Multivariate associations between behavioural dimensions and white matter across children and adolescents with and...

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. Integrity of white matter microstructure plays a key role in the neural mechanism of ADHD presentations. However, the relationships between specific behavioural dimensions and white matter microstructure are less well known. This study aimed to identify associations between white matter and a broad set of clinical features across children and adolescent with and without ADHD using a data-driven multivariate approach.

We recruited a total of 130 children (62 controls and 68 ADHD) and employed regularized generalized canonical correlation analysis to characterize the associations between white matter and a comprehensive set of clinical measures covering three domains, including symptom, cognition and behaviour. We further applied linear discriminant analysis to integrate these associations to explore potential developmental effects.

We delineated two brain-behaviour dimensional associations in each domain resulting a total of six multivariate patterns of white matter microstructural alterations linked to hyperactivity-impulsivity and mild affected; executive functions and working memory; externalizing behaviour and social withdrawal, respectively. Apart from executive function and externalizing behaviour sharing similar white matter patterns, all other dimensions linked to a specific pattern of white matter microstructural alterations. The multivariate dimensional association scores showed an overall increase and normalization with age in ADHD group while remained stable in controls.

We found multivariate neurobehavioral associations exist across ADHD and controls, which suggested that multiple white matter patterns underlie ADHD heterogeneity and provided neural bases for more precise diagnosis and individualized treatment.