Structural integrity of the anterior thalamic radiation predicts alpha oscillations and inattention during visual encoding

TL;DR

This study finds that structural issues in a brain pathway called the anterior thalamic radiation are linked to disrupted alpha brain waves and attention problems in children with ADHD.

Contribution

The study identifies a specific white matter tract, the anterior thalamic radiation, as a structural basis for alpha oscillation modulation and attention deficits in ADHD.

Findings

Increased mean diffusivity in the anterior thalamic radiation and SLF2 in children with ADHD indicates reduced white matter integrity.

Microstructure of the anterior thalamic radiation significantly predicts alpha event-related desynchronization during working memory tasks.

Disruptions in anterior thalamic pathways are linked to attentional impairments in ADHD.

Abstract

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically associated with working memory deficits, which are thought to arise from impaired attentional control. Previous research has highlighted abnormalities in alpha oscillations (8–12 Hz) during working memory tasks in children with ADHD, particularly attenuated event-related alpha power decreases (alpha ERD). However, the structural underpinnings of these oscillatory dynamics remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between white matter microstructure and alpha modulation during a spatial working memory task in children with ADHD and typically developing (TD) controls. EEG and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were analyzed from 115 children (ADHD n = 72; TD n = 43). We focused on three white matter tracts: the optic radiation (OR), anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and the second branch of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF2). DTI analyses revealed increased mean diffusivity in the ATR and SLF2 in ADHD, indicating reduced white matter integrity. Importantly, ATR microstructure significantly predicted alpha ERD, suggesting a key role for anterior thalamic pathways in modulating neural oscillations during working memory encoding. In contrast, SLF2 and OR microstructure did not significantly influence alpha modulation. These findings support a thalamus-mediated model of alpha modulation, where disruptions in anterior thalamic microstructural integrity contribute to attentional impairments in ADHD. Understanding these structural-functional relationships may inform targeted interventions aimed at improving executive function in this population.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-40086-5.

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