Objective: To examine the role of the cerebellum in children with ADHD and ASD compared to typically developing peers.
Background: Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are at risk for a host of deleterious outcomes including impaired social relations, academic difficulties, disordered motor patterns, and comorbid psychopathology (substance use, depression, anxiety). While these behaviors limit the child’s and family’s functioning, the underlying causes of these diagnoses and underlying behaviors have not yet been explored. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the brain mechanisms associated with symptomatology and related behaviors. Mounting evidence has suggested that the cerebellum could play a key role in the etiology of both ADHD and ASD. This project aims to utilize high-resolution imaging at 7T Tesla to investigate fine grained, structural differences in the cerebellum according to diagnosis.
Within the same sample of children (with and without ADHD and ASD), we will examine the relationship between cerebellar structure, diagnoses (ADHD, ASD, typically developing), and subsequent behavior. We aim to clarify these relationships to inform treatment and intervention targets and goals. We hypothesize that compared to typically developing (TD) controls, children with ASD or ADHD will show reduced cerebellar cortical volumes and reduced volume of the dentate nucleus as compared to TD children.