Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Oct 28.
Published in final edited form as: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018 Sep 5;94:198–209. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.010

Table 3:

Summary of neuroimaging studies included. The final three columns indicate the degree to which each model of ADHD outcome is supported by the study. Some of the major strengths and limitations are noted in the final columns.

Referenc
e
Participants
(N)
Age (year)
M(SD)
Outcomes Models Comments Association with
hyperactivity-
impulsivity and
inattention
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Task based imaging
Schulz et
al 2017
11/16/28 7–11 24 (2) fMRI: stimulus
and response
conflict task
+++
Fronto-
parietal
activation
during high
cognitive
demand
- - Strengths: Tested
core ADHD
cognitive deficit

Limitations: Modest
N of remitters
Not reported
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Szekely et
al 2017
fMRI:24/40/84

MEG-25/26/46
9 (1) 24(4) MEG and f RI:
response
inhibition
+++

Prefrontal
inhibitory
processing
- +++

Striatal
activity
Strengths:
Multimodal

Large sample size

Limitations: Adult
endpoint imaging
only
Hyperactivity-
impulsivity (not
inattention)
associated with
atypical inferior
frontal activity in
fMRI and MEG
Schneider
et al 2010
11/8/17 N/A 32(10
)
fMRI: NoGo in
continuous
performance
task
++
More
typical
activation
in fronto-
parietal
regions in
remitters
- - Strengths:
medication naive

Limitations: First
clinical assessment
in adulthood

Small N of remitters
Inattention,
hyperactivity,
impulsivity scores all
correlated with
decreased fronto-
striato-parietal
hypoactivation, and
with increased insula
activity
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Clerkin et
al 2013
16/19/32 9(1) 24(2) fMRI: cued
response
preparation

(‘bottom-up’)
- +

Thalamo-
cortical
connectivit
y during
response
preparation
++

Thalamic
activation
Strengths: Direct
test of an influential
model of ADHD
remission
Limitations: ROI
(thalamus)
connectivity
analyses only
Not reported
Michelini
et al 2016
87/23/169 13 19 (3) EEG: Eriksen
Flanker task
+++

Error
related
negativity
(bottom-
up)
- +

Conflict
monitoring
- N2 signal
(top-
down)
Strengths: First use
of
electrophysiology
in adult remitters.
Limitations: Modest
N of remitters
Not reported
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Cheung et
al 2016
87/23/169 13 19 (3) EEG: cued
flanker
continuous
performance
task
+++

Preparation
-vigilance:
contingent
negative
variation
(bottom-
up)
+

Executive,
‘top-down’
processes
(NoGo P3
amplitude)
As above Not reported
Wetterlin
g et al
2015
17/15/22 Not
give
n
21(4) fMRI: reward,
punishment
processing
+++

Fronto-
striatal
connectivit
y
++

Pre-frontal
processing
of
punishmen
t
- Strengths: Only
examination of
reward processing
in remitters
Limitations: Modest
N of remitters
Not reported
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Resting state
Mattfield
et al 2014
13/22/17 10
(3)
28 (5) fMRI : default
mode and its
interconnectio
ns
++

DMN
internal
connectivit
y
- ++

DMN
connection
to other
regions
Strengths: First
rsFMRI study of
adult outcome
Clinical FU from
childhood into
adulthood
Limitations: Seed
based analyses only
Not reported
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Francx et
al 2015
74 (persistent
symptoms)/55
(improving
symptoms; 19
reached
remission)/10
0
12 18 (3) fMRI: cognitive
control
network only
- +++

Higher
connectivit
y between
cognitive
and other
brain
networks in
remitters
vs controls
- Strengths: Large
overall sample size
FU over
adolescence
Limitations:
Examined only
cognitive network
Few syndromic
remitters
Hyperactivity-
impulsivity (not
inattention)
associated with
higher connectivity
between cognitive
control and other
networks
Sudre et
al 2017
fMRI-41/fMRI-
35/fMRI-71
9 (1) 24(4) MEG and fMRI:
default mode
and its
interconnectio
ns
+++

DMN
internal and
external
connectivit
y
- - Strengths:
Multimodal
Large sample size
Limitations: Adult
endpoint only
Anomalies associated
with inattentive
symptoms
MEG-32/MEG-
35/MEG-58
White matter microstructure
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
 Fixed trait
Cortese et
al 2013
15/25/47 8 (2) 41 (3) DTI - analyzed
at voxel level
+ - ++ Strengths: Clinical
FU from childhood
into middle age
with low attrition
rate
Limitations: Males
only
Low N of directions
in DTI
Not reported
Bode et al
2015
0/30/30 15
(1)
23(1) DTI - analyzed
at voxel level
? ? ? Strengths Based on
population birth
cohort
Medication naive
Limitations: No
persisters in study
for contrast
1.5T scanner
Not reported
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Francx et
al 2015
59 (persistent
symptoms)/42
(improving
symptoms)/40
12 18 (3) DTI - analyzed
at voxel level
+++ - - Strengths: Large
overall sample size
Symptom level
analyses
Limitations: Low N
of directions
Few syndromic
remitters
Persistent
hyperactive-
impulsive (but not
inattentive)
symptoms correlated
with white matter
microstructural
anomalies
Shaw et al
2015
32/43/74 10(3
)
23(4) DTI - analyzed
at tract level
+++ - - Strengths: Clinical
FU from childhood
to adulthood
Large N of DTI
directions
Limitations: Tract
based analyses only
Persistent
inattention
correlated with
anomalies
Neuroanatomic
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Shaw et al
2013
37/55/184 10
(3)
24(3) Cortical
thickness
+++

Cortical
attention,
cognitive
control
regions
converged
to typical
dimensions
in remitters
- - Strengths:
Combined
prospective clinical
FU and imaging
from childhood into
adulthood
Limitations: 1.5T
scanner
Persistent
inattention
correlated with
degree of cortical
convergence
Mackie et
al 2007
16/16/32 10
(3)
14(4) Cerebellar
subregional
volumes
++

Trajectory
of
hemisphere
s
- ++
Trajectory
of vermis
As above Combined
presentation showed
most atypical
trajectories
Persistent
ADHD
/Remitted
/Never
Affected
Entr
y
Follo
w-up
Converge/
‘Normalize’
Compensat
e
Fixed trait
Proal et al
2013
17/26/57 8 (2) 41 (3) Cortical
thickness/
VBM
++
Volumes of
thalamus/
cerebellum
- ++

Thickness
of
posterior
cortex
Strengths: Clinical
FU from childhood
into middle age
Limitations: Males
only
Two scanners used
Not reported