Abnormal Rich Club Organization in Hemispheric White Matter Networks of ADHD

Abstract

Objective: Brain network studies have revealed abnormal topology asymmetry of white matter (WM) in ADHD. Recently, rich club organization was proposed to be a key feature of brain network topology. However, abnormalities in the rich club organization of hemispheric WM networks in ADHD remain unclear. Method: Forty ADHD patients and 51 normal controls participated in this study. Structural networks were reconstructed based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and analyzed with graph theory. Results: The two groups exhibited different patterns of asymmetry in connectivity measures of rich club connections. ADHD patients showed more feeder connections than normal controls. Reduced rightward asymmetry was observed in connectivity measures of local connections involving several peripheral regions of the ADHD patients. In addition, abnormal regional asymmetry scores were associated with ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: The topological changes in rich club organization provide a novel insight into the alteration of WM connections in ADHD.

Reduced Modular Segregation of White Matter Brain Networks in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…Wang et al (2021) found that hub regions of ADHD included the INS, the MOG, the CAU, and the PUT. Li, Cui et al (2021) also found hub regions of ADHD including the MOG, INS, and PUT. These hub regions are largely consistent with our studies.…”

“…We already know that ADHD has abnormal connection in the PHG.L (Carmona et al, 2005). Li, Cui et al (2021) revealed the functional connection enhancement of the PHG.L in ADHD. D 'Agati et al (2010) found abnormalities in the SMA.…”

“…Consistent with our finding, Rubia et al (2019) found abnormal connections in the PHG.L of ADHD, which was related to ADHD symptoms. Li, Cui et al (2021) found that the enhancement of PHG.L functional connection in ADHD is related to ADHD pathophysiology.…”

Aberrant rich club organization in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their unaffected first-degree relatives

“…Three kinds of connections could be defined after dividing the brain regions into rich club and non-rich club nodes: Rich club connections between rich club nodes, feeder connections linking rich club nodes and non-rich club nodes, and local connections between non-rich club nodes ( van den Heuvel et al, 2013 , Wang et al, 2018 ). To examine the three types of connections in the whole brain, connection strength was calculated for each of the three types ( Li et al, 2019 , Sa de Almeida et al, 2021 ). The Rich-club connection strength is equivalent to the sum of reconstructed fibers between rich club nodes ( Collin et al, 2014 ).…”

Asymmetry in the Central Nervous System: A Clinical Neuroscience Perspective

“…Studies have reported that ADHD is linked to alterations of asymmetries in the connection between the basal ganglia and frontal areas ( Silk et al, 2016 ), in the cingulum, the inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus, the cortico-spinal tract ( Douglas et al, 2018 ), and in the posterior thalamic radiation ( Wu et al, 2020 ). Moreover, ADHD has been linked to reduced rightward asymmetry in global network efficiency ( Li et al, 2021 ). However, since none of these effects were observed in more than one study, more research on structural white matter asymmetries in ADHD is clearly needed.…”