Genetic modulation of functional brain activity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related working memory process

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In the first funding period the Junior Research Group “Genomic Imaging” started to investigate the functional neuroanatomy of response inhibition and working memory processes relevant for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using different methods including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG). In particular, in an ongoing fMRI study we have been investigating the neural correlates of the ADHD-related endophenotype response inhibition and are currently testing hypotheses of genetic modulation of brain activity. The primary goals of the next funding period are the assessment of functional brain activity by means of fMRI during working memory sub-processes (attentional modulation of relevant and inhibition of irrelevant information) and compare these functional brain activities between ADHD patients and healthy controls. Additionally we want to analyse the genetic and pharmacological modulation of this functional brain activity. In preliminary EEG and NIRS studies we already have developed an adequate paradigm to investigate the neural correlates of the ADHD-related endophenotype working memory, its sub-processes (attentional modulation of relevant and inhibition of irrelevant information). The paradigm derived from the findings of the EEG and NIRS studies will be tested and evaluated in an fMRI study with 40 healthy subjects. In a second step we will compare ADHD patients (60 patients) with a healthy control group (60 individuals), both groups stratified according to the Val158Met COMT polymorphism. The 60 ADHD patients will be examined two times, in one session without, and in a second session after 6 weeks treatment with methylphenidate or placebo.