Brain state-dependent dynamic functional connectivity patterns in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients have presented aberrant static brain networks, however identifying ADHD patients based on dynamic information in brain networks is not fully clear. Data were obtained from 32 boys with ADHD and 52 sex- and age-matched typically developing controls; a sliding-window method was used to assess dynamic functional connectivity (dFC), and two reoccurring dFC states (the hot and cool states) were then identified using a k-means clustering method. The results showed that ADHD patients had significant changes in occurrence, transitions times and dFC strength of the cingulo-opercular network (CON) and sensorimotor network (SMN) in the cool state. The severity of ADHD symptoms showed significant correlations with the regional amplitude of dFC fluctuations in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior medial prefrontal cortex (amPFC) and precuneus. These findings could provide insights on the state-dependent dynamic changes in large-scale brain connectivity and network configurations in ADHD.