Exploring the Potential “Brain-Cognition-Behavior” Relationship in Children With ADHD Based on Resting-State Brain Local Activation and Functional Connectivity

Objective: Exploring how abnormal brain function in children with ADHD affects executive function and ultimately leads to behavioral impairment provides a theoretical basis for clinically targeted neurotherapy and cognitive training. Method: Amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and seed-based FC were analyzed in 53 ADHD and 52 healthy controls. The “brain-cognition-behavior” relationship was further explored using mediation analysis. Results: ADHD showed abnormal local activation in the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), inferior occipital gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and reduced FC between the IFG and the cerebellum. ADHD diagnosis may affect ALFF of MTG and further modulate shift and finally affect inattentive symptoms. It may also affect the total symptoms through the FC of the IFG with the cerebellum. Conclusion: ADHD showed extensive spontaneous activity abnormalities and frontal-cerebellar FC impairments. Localized functional abnormalities in the MTG may affect the shift in EF, resulting in attention deficit behavior.