Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic Review
ABSTRACT Objective Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with decreased regional brain volume, yet no consistent localization has emerged across studies. This discrepancy has been attributed to ADHD's diagnostic heterogeneity; however, one alternative is that ADHD...
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2025-06-01
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| Series: | Annals of the Child Neurology Society |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20108 |
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| author | Juliana Wall Gillian N. Miller Joseph J. Taylor Jacob L. Stubbs Simon K. Warfield Alexander L. Cohen |
| author_facet | Juliana Wall Gillian N. Miller Joseph J. Taylor Jacob L. Stubbs Simon K. Warfield Alexander L. Cohen |
| author_sort | Juliana Wall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Objective Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with decreased regional brain volume, yet no consistent localization has emerged across studies. This discrepancy has been attributed to ADHD's diagnostic heterogeneity; however, one alternative is that ADHD is associated with alterations of brain networks, not individual regions. To test this hypothesis, we compared a traditional anatomic likelihood estimate (ALE) with a “coordinate network mapping” (CNM) approach using data from 38 studies comparing regional brain volumes in ADHD versus healthy controls. Methods We performed an ALE analysis, determining above‐chance convergence between experiments. Next, we calculated the overlap with the putamen and default mode network, defined a priori. We then applied CNM, generating connectivity maps for each study and statistically comparing these maps to identify common areas of connectivity across studies. Finally, we compared the network map of ADHD with several control groups of neuropsychiatric disorders and with randomly generated coordinates. Results ALE identified no significant spatial convergence between experiments. We also found only limited spatial overlap with the default mode network and weak functional connectivity with the putamen. Conversely, CNM revealed that the heterogenous coordinates fell within a consistent brain network characterized by connectivity with the reward and cingulo‐opercular “action mode” networks. However, we could not differentiate this network from the CNM‐derived networks in control groups. Interpretation Although this network is biologically plausible and consistent with ADHD symptoms, the findings suggest that this network is not specific to ADHD and may reflect large‐scale brain networks. Although this meta‐analysis adds to the literature on the neurobiology of ADHD, the nonspecific findings convey the importance of studying ADHD at the symptom level. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88dadfb9bd3d48889c8ffd458d78be1f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2831-3267 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of the Child Neurology Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-88dadfb9bd3d48889c8ffd458d78be1f2025-08-20T02:39:32ZengWileyAnnals of the Child Neurology Society2831-32672025-06-01329110410.1002/cns3.20108Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic ReviewJuliana Wall0Gillian N. Miller1Joseph J. Taylor2Jacob L. Stubbs3Simon K. Warfield4Alexander L. Cohen5Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USACenter for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USAABSTRACT Objective Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with decreased regional brain volume, yet no consistent localization has emerged across studies. This discrepancy has been attributed to ADHD's diagnostic heterogeneity; however, one alternative is that ADHD is associated with alterations of brain networks, not individual regions. To test this hypothesis, we compared a traditional anatomic likelihood estimate (ALE) with a “coordinate network mapping” (CNM) approach using data from 38 studies comparing regional brain volumes in ADHD versus healthy controls. Methods We performed an ALE analysis, determining above‐chance convergence between experiments. Next, we calculated the overlap with the putamen and default mode network, defined a priori. We then applied CNM, generating connectivity maps for each study and statistically comparing these maps to identify common areas of connectivity across studies. Finally, we compared the network map of ADHD with several control groups of neuropsychiatric disorders and with randomly generated coordinates. Results ALE identified no significant spatial convergence between experiments. We also found only limited spatial overlap with the default mode network and weak functional connectivity with the putamen. Conversely, CNM revealed that the heterogenous coordinates fell within a consistent brain network characterized by connectivity with the reward and cingulo‐opercular “action mode” networks. However, we could not differentiate this network from the CNM‐derived networks in control groups. Interpretation Although this network is biologically plausible and consistent with ADHD symptoms, the findings suggest that this network is not specific to ADHD and may reflect large‐scale brain networks. Although this meta‐analysis adds to the literature on the neurobiology of ADHD, the nonspecific findings convey the importance of studying ADHD at the symptom level.https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20108attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorderconnectivitycoordinate network mappingmagnetic resonance imagingmeta‐analysis |
| spellingShingle | Juliana Wall Gillian N. Miller Joseph J. Taylor Jacob L. Stubbs Simon K. Warfield Alexander L. Cohen Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic Review Annals of the Child Neurology Society attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder connectivity coordinate network mapping magnetic resonance imaging meta‐analysis |
| title | Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Coordinate Network Mapping of Focal Brain Volume Differences in ADHD Reveals Common Patterns That Lack Specificity: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | coordinate network mapping of focal brain volume differences in adhd reveals common patterns that lack specificity a systematic review |
| topic | attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder connectivity coordinate network mapping magnetic resonance imaging meta‐analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20108 |
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