Imaging the ADHD brain: disorder-specificity, medication effects and clinical translation
Abstract
A plethora of magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown that ADHD is characterized by multiple functional and structural neural network abnormalities beyond the classical fronto-striatal model, including fronto-parieto-temporal, fronto-cerebellar and even fronto-limbic networks. There is evidence for a maturational delay in brain structure development which likely extends to brain function and structural and functional connectivity, but this needs corroboration by longitudinal imaging studies. Dysfunction of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex seems to be more pronounced relative to other pediatric disorders and is also the most consistent target of acute psychostimulant medication. Future studies are likely to focus on using neuroimaging for clinical translation such as for individual diagnostic and prognostic classification and as a neurotherapy to reverse brain function abnormalities.
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The findings support the hypotheses of a developmental delay in VLPFC-insular-striatal networks in ADHD and an alteration in frontostriatal development in OCD with larger and overactive basal ganglia that are poorly controlled by underdeveloped and underactive medial frontal structures of top-down control.
“The findings support the hypotheses of a developmental delay in VLPFC‐insular‐striatal networks in ADHD (Rubia et al. 2014; Shaw et al. 2014) and an alteration in frontostriatal development in OCD with larger and overactive basal ganglia that are poorly controlled by underdeveloped and underactive medial frontal structures of top‐down control (Gillan and Robbins 2014; Melloni et al. 2012).”
From Reaction Time Variability and Electrophysiological Indices of Performance Monitoring in Youths With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (2026) · cites this paper as Rubia et al. 2014
RTV has been associated with abnormalities in switching off the neural correlates of mind-wandering, the default mode network (DMN), during task performance in children and adults with ADHD.
“Furthermore, increased RTV has been shown to be a behavioral index of increased mind-wandering in adults with ADHD (71–73), and has been associated with abnormalities in “switching off” the neural correlates of mind-wandering, the default mode network (DMN) (74) during task performance in children and adults with ADHD (19, 20).”
From Differential effects of a single dose of Lisdexamfetamine and Guanfacine on cognitive function in children with ADHD (2025) · cites this paper as [20]
Similar trends are evident for understanding the impact of medication status on case-control neuroimaging studies.
“Similar trends are evident for understanding the impact of medication status on case-control neuroimaging studies (Hull et al., 2016; Rubia, 2018; Rubia et al., 2014).”
From Investigating functional brain network integrity using a traditional and novel categorical scheme for neurodevelopmental disorders (2019) · cites this paper as Rubia et al., 2014
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References 165 · Cited by 146
- Authors
- Rubia, K., Alegria, A., & Brinson, H.
- Affiliations
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Rubia, Katya
- ORCID
- Rubia, Katya
- Venue
- Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-04-17
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 519-538
- ISSN
- 1473-7175 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-8360
- OpenAlex
- W2135176690
- Cited by
- 146
- References
- 165
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7
- FWCI
- 1.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Action Medical Research
- 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, neuroimaging, brain network abnormalities, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, psychostimulants, structural connectivity, functional connectivity, childhood diseases, neurotherapy, diagnostic classification, prognosis
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Brain, Humans, Translational Research, Biomedical, Neuroimaging
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