Fronto-parietal white matter microstructure associated with working memory performance in children with ADHD
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Introduction Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with many functional impairments thought to be underpinned by difficulties in executive function domains such as working memory. The superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) plays an integral role in the development of working memory in neurotypical children. Neuroimaging research suggests reduced white matter organization of the SLF may contribute to working memory difficulties commonly seen in ADHD. This study aimed to examine the relationship between white matter organization of the SLF and working memory in children with ADHD. Methods We examined the association of tract volume and apparent fibre density (AFD) of the SLF with working memory in children with ADHD (n = 64) and controls (n = 58) aged 9-11years. Children completed a computerized spatial n-back task and underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). Constrained spherical deconvolution-based tractography was used to construct the three branches of the SLF bilaterally and examine volume and AFD of the SLF. Results Regression analyses revealed children with ADHD exhibited poorer working memory, and lower volume and AFD of the left SLF-II compared to healthy controls. There was also an association between reaction time and variability (RT and RT-V) and the left SLF-II. Further analyses revealed volume of the left SLF-II mediated the relationship between ADHD and working memory performance (RT and RT-V). Discussion T…
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On a neural level, RTV has been associated with smaller white matter tracts in the late developing fronto-parietal attention (superior longitudinal fasciculus) and cortico-thalamic cognitive control tracts and reduced activation in fronto-striatal and superior temporal activation in children and adults with ADHD.
“In line with a role in attention and self-control, on a neural level, RTV has been associated with smaller white matter tracts in the late developing fronto-parietal attention (superior longitudinal fasciculus) and cortico-thalamic cognitive control tracts and reduced activation in fronto-striatal and superior temporal activation in children and adults with ADHD (18, 67–70), suggesting an”
From Differential effects of a single dose of Lisdexamfetamine and Guanfacine on cognitive function in children with ADHD (2025) · cites this paper as [67]
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El Masri, S., Kowalczyk, O. S., Chiu, T. H., Criaud, M., Lukito, S., Mazibuko, N., Salazar de Pablo, G., Perez Rodriguez, V., Makos, O., Lam, S.-L., et al. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1676472
- Authors
- Dipnall, L. M., Hourani, D., Darling, S., Anderson, V., Sciberras, E., & Silk, T. J.
- Affiliations
- Deakin University (AU)
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Dipnall, Lillian M.
- Venue
- Cortex
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-09
- Volume
- 166
- Pages
- 243-257
- ISSN
- 0010-9452 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4376127827
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 1.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cortex (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, working memory, superior longitudinal fasciculus, white matter microstructure, tract volume, executive function, children, reaction time variability
- MeSH terms
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Cognition, Humans, Memory Disorders, Memory, Short-Term, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, White Matter
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