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Toward systems neuroscience of ADHD: a meta-analysis of 55 fMRI studies

Toward systems neuroscience of ADHD: a meta-analysis of 55 fMRI studies
Toward systems neuroscience of ADHD: a meta-analysis of 55 fMRI studies


Objective


The authors performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of task-based functional MRI studies of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).



Method


The authors searched PubMed, Ovid, EMBASE, Web of Science, ERIC, CINAHAL, and NeuroSynth for studies published through June 30, 2011. Significant differences in brain region activation between individuals with ADHD and comparison subjects were detected using activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. Dysfunctional regions in ADHD were related to seven reference neuronal systems. The authors performed a set of meta-analyses focused on age groups (children and adults), clinical characteristics (history of stimulant treatment and presence of psychiatric comorbidities), and specific neuropsychological tasks (inhibition, working memory, and vigilance/attention).



Results


Fifty-five studies were included (39 for children and 16 for adults). In children, hypoactivation in ADHD relative to comparison subjects was observed mostly in systems involved in executive function (frontoparietal network) and attention (ventral attentional network). Significant hyperactivation in ADHD relative to comparison subjects was observed predominantly in the default, ventral attention, and somatomotor networks. In adults, ADHD-related hypoactivation was predominant in the frontoparietal system, while ADHD-related hyperactivation was present in the visual, dorsal attention, and default networks. Significant ADHD-related dysfunction largely reflected task features and was detected even in the absence of comorbid mental disorders or a history of stimulant treatment.



Conclusions


A growing literature provides evidence of ADHD-related dysfunction in multiple neuronal systems involved in higher-level cognitive functions but also in sensorimotor processes, including the visual system, and in the default network. This meta-analytic evidence extends early models of ADHD pathophysiology that were focused on prefrontal-striatal circuits.
1535-7228
1038-1055
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Kelly, Clare
f33af47b-6b5d-4306-a280-7db9b4612508
Chabernaud, Camille
59a65ff2-4636-4ee6-9a4f-85a2dde92fb3
Proal, Erika
706638c9-a072-4632-9199-6ea2a7aaa862
Di Martino, Adriana
86328f4a-566d-4ff5-9b6d-209801a0632e
Milham, Michael P.
e95a9d22-6154-47a9-a26f-e27836df8675
Castellanos, F. Xavier
699a8e5d-77f7-41dd-8dba-50f2dece7dd8
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Kelly, Clare
f33af47b-6b5d-4306-a280-7db9b4612508
Chabernaud, Camille
59a65ff2-4636-4ee6-9a4f-85a2dde92fb3
Proal, Erika
706638c9-a072-4632-9199-6ea2a7aaa862
Di Martino, Adriana
86328f4a-566d-4ff5-9b6d-209801a0632e
Milham, Michael P.
e95a9d22-6154-47a9-a26f-e27836df8675
Castellanos, F. Xavier
699a8e5d-77f7-41dd-8dba-50f2dece7dd8

Cortese, Samuele, Kelly, Clare, Chabernaud, Camille, Proal, Erika, Di Martino, Adriana, Milham, Michael P. and Castellanos, F. Xavier (2012) Toward systems neuroscience of ADHD: a meta-analysis of 55 fMRI studies. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169 (10), 1038-1055. (doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11101521).

Record type: Article

Abstract



Objective


The authors performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of task-based functional MRI studies of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).



Method


The authors searched PubMed, Ovid, EMBASE, Web of Science, ERIC, CINAHAL, and NeuroSynth for studies published through June 30, 2011. Significant differences in brain region activation between individuals with ADHD and comparison subjects were detected using activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. Dysfunctional regions in ADHD were related to seven reference neuronal systems. The authors performed a set of meta-analyses focused on age groups (children and adults), clinical characteristics (history of stimulant treatment and presence of psychiatric comorbidities), and specific neuropsychological tasks (inhibition, working memory, and vigilance/attention).



Results


Fifty-five studies were included (39 for children and 16 for adults). In children, hypoactivation in ADHD relative to comparison subjects was observed mostly in systems involved in executive function (frontoparietal network) and attention (ventral attentional network). Significant hyperactivation in ADHD relative to comparison subjects was observed predominantly in the default, ventral attention, and somatomotor networks. In adults, ADHD-related hypoactivation was predominant in the frontoparietal system, while ADHD-related hyperactivation was present in the visual, dorsal attention, and default networks. Significant ADHD-related dysfunction largely reflected task features and was detected even in the absence of comorbid mental disorders or a history of stimulant treatment.



Conclusions


A growing literature provides evidence of ADHD-related dysfunction in multiple neuronal systems involved in higher-level cognitive functions but also in sensorimotor processes, including the visual system, and in the default network. This meta-analytic evidence extends early models of ADHD pathophysiology that were focused on prefrontal-striatal circuits.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 23 April 2012
Published date: October 2012
Organisations: Clinical Neuroscience

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 380408
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/380408
ISSN: 1535-7228
PURE UUID: 61509603-ea79-4953-b34f-e3b3b42c4c3b
ORCID for Samuele Cortese: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5877-8075

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Date deposited: 21 Aug 2015 16:12
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:52

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Contributors

Author: Samuele Cortese ORCID iD
Author: Clare Kelly
Author: Camille Chabernaud
Author: Erika Proal
Author: Adriana Di Martino
Author: Michael P. Milham
Author: F. Xavier Castellanos

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