Neural Correlates and Sex-Specific Effects of Affectively Driven Processes Underlying Decision-Making in Adult ADHD
Eva Halbe1, Alec Jamieson2, Moritz Bergmann1
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Aims:
Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often exhibit heightened risk-taking behavior due to disadvantageous decision-making. This study investigates the influence of preceding unconscious and affectively driven processes on this behavior, with a focus on sex-specific effects.
Methods:
Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine neural activity during the anticipation phase of decision-making in 18 individuals with ADHD (10 females and 8 males) and 20 healthy controls (10 females and 10 males) using a modified version of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task.
Results:
During the anticipation of decision-making, individuals with ADHD exhibited reduced activation in the right precuneus and the right superior frontal gyrus compared to healthy controls. Sex-specific effects were exclusively observed within the ADHD group, showing increased neural activity in females compared to males in areas including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left insula, right caudate, right cuneus, and precuneus.
Conclusion:
These findings indicate altered neural activity in adult patients with ADHD with sex-specific differences during the anticipation of a risky decision. The study underscores the importance of the right precuneus and superior frontal gyrus in relation to metacognitive functioning and interoceptive awareness. However, further research is needed to explore the interplay of unconscious processes during decision-making in ADHD.
More Related Videos
05:48The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
13:09Using Brain Activation nir-HEG/Q-EEG and Execution Measures CPTs in a ADHD Assessment Protocol
Published on: April 1, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Decision Making
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Reason and Intuition
Physiology of Emotion
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
Self-Discrepancy Theory
