Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos
05:32

Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos

Published on: December 7, 2018

9.7K

Clinical and cognitive profile of nigral iron content in children with ADHD

Hugo A E Morandini1, Sjoerd B Vos2, Ranila Bhoyroo3

  • 1Complex Attention and Hyperactivity Disorders Service, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Division of Psychiatry, UWA Medical School, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Australia.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|February 7, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This study found no difference in substantia nigra iron content between children with ADHD and neurotypical children. However, higher iron in ADHD patients correlated with fewer attention problems, while in neurotypical children, it linked to better inhibitory control.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is linked to dopamine pathway dysfunction.
  • Brain iron is crucial for dopamine synthesis, with the substantia nigra (SN) being a key dopamine source.
  • This study examines SN iron levels in children with ADHD and their correlation with symptom severity and cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate substantia nigra (SN) iron content in medication-naïve children diagnosed with ADHD compared to neurotypical (NT) children.
  • To explore the relationship between SN iron levels and ADHD symptom severity.
  • To assess the association between SN iron content and cognitive performance, specifically working memory and inhibitory control.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized neuroimaging and phenotypical data from the Healthy Brain Network dataset.
  • Included 54 medication-naïve children with ADHD and 44 NT children, aged 8-12 years.
  • Assessed ADHD symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and cognitive functions (working memory, inhibitory control) via the NIH Toolbox.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in SN iron content was observed between children with ADHD and NT children.
  • In the ADHD group, higher left and right SN iron content correlated with lower attention problem scores on the CBCL.
  • In the NT group, higher left SN iron content was associated with better inhibitory control.

Conclusions:

  • Despite no group differences in SN iron, findings suggest a complex role for iron in ADHD.
  • Increased SN iron may be linked to reduced attention problems in children with ADHD.
  • In neurotypical children, higher SN iron is associated with enhanced inhibitory control.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADHDAttention problemsBrain ironInhibitionMRISubstantia nigra

More Related Videos

Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay05:08

Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay

Published on: January 31, 2022

5.6K
A Colorimetric Method for Measuring Iron Content in Plants07:12

A Colorimetric Method for Measuring Iron Content in Plants

Published on: September 7, 2018

23.0K

Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Dissonance01:38

Cognitive Dissonance

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
37.5K
Stereotype Content Model02:16

Stereotype Content Model

The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) was first proposed by Susan Fiske and her colleagues (Fiske, Cuddy, Glick & Xu, 2002; see also Fiske, 2012 and Fiske, 2017). The SCM specifies that when someone encounters a new group, they will stereotype them based on two metrics: warmth—or that group’s perceived intent, and how likely they are to provide help or inflict harm—and competence—or their ability to carry out that objective. Depending on the warmth-competence...
15.5K
Cognition and Behavior01:23

Cognition and Behavior

Social psychology examines the complex interplay between individual mental processes and social interactions. Historically, the field was divided into two domains: social behavior and social cognition. Researchers focusing on social behavior analyzed actions within social contexts, such as conformity, aggression, or cooperation. Meanwhile, social cognition researchers investigated how people perceive, interpret, and mentally represent their social environments. However, modern perspectives no...
383
Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
1.2K
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
804
Cognitive Therapy01:25

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
1.1K