Deficts In Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidences From MRI Studies

PurposeTo quantify the white matter integrity in brain regions in boys with ADHD and controls. To quantify the gray matter concertration and volume differences in brain regions in boys with ADHD and controls. To study whether there is a dysfunction in recognition of emotional facial expressions in boys with ADHD and controls.MethodsThis is a case-control study. The patients in the study were from the Second Xiangya Hospital, Hunan child health center for treatment, and the controls were enrolled from schools. The whole study was subdivided into three parts. In the first part, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to determine the differences in the gray matter concentration and volume in brain regions between 27 boys with ADHD and 19 age- matched controls. In the second part, diffusion tensor imaging was used to determine the differences in white matter integrity in brain regions between 14 boys with ADHD and 15 controls. In the third part, emotional facial expressions test was used to study whether a dysfunction in recognition of emotional facial expressions between 38 boys with ADHD and 36 controls.Results1. The gray matter intensity was found decreased in ADHD in left middle temporal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, left posterior lobe, right inferior temporal and right caudate compared to controls (P<0.05). 2. The integrity of white matter was found decreased in ADHD in right inferior frontal gyrus and left occipital lobe compared to controls (P<0.05).3. Compared with control, boys with ADHD performed worse in recognition of emotional facial expressions with lower accuracy rate.Conclusion1. The gray matter intensity was decreased in left middle temporal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, left posterior lobe, right inferior temporal and right caudate in children with ADHD.2. The integrity of white matter was decreased in right inferior frontal gyrus and left occipital lobe in children with ADHD.3. There was a dysfunction in recognition of emotional facial expressions in children with ADHD.