AD/HD Neuroimaging.

• Welcome to the BOL Forum on Shame and Affect Theory by John Grohol, 2/10/96
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    • In all new there is some old! by Michèle Paquette, 4/19/96
      
      

I am a medicinal chemist following this interesting forum. I am trying to reconcile affect theory with published neuroimaging data for AD/HD children (see Lou HC, et al Arch Neurol 46:48-52, l989; O'Tuama LA et al, Semin Nucl Med 1993 Jul;23(3):255-64). In SPECT imaging, Lou et al showed decreased perfusion of central periventricular structures with relatively greater perfusion of the occipital neocortex. After methylphenidate administration, there was a trend toward reversal of these changes.

These results suggest that AD/HD receive overstimulation of sensory information (affect stimuli) that they are unable to process because of underactivity in the frontal lobes. Stimulant medication probably enables the neocortical systems to process the abundant sensory information. How is this scenario a disorder of affect? Perhaps the reason ADHD don't appear to exhibit shame is that they have not been able to adequately process the sensory stimuli.

Fiona Geiser, Ph.D. EMAIL: fionageiser@msn.com

• Neuroimaging of Affects, studies needed! by Jim Pfrommer, 4/21/96