Functional connectivity of specific brain networks related to social and communication dysfunction in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background: Adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have impaired social cognition and communication. However, the functioning of the brain networks involved in the social cognition and communication impairment in ADHD patients remains unclear. Methods: In total, 18 adolescents with ADHD and 16 age- and sex-matched typically developing adolescents (controls)—all of whom underwent a brain magnetic resonance imaging examination—were enrolled. Their parents filled out Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV (SNAP-IV) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) questionnaires. Functional connectivity analyses based on the default mode network, frontoparietal network, and cinguloopercular network were performed. Results: Compared with controls, adolescents with ADHD exhibited higher total and subscale scores on SNAP-IV and SRS. Higher SNAP-IV and SRS scores were associated with higher functional connectivity between the default mode network (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) and cinguloopercular network (anterior insula) and between the FPN (dorsolateral and prefrontal cortex) and cinguloopercular network, but with lower functional connectivity between the default mode network (posterior cingulate cortex) and frontoparietal network (inferior parietal lobule) and between the default mode network (precuneus) and cinguloopercular network (temporoparietal junction). Discussion: Social cognition and communication impairment and ADHD may commonly share the aberrant functional connectivity in the default mode network, frontoparietal network, and cinguloopercular network.