Abstract
Abstract Objective To examine whether ADHD-Combined-Type in males and females alters brain activity at concentration. Method Participants were selected by DSM-IV diagnoses from a de-identified, archival database. Sample(n = 154) included a male(n = 97, Mage = 33.29, 67% Cau.) and female group(n = 57, Mage = 34.54, 71.9% Cau.). Exclusion criteria were most comorbid mood and neurological disorders. Cerebral blood flow(CBF) was assessed using SPECT during a concentration task(Conners’CPT) in 17-brain areas. Independent samples t-tests were performed to determine significant differences between groups (p < .001). Results Analysis determined statistically significant CBF differences between the female and male groups at concentration. Chi-square showed no significant associations with age(0.349).The analysis yielded an increase CBF in female group compared to male group in the Bilateral Limbic-System(left area:t(152) = 4.418, p < .0001; right:t(152) = 4.113, p < .001), Bilateral Basal Ganglia(left:t(152) = 5.948, p < .0001; right:t(152) = 5.653, p < .001), Left Motor-Sensory area(t(152) = 4.838, p < .0001), and Vermis(t(152) = 4.414, p < .0001). Male group had increased CBF in the Bilateral Cerebellum (left:t(152) = 6.592, p < .0001; right:t(152) = 7.172, p < .001) and Right Occipital(t(152) = 4.895, p < .0001) and Temporal lobes(t(152) = 3.904, p < .0001). Conclusions The female group, showed increases in CBF in the limbic system suggesting cognitive deficits related to emotional disturbances. While in the male group, the emotional control and auditory processing of information deficits can be related to the increased CBF in temporal area. Increased CBF in basal ganglia, vermis, and motor-sensory areas in the female group suggests increased activity related to integration of motor movements. Likewise, the male group showed deficits in motor movements, but also included deficits in balance and analyzation of objects/movement (increased CBF in cerebellum and occipital). Treatment of ADHD-Combined-Type can target discrete brain systems related to these differences in cognitive activity.
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