Longitudinal maturation of resting state networks: Relevance to sustained attention and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

The transition from childhood to adolescence involves important neural function, cognition, and behavior changes. However, the links between maturing brain function and sustained attention over this period could be better understood. This study examined typical changes in network functional connectivity over childhood to adolescence, developmental differences in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and how functional connectivity might underpin variability in sustained attention development in a longitudinal sample. A total of 398 resting state scans were collected from 173 children and adolescents (88 ADHD, 85 control) at up to three timepoints across ages 9-14 years. The effects of age, sex, and diagnostic group on changes in network functional connectivity were assessed, followed by relationships between functional connectivity and sustained attention development using linear mixed effects modelling. The ADHD group displayed greater decreases in functional connectivity between salience and visual networks compared with controls. Lower childhood functional connectivity between the frontoparietal and several brain networks was associated with more rapid sustained attention development, whereas frontoparietal to dorsal attention network connectivity related to attention trajectories in children with ADHD alone. Brain network segregation may increase into adolescence as predicted by key developmental theories; however, participants with ADHD demonstrated altered developmental trajectories between salience and visual networks. The segregation of the frontoparietal network from other brain networks may be a mechanism supporting sustained attention development. Frontoparietal to dorsal attention connectivity can be a focus for further work in ADHD.

ADHD Adults Show Lower Interindividual Similarity in Ex-Gaussian Reaction Time Vectors for Congruent Stimuli Compared to Control Peers

“…This observation from our data is consistent with evidence that longer intervals between these two points in the order of years can reveal significant changes in the RT. Recently, Thomson et al (2022), examined the longitudinal maturation of resting state networks in Individuals with ADHD compared to controls at three time points across ages 9 to 14 years. They found that the ADHD group displayed more significant decreases in functional connectivity between salience and visual networks compared with controls and a reduction in RT at 13.2 years compared with the age of 10.4 years in both groups.…”

“…Recent studies have also suggested that the significant interindividual variability in ADHD could be related to different alterations in brain structure and function (Chiang et al, 2022; Kölle et al, 2022; Lin et al, 2014; Thomson et al, 2022; Tremblay et al, 2020). These studies show how interindividual similarity inferred by interindividual variability can be investigated in individuals with ADHD using neuroimaging techniques.…”

Effects of ambient fine particulates, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone on maturation of functional brain networks across early adolescence

“…For example, a recent study by DeSerisy et al (2021) found connectivity between DMN and FPN brain regions were increasingly anticorrelated in older participants (age range: 7–25 years), suggesting between-network segregation in these networks. Additionally, Thomson et al (2022) found decreased SN-FPN and SN-DMN network connectivity in children. As such, a tenet in the existing literature is that by adulthood brain regions within-network show stronger correlations with each other, whereas brain regions that are from different networks show weaker correlations, respectively.…”

“…Results from a more recent cross-sectional study by Sanders et al (2023) further supports the tenet that age-related increases in within-network connectivity occur in DMN and FPN but decreases occur in within-network connectivity in the SN during childhood and into early adolescence. As for between-network connectivity, current evidence points to segregation for all canonical networks, namely those within the triple network model (FPN, SN, DMN) ( DeSerisy et al 2021 ; Thomson et al 2022 ). For example, a recent study by DeSerisy et al (2021) found connectivity between DMN and FPN brain regions were increasingly anticorrelated in older participants (age range: 7–25 years), suggesting between-network segregation in these networks.…”

“…Discrepancies among the literature could likely be attributed to methodological differences, such as study design (cross-sectional vs longitudinal), analysis (i.e., pairwise correlations, graph theory, independent component analysis), scanner hardware and software differences, and differences in how head motion was handled. Thus, although patterns exist in children versus adults, few studies have examined longitudinal changes in these networks during the transition to early adolescence, highlighting the need for additional longitudinal neuroimaging studies aimed at characterizing intrinsic functional network connectivity ( Stevens 2016 ; Grayson and Fair 2017 ; Thomson et al 2022 ; Cao et al 2016 ; Ernst et al 2015 , Supekar, Musen, and Menon 2009 ; Qin et al 2012 ) as well as examining to what degree these patterns may be altered by outdoor air quality.…”