Default mode network connectivity and social dysfunction in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) significantly impairs social functioning.
• The neurobiological basis of social dysfunction in ADHD is not fully understood.
• Altered connectivity within the Default Mode Network (DMN) is a potential contributor to social deficits in ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) alterations in the DMN and social dysfunction in children with ADHD.
• To explore specific DMN subsystems, including the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and midline core, in relation to ADHD-related social impairments.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
• The study included 40 male ADHD patients (ages 7-10) and 45 healthy controls (HCs).
• Analyses focused on dFC within DMN subsystems and correlations with clinical symptoms.

Main Results:

• ADHD patients exhibited reduced DMN connectivity, particularly within the MTL subsystem and midline core, compared to HCs.
• Specific decreases in dFC were observed between the parahippocampal cortex (PHC) and left superior frontal gyrus, and between the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) and right middle frontal gyrus.
• Further reductions in dFC were noted between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), anterior medial prefrontal cortex (aMPFC), and right angular gyrus in ADHD patients.

Conclusions:

• Altered DMN connectivity, especially in the MTL and midline core, is associated with social dysfunction in ADHD.
• These findings offer insights into the neurobiology and pathophysiology of social impairments in ADHD.
• The study highlights the role of DMN functional connectivity in understanding ADHD-related social deficits.