ADHD Symptoms in Post-Institutionalized Children Are Partially Mediated by Altered Frontal EEG Asymmetry

Abstract

Individual differences in the propensity for left versus right frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry may underlie differences in approach/withdrawal tendencies and mental health deficits. Growing evidence suggests that early life adversity may shape brain development and contribute to the emergence of mental health problems. The present study examined frontal EEG asymmetry (FEA) following the transition to family care in children adopted internationally from institutional care settings between 15–36 months of age (N=82; 46 female, 36 male). Two comparison groups were included: an international adoption control consisting of children adopted from foster care with little to no institutional deprivation (N=45; 17 female, 28 male) and a post-adoption condition control consisting of children reared in birth families of the same education and income as the adoptive families (N=48; 23 female, 25 male). Consistent with evidence of greater approach and impulsivity-related behavior problems in post-institutionalized (PI) children, PI status was associated with greater left FEA than found in the other two groups. In addition, left FEA served as a mediator between institutionalization and age 5 ADHD symptoms for girls. Age at adoption and other preadoption factors were examined with results suggesting that earlier adoption into a supportive family resulted in a more typical pattern of brain functioning. Findings support the idea that the capacity of brain activity to evidence typical functioning following perturbation may differ in relation to the timing of intervention and suggest that the earlier the intervention of adoption, the better.

Trajectories of resting frontal brain activity and psychopathology in female adolescents exposed to child maltreatment

“…The finding that a combination of stable left frontal asymmetry and low levels of child trauma predicted a lower likelihood of showing symptoms of PTSD suggests that differences in a putative endophenotypic trait of affective style may serve as a buffer against childhood adversity, so long as the level of traumatic exposure is “low.” This interpretation is consistent with previous studies using an early adversity model, which reported that a pattern of left frontal EEG asymmetry interacted with the environment in conferring both positive and negative outcomes in previously institutionalized children (Frenkel et al, ), in female children exposed to maltreatment (Curtis & Cicchetti, ), and in adults born at extremely low birth weight (Fortier et al, ).…”

“…Left frontal asymmetry has been hypothesized to be a trait‐like affective profile that interacts with the environment to support both positive and negative outcomes, whereas right frontal asymmetry may be related to relatively less sensitivity to the environment, resulting in less flexible potential outcomes (e.g., Fortier et al, ). For instance, some institutionalized children exposed to early deprivation, another form of early adversity, exhibited greater relative left frontal alpha asymmetry post‐institutionalization, and this brain pattern mediated their later attention deficit hyperactive symptoms (Frenkel et al, ). The opposite finding has also been observed at a mature developmental stage, as greater relative right, rather than left, frontal asymmetry moderated the relation between high levels of trauma in childhood and greater inflammation in mid‐to‐late adulthood (ages 36–84) (Hostinar et al, ).…”

Early adversity and children's regulatory deficits: Does postadoption parenting facilitate recovery in postinstitutionalized children?

“…For example, inhibitory control measured by behavioral responses to a go/no-go task does not evidence differences by early care experiences, but early care effects are evident in brain activity to the same task (Loman et al, 2013; McDermott, Westerlund, Zeanah, Nelson, & Fox, 2012). Difficulties with sustained attention and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are frequently documented among PI youth (Frenkel et al, 2017; Gunnar et al, 2007; Loman et al, 2013; Wiik et al, 2011) and are proposed as a deprivation-specific syndrome (Kreppner, O'Connor, Rutter, & English and Romanian Adoptees Study Team, 2001). These difficulties can continue to persist throughout childhood (Wiik et al, 2011).…”

Paternal—but Not Maternal—Autistic Traits Predict Frontal EEG Alpha Asymmetry in Infants with Later Symptoms of Autism

“…The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was associated with modulation of the EEG activity at different EEG frequencies only in female infants and not in male infants [52], suggesting that baseline EEG frontal activity marks different neurobiological processes in female infants and male infants. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the sex difference in ASD is not only fundamental per se, but it might crucially contribute to unravelling the well-known sex differences in prevalence, age of onset, and severity that we observe in many psychiatric diseases, including depression and anxiety disorder and ADHD, in which a role of FAA has been reported [20,53]. Even if replication studies are necessary, it is conceivable that FAA involved in cortical development-if combined with higher parental autistic traits-could potentiate different genetic vulnerabilities in male infants and female infants, specifically ASD-related problems.…”