Atypical Frontal Brain Activation in ADHD: Preschool and Elementary School Boys and Girls

Overview

Journal J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Pediatrics
Psychiatry

Date 1999 Nov 24

PMID 10560222

Citations 27

Authors

L Baving

M Laucht

M H Schmidt

Affiliations

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Abstract

Objective: To investigate patterns of frontal brain activation in unmedicated preschool and school boys and girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Baseline electroencephalographic activity of 117 children (66 aged 4 years, 51 aged 8 years) was subjected to power spectral analysis, and laterality scores were determined.

Results: Boys with ADHD exhibited a less right-lateralized frontal activation pattern than normal control boys. Girls with ADHD displayed a more right-lateralized frontal activation pattern than normal control girls. This finding applied to children at both 4 1/2 and 8 years of age. There was no difference between children with ADHD and children with ADHD plus oppositional defiant disorder.

Conclusions: This pattern of frontal brain activation is in line with magnetic resonance imaging studies of ADHD. It could be demonstrated in children as young as 4 1/2 years, as well as in school-age children. The opposite direction of asymmetry in boys and girls stresses the importance of gender-specific analyses in ADHD.

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Edmunds S, Fogler J, Braverman Y, Gilbert R, Faja S Front Psychol. 2023; 13:1065598.

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Electroencephalographic and Neuroimaging Asymmetry Correlation in Patients with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Longarzo M, Cavaliere C, Alfano V, Mele G, Salvatore M, Aiello M Neural Plast. 2020; 2020:4838291.

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