Asymmetry of basal ganglia in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2007 Oct;28(5):604-9.

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychiatry disorder with several key symptoms, such as inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Neuropsychiatry studies have implicated the frontostriatal circuit in the pathological physiology of the disorder. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we examined the basal ganglia in 13 ADHD patients and eight unaffected comparison children. The volume of caudate, putamen and globus pallidus was measured. In the ADHD patients, we detected an increased left > right asymmetry of the basal ganglia. This reversal of asymmetry in the globus pallidus and caudate nucleus were statistically significant. These finding provide further evidence of morphological brain abnormalities in ADHD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / pathology*
  • Basal Ganglia / abnormalities
  • Basal Ganglia / anatomy & histology*
  • Basal Ganglia / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Caudate Nucleus / abnormalities
  • Caudate Nucleus / anatomy & histology
  • Caudate Nucleus / pathology
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylphenidate / therapeutic use
  • Organ Size
  • Reference Values
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methylphenidate