Brain circuit differences tied to attention problems
Frontal-thalamo-cerebellar circuitry of attention deficit via imaging-genetic-environmental analyses
Using kids' brain scans, genetic data, and life-history information to find brain wiring patterns linked to attention problems in children and teens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11095753 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at brain scans, genetic information, and environmental data from a large group of children to find patterns connected to attention problems. Researchers will use modern AI methods on MRI measures from the frontal cortex, thalamus, and cerebellum and relate those to tests of attention, memory, and processing speed. They will train models on baseline data and then apply transfer learning to predict attention difficulties from underlying brain features. The team will also track how those brain features and attention scores change over two years using the ABCD study data.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents with attention difficulties or an ADHD diagnosis, or families like those enrolled in the ABCD study, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Adults, people without attention symptoms, or anyone seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this analysis project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to specific brain patterns that help guide future diagnosis or targeted treatments for attention problems.
How similar studies have performed: Prior imaging studies have linked certain brain networks to attention problems, but combining deep learning with genetics and environment focused on frontal-thalamo-cerebellar circuits is relatively new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia State University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Jingyu — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Jingyu
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.