Characteristics of functional connectivity based on cerebellum at resting state on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Objective To explore the characteristics of functional connectivity based on cerebellum at resting state and the brain functions related to cognitive function on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Thirty ADHD children (ADHD group) were diagnosed at ADHD Specialist Clinic of Changzhou Children′s Hospital, Nantong University from June 2015 to July 2017, and 33 healthy children (healthy control group) were selected from a normal school in Changzhou.Then, they received the functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scans.Finally, the differences of the characteristics of functional connectivity were compared between the 2 groups based on cerebellum which had been found with dysfunction on the previous study of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation. Results It all showed positive activated brain regions when comparing ADHD group and healthy control group based on left cerebellum (-49.5, -58.5, -18.5) as ADHD children′s functional connectivity scores were higher in left middle frontal gyrus[volume=835 mm3, coordinate(-27, -21, 51)], right middle frontal gyrus[volume=755 mm3, coordinate(45, -3, 6)], right superior temporal gyrus[volume=256 mm3, coordinate(45, -24, -6)], left limbic lobe[volume=513 mm3, coordinate(-15, -3, -18)], and there were statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (t=4.10, 4.38, 3.97, 3.32, all P<0.05). Conclusions There exist abnormal functional connectivity between cerebellum and left middle frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus and left limbic lobe.It may be one of the brain mechanisms of the main clinical manifestations of the decreasing of attention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness and the dysfunction of cognitive function. Key words: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Cerebellum; Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging; Functional connectivity; Cognitive function