Dysfunctional neural activity and connection patterns in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A resting state fMRI study

In this study, the amplitude of low frequency (0.01-0.08Hz) fluctuation (ALFF) and functional connections were used to analyze blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data for 57 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 59 healthy controls (HC) in a resting state. Compared with HC, the ADHD showed significantly altered neural activity in the prefrontal and temporal cortex. In ADHD, altered functional connections were observed mainly in prefrontal cortex, temporal cortex, default mode network (DMN) and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG). The abnormalities in prefrontal and temporal cortex might provide evidence to support that functional abnormalities are extended from the prefrontal cortex to the temporal cortex in ADHD. Additionally, dysfunction of the DMN and PHG could be related to the pathophysiological mechanisms of ADHD.