• The Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG) and Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) are crucial for executive functions and behavioral regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural differences in the right Superior Frontal Gyrus (right-SFG) and Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) in children with ADHD compared to typically developing children (TDC).
• To examine the clinical relevance of right-SFG thickness to Executive Function (EF) and ADHD symptom severity.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to assess brain structure in 26 children with ADHD and 24 TDC (ages 7–16).
• Participants completed a comprehensive Executive Function (EF) assessment battery.
• Linear regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between right-SFG thickness and clinical variables.

Main Results:

• Children with ADHD exhibited significantly thinner right-SFG compared to TDC (t(48) = 2.81, p = .007, Cohen's d = 0.84).
• Right-SFG thickness accounted for 12.5% of inattention variance, 13.6% of hyperactivity variance, and 9.0% of EF variance.
• These findings were associated with parent ratings of inattentive and hyperactive symptoms and EF.

Conclusions:

• Reduced right-SFG thickness is a characteristic finding in children with ADHD.
• Right-SFG thickness is clinically relevant, correlating with ADHD symptom severity and executive function deficits.
• The results support the delayed cortical maturation theory of ADHD, suggesting atypical neurodevelopmental trajectories.