Co-PIs:  Brooke Molina, PhD and Cecile Ladouceur, PhD

Funding Source:  National Institute on Mental Health

This study will enroll 200 adult participants of the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study (PALS) and use MRI technology to investigate the structure and functioning of the brain in relation to adulthood functioning for individuals with, and without, childhood ADHD. Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD outcomes in adulthood may help explain why certain children with ADHD continue to experience problems as adults. The PALS-N study uses functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) while participants complete tasks that measure their attention, memory and response inhibition. They also complete a neurocognitive battery and self-report questionnaires. The project’s Principal Investigators are Drs. Brooke Molina and Cecile Ladouceur. Dr. Molina is the Principal Investigator of the PALS Study and a longtime ADHD researcher. Dr. Ladouceur is a neuroscientist with expertise in the study of neural systems underlying emotion regulation, specifically cognitive-affective processes.

Participants are recruited for PALS-N as close to the regular PALS visit as possible. A telephone screen is conducted to determine eligibility for the study. Approximately two-thirds of the PALS participants screened so far have been eligible to participate in the study. Participation in the project involves one six-hour visit to Oakland.

The PALS Neuroimaging project is coordinated by PALS Coordinator Tracey Wilson. For more information about the PALS-N project, you may contact her at 412-246-5673 or by email.