Brain Imaging In ADHD: Basal Ganglia
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
New imaging technology shows brains of those with ADD/ADHD may differ
Could it be that in addition to the differences in how the brains of those with ADD/ADHD act, there may be also a fundamental difference in the shape of this organ as well?
This research, just published in the online edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry, shows actual differences in the shapes of boys’ brains with ADD/ADHD. Why is this even important? This knowledge may eventually help to locate the specific neural circuits that are involved in this disorder.
Staff from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins Center for Imaging Science used a new tool in this project. It’s called a large deformation diffeomorphic mapping (LDDMM) tool, providing them with a very accurate shape of the basal ganglia. Previous research only looked at the volume of the basal ganglia, but was not able to actually determine shape differences. This area of the brain is located deep within either hemisphere of the organ.
Not only did the boys with ADD/ADHD have a significant difference in the shape, but also noticeably smaller volume of the basal ganglia as well. Curiously, girls’ brains revealed no differences. This evidence suggests, the researchers explain, that sex influences the way ADD/ADHD is expressed.
The study viewed the brains of 47 children with ADHD as well as a control group of 66 youngsters, all between the ages of 8 to 13 years old.
These results are exciting because they are building on the growing research which shows that the shape of some parts of the brain may play a factor in this disorder. In fact, the research involves the first reported shape abnormality of the basal ganglia.
Researchers explain that this is only the beginning of the research into this area. The next phase, they explain, is to examine whether these differences in the brain can actually predict certain behavioral symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Possible future studies could include examining the structural features that are associated with compensating and responding to therapy.
To read the entire article click here.
Dr. Kenny
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