Fronto-striatal Network Dysfunction in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common neurodevelopmental disorders that significantly impact a child’s physical and mental health. Importantly, DCD and ADHD frequently co-occur. Behavioral, genetic and neuroimaging research have identified commonalities between children with these disorders. This thesis used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to determine the functional connections of the motor network of children with DCD, ADHD, and combined DCD and ADHD, in comparison to healthy children. In the first study, common and distinct alterations in the functional connections with the left motor cortex were identified in children with these disorders, including regions involved in sensorimotor processing and motor control. In the second study, differences in the hemispherical asymmetry of functional connections within the motor networks were also identified. These findings suggest that common brain functional networks are involved in DCD and ADHD, and that rs-fMRI is a valuable tool for furthering our understanding of the neurological underpinnings of these disorders.