Background
Delineation of the cortical anomalies underpinning attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) can powerfully inform pathophysiological models. We previously found
that ADHD is characterized by a delayed maturation of prefrontal cortical thickness.
We now ask if this extends to the maturation of cortical surface area and gyrification.
Methods
Two hundred thirty-four children with ADHD and 231 typically developing children participated
in the study, with 837 neuroanatomic magnetic resonance images acquired longitudinally.
We defined the developmental trajectories of cortical surfaces and gyrification and
the sequence of cortical maturation, as indexed by the age at which each cortical
vertex attained its peak surface area.
Results
In both groups, the maturation of cortical surface area progressed in centripetal
waves, both lateral (starting at the central sulcus and frontopolar regions, sweeping
toward the mid and superior frontal gyrus) and medial (descending down the medial
prefrontal cortex, toward the cingulate gyrus). However, the surface area developmental
trajectory was delayed in ADHD. For the right prefrontal cortex, the median age by
which 50% of cortical vertices attained peak area was 14.6 years (SE = .03) in ADHD,
significantly later than in typically developing group at 12.7 years (SE = .03) [log-rank
test χ(1)2 = 1300, p < .00001]. Similar, but less pronounced, delay was found in the left hemispheric
lobes. There were no such diagnostic differences in the developmental trajectories
of cortical gyrification.
Conclusions
The congruent delay in cortical thickness and surface area direct attention away from
processes that selectively affect one cortical component toward mechanisms controlling
the maturation of multiple cortical dimensions.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 15, 2012
Accepted:
January 6,
2012
Received in revised form:
January 6,
2012
Received:
August 31,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
