Inattention and Reaction Time Variability Are Linked to Ventromedial Prefrontal Volume in Adolescents

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Matthew D. Albaugh - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Catherine Orr - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Bader Chaarani - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Robert R. Althoff - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Nicholas Allgaier - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Nicholas D'Alberto - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Kelsey Hudson - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Scott Mackey - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Philip A. Spechler - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Tobias Banaschewski - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Rüdiger Brühl - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Arun L.W. Bokde - , Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • Uli Bromberg - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Christian Büchel - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Anna Cattrell - , University of Nottingham (Author)
  • Patricia J. Conrod - , University of Nottingham, University of Montreal (Author)
  • Sylvane Desrivières - , University of Nottingham (Author)
  • Herta Flor - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Vincent Frouin - , French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) (Author)
  • Jürgen Gallinat - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Robert Goodman - , University of Nottingham (Author)
  • Penny Gowland - , University of Nottingham (Author)
  • Yvonne Grimmer - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Andreas Heinz - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Viola Kappel - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Jean Luc Martinot - , INSERM - Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Author)
  • Marie Laure Paillère Martinot - , INSERM - Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université Paris Cité (Author)
  • Frauke Nees - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Dimitri Papadopoulos Orfanos - , French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) (Author)
  • Jani Penttilä - , Tampere University (Author)
  • Luise Poustka - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Tomáš Paus - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Michael N. Smolka - , Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Neuroimaging Center (Author)
  • Maren Struve - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Henrik Walter - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Robert Whelan - , University College Dublin (Author)
  • Gunter Schumann - , University of Nottingham (Author)
  • Hugh Garavan - , University of Vermont (Author)
  • Alexandra S. Potter - , University of Vermont (Author)

Abstract

Background Neuroimaging studies of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have most commonly reported volumetric abnormalities in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortices. Few studies have examined the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and brain structure in population-based samples. We investigated the relationship between dimensional measures of ADHD symptomatology, brain structure, and reaction time variability—an index of lapses in attention. We also tested for associations between brain structural correlates of ADHD symptomatology and maps of dopaminergic gene expression. Methods Psychopathology and imaging data were available for 1538 youths. Parent ratings of ADHD symptoms were obtained using the Development and Well-Being Assessment and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Self-reports of ADHD symptoms were assessed using the youth version of the SDQ. Reaction time variability was available in a subset of participants. For each measure, whole-brain voxelwise regressions with gray matter volume were calculated. Results Parent ratings of ADHD symptoms (Development and Well-Being Assessment and SDQ), adolescent self-reports of ADHD symptoms on the SDQ, and reaction time variability were each negatively associated with gray matter volume in an overlapping region of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Maps of DRD1 and DRD2 gene expression were associated with brain structural correlates of ADHD symptomatology. Conclusions This is the first study to reveal relationships between ventromedial prefrontal cortex structure and multi-informant measures of ADHD symptoms in a large population-based sample of adolescents. Our results indicate that ventromedial prefrontal cortex structure is a biomarker for ADHD symptomatology. These findings extend previous research implicating the default mode network and dopaminergic dysfunction in ADHD.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)660-668
Number of pages9
JournalBiological psychiatry
Volume82
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 28237458
ORCID /0000-0001-5398-5569/work/161890779

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Inattention, Multi-informant, Neuroimaging, Reaction time variability, Ventromedial prefrontal cortex