TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between microstructural integrity of frontostriatal tracts and school functioning
T2 - ADHD symptoms and executive function as mediators
AU - Gau, S. S.
AU - Tseng, W. L.
AU - Tseng, W. Y I
AU - Wu, Yi-Huan
AU - Lo, Yu-Chun
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Cambridge University Press 2014.
PY - 2015/2/12
Y1 - 2015/2/12
N2 - Background Deficits in executive function (EF), impaired school functioning and altered white matter integrity in frontostriatal networks have been associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, relationships between impairments in these areas are unclear. Using a sample of youths with and without ADHD, this study examined the association between microstructural integrity of frontostriatal tracts and school dysfunction and the mediating roles of EF and ADHD symptoms in this association. Method The sample included 32 Taiwanese youths with ADHD and 32 age-, sex-, handedness- and IQ-matched typically-developing (TD) youths. Participants were assessed using psychiatric interviews, parent reports on ADHD symptoms and school functioning, and EF measures from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). The frontostriatal tracts were reconstructed by diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) tractography and were subdivided into four functionally distinct segments: caudate-dorsolateral, caudate-medial prefrontal, caudate-orbitofrontal and caudate-ventrolateral tracts. Results Youths with ADHD, relative to TD youths, showed altered white matter integrity in all four bilateral pairs of frontostriatal tracts (decreased general fractional anisotropy, GFA), had poor attention, vigilance and response inhibition, and showed impaired school functioning. Altered microstructural integrity in frontostriatal tracts was significantly associated with school dysfunction, which was mediated by EF measures of attention/vigilance and response inhibition in addition to inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate an association between white matter integrity in the frontostriatal networks and school functioning and suggest that EF deficits and ADHD symptoms may be the mediating mechanisms for this association. Future research is needed to test the directionality and specificity of this finding.
AB - Background Deficits in executive function (EF), impaired school functioning and altered white matter integrity in frontostriatal networks have been associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, relationships between impairments in these areas are unclear. Using a sample of youths with and without ADHD, this study examined the association between microstructural integrity of frontostriatal tracts and school dysfunction and the mediating roles of EF and ADHD symptoms in this association. Method The sample included 32 Taiwanese youths with ADHD and 32 age-, sex-, handedness- and IQ-matched typically-developing (TD) youths. Participants were assessed using psychiatric interviews, parent reports on ADHD symptoms and school functioning, and EF measures from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). The frontostriatal tracts were reconstructed by diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) tractography and were subdivided into four functionally distinct segments: caudate-dorsolateral, caudate-medial prefrontal, caudate-orbitofrontal and caudate-ventrolateral tracts. Results Youths with ADHD, relative to TD youths, showed altered white matter integrity in all four bilateral pairs of frontostriatal tracts (decreased general fractional anisotropy, GFA), had poor attention, vigilance and response inhibition, and showed impaired school functioning. Altered microstructural integrity in frontostriatal tracts was significantly associated with school dysfunction, which was mediated by EF measures of attention/vigilance and response inhibition in addition to inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate an association between white matter integrity in the frontostriatal networks and school functioning and suggest that EF deficits and ADHD symptoms may be the mediating mechanisms for this association. Future research is needed to test the directionality and specificity of this finding.
KW - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
KW - diffusion spectrum imaging tractography
KW - executive function
KW - frontostriatal tracts
KW - mediators
KW - school function
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84927696187&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84927696187&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0033291714001664
DO - 10.1017/S0033291714001664
M3 - Article
C2 - 25075643
AN - SCOPUS:84927696187
SN - 0033-2917
VL - 45
SP - 529
EP - 543
JO - Psychological Medicine
JF - Psychological Medicine
IS - 3
ER -
