Atypical Brain Activation During Simple & Complex Levels of Processing in Adult ADHD: An fMRI Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Executive dysfunction in ADHD is well supported. However, recent studies suggest that more fundamental impairments may be contributing. We assessed brain function in adults with ADHD during simple and complex forms of processing. METHOD: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging with forward and backward digit spans to investigate number repetitions and complex working memory function. If pathology is limited to higher cognitive operations, group differences should be confined to the backward condition. RESULTS: During the forward digit span, ADHD participants exhibited greater activation of LH linguistic processing areas and increased activation of right frontal and parietal cortices. During the backward digit span, they exhibited greater activation of LH linguistic processing areas and failed to activate bilateral parietal regions important for the complex executive operations. CONCLUSION: Abnormal brain function among adult ADHD participants was not limited to complex executive functions. Abnormal processing of numeric stimuli was indicated during both simple and complex cognitive operations.
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Neuroimaging studies show abnormal prefrontal and parietal cortex functioning in children with ADHD during working memory tasks.
“Neuroimaging studies reveal abnormal PFC and parietal cortex functioning in children with ADHD during WM tasks [5-9, 39, 40].”
From Will Working Memory Training Generalize to Improve Off-Task Behavior in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? (2012) · cites this paper as [5]
Cites
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“More importantly, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in our sample is within range of what is typically observed in adult ADHD samples (30-45% comorbid anxiety) (Biederman et al., 1993; Biederman, Newcorn, & Sprich, 1991; Wilens, Biederman, & Spencer, 2002).”
ResultHow specific is a deficit of executive functioning for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?
Sergeant, J. A., Geurts, H., & Oosterlaan, J. (2002) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/s0166-4328(01)00430-2 · Cited by 784 · cited 1× · see citing works
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“…includes processing speed deficits as indexed by slower naming of colors, letters, numbers, and objects (Brock & Christo, 2003; Nigg et al., 2002; Rucklidge & Tannock, 2002; Semrud-Clikeman, Guy, Griffin, & Hynd, 2000; Stevens et al., 2002; Tannock, Martinussen, & Frijters, 2000; Weiler,…”
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“This notion is supported by behavioral results showing that consistent deficits in ADHD are, in fact, limited to the backward condition (Barkley, Murphy, & Kwasnik, 1996; Biederman et al., 1996; Faraone et al., 1993; Loge, Staton, & Beatty, 1990; Mariani & Barkley, 1997; Milich & Loney, 1979).”
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Which Executive Functioning Deficits Are Associated With AD/HD, ODD/CD and Comorbid AD/HD+ODD/CD?
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Processing Speed in Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Inattentive Type
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“Furthermore, it is important to note that previous studies have uncovered “naming” deficits in ADHD with or without comorbid RD, indicating that this form of impairment is not dependent on reading ability status (Brock & Christo, 2003; Nigg et al., 2002; Rucklidge & Tannock, 2002; Semrud-Clikeman et al., 2000; Stevens…”
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Large-scale brain systems in ADHD: beyond the prefrontal–striatal model
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“Previous imaging studies examining working memory in adults with ADHD [14,23,27] and children [28,29] suggest impaired PFC and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) functioning, in conjunction with activation of a number of supplementary regions [30].”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Sigi Hale, T., Bookheimer, S., McGough, J. J., Phillips, J. M., & McCracken, J. T.
- Affiliations
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatric Institute and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Attention Disorders
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2007-09
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 125-139
- ISSN
- 1087-0547 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1246
- OpenAlex
- W1994947965
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 4.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Attention Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH 01805, K24MH001805)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Keywords
- adult ADHD, executive dysfunction, working memory, digit span, backward digit span, number processing
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Auditory Perception, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Dominance, Cerebral, Female, Frontal Lobe, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Nerve Net, Parietal Lobe, Problem Solving, Prefrontal Cortex, Imaging, Three-Dimensional
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