The neural correlates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: an ALE meta-analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Meta-analysis of non-randomized observational (case-control) neuroimaging studies
PubMed 17073984 · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01671.x
What was done
An activation likelihood estimation (ALE) voxel-wise quantitative meta-analysis was conducted on 16 published functional neuroimaging studies comparing neural activity patterns between patients with ADHD and healthy controls. Statistical significance was evaluated using a corrected threshold of p < .05. Additional sub-analyses were conducted specifically comparing studies examining response inhibition versus other cognitive constructs.
What was found
ADHD patients exhibited significant frontal hypoactivity affecting the anterior cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal, and inferior prefrontal cortices, alongside related structures including the basal ganglia, thalamus, and portions of the parietal cortex (p < .05, corrected). Response inhibition tasks showed a more restricted set of group differences (inferior prefrontal cortex, medial wall regions, precentral gyrus), whereas tasks involving non-inhibition constructs demonstrated more extensive hypofunction. The abstract reports no effect sizes or participant counts.
Why it matters
These findings synthesize neuroimaging evidence to show that ADHD involves broad dysfunction across fronto-striatal and fronto-parietal circuits, arguing against causal models that isolate pathology to a single prefrontal sub-region.
Limits
Total participant counts, patient demographics, medication status, and imaging modalities are not reported in the abstract. Results are based on observational case-control studies subject to task heterogeneity and potential publication biases in functional neuroimaging.
Cited by
- supports Neuroimaging and neuroscience research indicate that ADHD is associated with dysfunction in the basal ganglia.