Distinctive brain function underlies working memory in ADHD and individuals at familial risk for schizophrenia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. To examine the specificity of potential endophenotypes for two groups of adolescents and young adults who have putative disorders of prefrontal neurodevelopment (as suggested by behavioral and neurocognitive alterations): Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and persons at familial (“genetic”) risk for schizophrenia. We used a robust working memory task (the N-back) to assess brain activation in a functional neuroimaging study comparing these two groups of subjects and healthy controls.