A review of the biological bases of ADHD: What have we learned from imaging studies?
Abstract
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common and impairing neuropsychiatric disorder with onset at preschool age. Although a significant amount of progress has been made investigating the neurobiology of this disorder, its precise etiology still remains unclear. Converging evidence from studies of the neuropharmacology, genetics, neuropsychology, and neuroimaging of ADHD imply the involvement of fronto-striatal circuitry in ADHD. However, while it does appear that poor inhibitory control and the deficits in fronto-striatal circuitry associated with it are central, there is evidence to suggest that more posterior cerebral areas are also implicated in this disorder. Anatomical studies suggest widespread reductions in volume throughout the cerebrum and cerebellum, while functional imaging studies suggest that affected individuals activate more diffuse areas than controls during the performance of cognitive tasks. The future impact of new MR imaging methodologies on the field is discussed.
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ADHD is associated with decreased activity in frontal brain areas and increased activity in posterior brain areas, and MPH affects not only frontal but also posterior areas.
“Research additionally shows that ADHD is associated with decreased activity in frontal brain areas and increased activity in posterior (parietal and occipital) brain areas (Durston, 2003), and that MPH affects not only frontal but also posterior areas (Mehta et al., 2000).”
From Implementation Intentions Facilitate Response Inhibition in Children with ADHD (2008) · cites this paper as Durston, 2003
ADHD is a neurobiological disorder.
“Although the etiology of ADHD is not known, recent research clearly identifies ADHD as a neurobiological disorder (Buitelaar, Montgomery, & van Zwieten-Boot, 2003; Denckla, 2003; Durston, 2003; Tannock, 1998).”
From Increased intra-individual reaction time variability in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across response inhibition tasks with different cognitive demands (2009) · cites this paper as Durston, 2003
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- Authors
- Durston, S.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Durston, Sarah
- Venue
- Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-01
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 184-195
- ISSN
- 1080-4013 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-2779
- OpenAlex
- W2017859398
- Cited by
- 388
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 3.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, neurobiology of ADHD, frontostriatal circuits, inhibitory control, brain atrophy, neuropharmacology, magnetic resonance imaging
- MeSH terms
- Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Brain, Cognition Disorders, DNA-Binding Proteins, Dopamine, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Membrane Glycoproteins, Membrane Proteins, Methylphenidate, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neural Inhibition, Neuropsychological Tests, Oncogene Proteins, Receptors, Dopamine D2, Membrane Transport Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins, Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins, Receptors, Dopamine D4
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