Introduction.
Have you ever wondered what goes on in the brain of an individual with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Continue reading this article to find out. According to www.sciencedaily.com, “Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with the delayed development of five brain regions and should be considered a brain disorder, according to a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry.”
A Study Conducted With Individuals With ADHD
A study was conducted on individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and individuals without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to www.sciencedaily.com, the following information about the study is worth noting:
The new international study measured differences in the brain structure of 1,713 people with a diagnosis of ADHD and 1,529 people without, all aged between four and 63 years old. All 3,242 people had an MRI scan to measure their overall brain volume, and the size of seven regions of the brain that were thought to be linked to ADHD — the pallidum, thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. The researchers also noted whether those with ADHD had ever taken psychostimulant medication, for example Ritalin.
What Was The Outcome Of The Study
According towww.sciencedaily.com, the following information can be concluded:
The study found that overall brain volume and five of the regional volumes were smaller in people with ADHD — the caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, amygdala and hippocampus.
The differences observed were most prominent in the brains of children with ADHD, but less obvious in adults with the disorder. Based on this, the researchers propose that ADHD is a disorder of the brain, and suggest that delays in the development of several brain regions are characteristic of ADHD.
Besides the caudate nucleus and putamen, for which previous studies have already shown links to ADHD, researchers were able to conclusively link the amygdala, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus to ADHD.
The researchers hypothesise that the amygdala is associated with ADHD through its role in regulating emotion, and the nucleus accumbens may be associated with the motivation and emotional problems in ADHD via its role in reward processing. The hippocampus’ role in the disorder might act through its involvement in motivation and emotion.
Conclusion
This article explored details about a study that was conducted on individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The findings of the study concluded that, according to www.sciencedaily.com, the caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, amygdala and hippocampus are smaller in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in contrast to individuals who do not have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.