Temporal reproduction and its neuroanatomical correlates in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and their unaffected first-degree relatives

Abstract

Abstract:Abstract Background Little is known about time perception, its putative role as cognitive endophenotype, and its neuroanatomical underpinnings in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methods 20 adults with ADHD, 20 unaffected first degree relatives and 20 typically developing controls matched for age and gender undertook structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) with DARTEL was performed to obtain regional grey matter volumes. Temporal processing was investigated as a putative cognitive endophenotype using a temporal reproduction paradigm. General linear model was employed to examine the relationship between temporal reproduction performances and grey matter volumes. Results ADHD participants were impaired in temporal reproduction and unaffected first degree relatives performed in between their ADHD probands and typically developing controls. Increased grey matter volume in the cerebellum was associated with poorer temporal reproduction performance. Conclusions Adults with ADHD are impaired in time reproduction. Performances of the unaffected first degree relatives are in between ADHD relatives and controls, suggesting that time reproduction might be a cognitive endophenotype for adult ADHD. The cerebellum is involved in time reproduction and might play a role in driving time performances.

Impulsivity as an Endophenotype in ADHD: Negative Findings

“…Adults with remitted ADHD showed nearly the same levels of impulsivity as the control group. The results described here are in accordance with Pironti et al (2016), and do not support the idea that impulsive behavior is overexpressed in unaffected relatives of ADHD children. Kim et al (2017) found similar results using a different methodology.…”

“…Pauli-Pottt, Neidhard, Heinzel-Gutenbrunner, and Becker (2014) found that unaffected preschoolers with a positive family history of ADHD presented worse scores in delay aversion tasks. Opposite results were found by Pironti et al (2016), who did not find increased impulsivity in ADHD first-degree relatives, although using a different methodology. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies exploring impulsivity traits in unaffected ADHD parents.…”

Clinical Implications of the Perception of Time in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Review

“…Investigators have hypothesized that temporal reproduction is a cognitive endophenotype associated with executive dysfunction in ADHD, which might have specific genetic implications [20]. This hypothesis was tested in a small study on adults with ADHD in the United States and individuals with ADHD had difficulties in time estimation and replication tasks when compared with the non-ADHD controls [21]. Also, anatomical differences were noted in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and there was increased grey matter volume in the cerebellum of the ADHD group [21].…”

“…This hypothesis was tested in a small study on adults with ADHD in the United States and individuals with ADHD had difficulties in time estimation and replication tasks when compared with the non-ADHD controls [21]. Also, anatomical differences were noted in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and there was increased grey matter volume in the cerebellum of the ADHD group [21]. These investigators hypothesized that there was a correlation between the cerebral anomalies and differences in the perception of time in the group with ADHD [21].…”

“…Also, anatomical differences were noted in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and there was increased grey matter volume in the cerebellum of the ADHD group [21]. These investigators hypothesized that there was a correlation between the cerebral anomalies and differences in the perception of time in the group with ADHD [21].…”