title: Hyperactivity and impulsivity in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is related to glutamatergic dysfunction in the anterior cingulate cortex.
abstract: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is closely linked to the dysregulation of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission in the fronto-striatal neural network, including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Additionally, increasing evidence supports the involvement of the glutamatergic system in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Impulsivity, a core symptom in patients with ADHD, has been repeatedly associated with glutamatergic neurotransmission, and pharmacological treatment of ADHD has been shown to reduce glutamate levels in the prefrontal cortex.
  
  
  
  We investigated glutamate levels in the ACC and the DLPFC in 30 adults with ADHD and 30 healthy controls using single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy on a 3T scanner.
  
  
  
  The ADHD group showed a significant increase in glutamate in the ACC compared to controls, no significant differences in metabolites were observed in the DLPFC. Overall, glutamate levels in the ACC were positively correlated with ADHD symptomatology, especially hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms.
  
  
  
  Increased levels of glutamate in the ACC, which were positively correlated with hyperactivity and impulsivity, support the hypothesis that dysfunctional glutamatergic neurotransmission is at least partially responsible for ADHD symptomatology. Modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission might therefore be a promising avenue for future pharmacological interventions.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Clinical Radiology, School of Medicine , University of Muenster , Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine , University of Muenster , Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine , University of Muenster , Germany.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Clinical Radiology, School of Medicine , University of Muenster , Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kugel
authors.affiliation: c Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology , University of Kiel , Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shushakova
authors.affiliation: c Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology , University of Kiel , Germany.
authors.forename: Anya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine , University of Muenster , Germany.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ohrmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid
keywords: ACC; ADHD; MR spectroscopy; fronto-striatal circuit; glutamate; impulsivity