Effect of methylphenidate on executive functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Normalization of behavior but not related brain activity

Julie B. Schweitzer; Douglas O. Lee; Russell B. Hanford; Caroline F. Zink; Timothy D. Ely; Malle A. Tagamets; John M. Hoffman; Scott T. Grafton; Clinton D. Kilts

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.07.011

Effect of methylphenidate on executive functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Normalization of behavior but not related brain activity

Julie B. Schweitzer, Douglas O. Lee, Russell B. Hanford, Caroline F. Zink, Timothy D. Ely, Malle A. Tagamets, John M. Hoffman, Scott T. Grafton, Clinton D. Kilts

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the effect of prolonged methylphenidate (MPH) treatment on the functional neuroanatomy of executive functioning in adult men with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Positron emission tomography with [ ¹⁵O] water measured alterations of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task and a control task in 10 ADHD and 11 normal control men. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder men were imaged unmedicated and after a clinically optimal dose of MPH for 3 weeks. Methylphenidate improved ADHD task performance, reduced rCBF in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and increased rCBF in the right thalamus and precentral gyrus. Comparisons between the ADHD and normal control groups showed that normal control participants exhibited greater anterior cingulate cortex and temporal gyrus rCBF than ADHD participants under both conditions. Executive functioning was associated with greater subcortical (basal ganglia and cerebellar vermis) activation in the ADHD than normal control group under both conditions. Methylphenidate does not normalize task-related activity in ADHD. Task-related rCBF decreases in the PFC may be due to improved filtering out of task-irrelevant stimuli by way of MPH-mediated dopamine release in the PFC.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	597-606
Number of pages	10
Journal	Biological psychiatry
Volume	56
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.07.011
State	Published - Oct 15 2004

Keywords

ADHD
PASAT
PET
executive function
methylphenidate
working memory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.07.011

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Schweitzer, J. B., Lee, D. O., Hanford, R. B., Zink, C. F., Ely, T. D., Tagamets, M. A., Hoffman, J. M., Grafton, S. T., & Kilts, C. D. (2004). Effect of methylphenidate on executive functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Normalization of behavior but not related brain activity. Biological psychiatry, 56(8), 597-606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.07.011

Schweitzer, JB, Lee, DO, Hanford, RB, Zink, CF, Ely, TD, Tagamets, MA, Hoffman, JM, Grafton, ST & Kilts, CD 2004, 'Effect of methylphenidate on executive functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Normalization of behavior but not related brain activity', Biological psychiatry, vol. 56, no. 8, pp. 597-606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.07.011

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title = "Effect of methylphenidate on executive functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Normalization of behavior but not related brain activity",

abstract = "We examined the effect of prolonged methylphenidate (MPH) treatment on the functional neuroanatomy of executive functioning in adult men with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Positron emission tomography with [ 15O] water measured alterations of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task and a control task in 10 ADHD and 11 normal control men. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder men were imaged unmedicated and after a clinically optimal dose of MPH for 3 weeks. Methylphenidate improved ADHD task performance, reduced rCBF in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and increased rCBF in the right thalamus and precentral gyrus. Comparisons between the ADHD and normal control groups showed that normal control participants exhibited greater anterior cingulate cortex and temporal gyrus rCBF than ADHD participants under both conditions. Executive functioning was associated with greater subcortical (basal ganglia and cerebellar vermis) activation in the ADHD than normal control group under both conditions. Methylphenidate does not normalize task-related activity in ADHD. Task-related rCBF decreases in the PFC may be due to improved filtering out of task-irrelevant stimuli by way of MPH-mediated dopamine release in the PFC.",

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author = "Schweitzer, {Julie B.} and Lee, {Douglas O.} and Hanford, {Russell B.} and Zink, {Caroline F.} and Ely, {Timothy D.} and Tagamets, {Malle A.} and Hoffman, {John M.} and Grafton, {Scott T.} and Kilts, {Clinton D.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (K08 MH01053 and RO3 MH55550) and the William K. Warren Foundation. Copyright: Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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AU - Hoffman, John M.

AU - Grafton, Scott T.

AU - Kilts, Clinton D.

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Effect of methylphenidate on executive functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Normalization of behavior but not related brain activity

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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