# Neurophysiologically Defined Subtypes of ADHD

> **NIH NIH R00** · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2022 · $249,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental
disorders among children and is associated with myriad adverse long-term outcomes including incarceration,
injury, substance abuse and lower employment rates. Despite advances in pharmacologic and behavioral
interventions for ADHD, available treatments do not alter the course of the disorder for the majority of
individuals. The proposed project aims to address a significant barrier to ADHD research and treatment, which
is the etiological and neurobiological heterogeneity of the disorder. A common theory suggests that disruptions
in neural circuitry supporting attention and inhibition may occur at the levels of perceptual orienting, action
execution, and/or integration of those two processes. Alternately, recent literature indicates that atypical
baseline cortical activation impedes attentive behavior during cognitive tasks. The proposed studies will utilize
electrophysiology frequency (EEG) and event related potential (ERP) metrics to test competing latent profile
models of homogenous, neurophysiologically-defined subtypes of ADHD in school age and young children.
Study 1 (K99) will utilize confirmatory latent profile analysis to identify neurophysiological subtypes of ADHD in
100 affected, 7-11 year old children and 30 healthy controls, and to further characterize the cognitive and
psychiatric profiles of the latent classes. Study 2 (R00) will extend the methods to 100 2.5-4 year olds at risk
for ADHD, 30 2.5-4 year olds with no risk for ADHD, and an additional independent sample of 60 7-11 year old
children with an ADHD diagnosis. The goals of Study 2 are to identify early developmental correlates of the
latent classes identified in Study 1, and to replicate the results of Study 1 with an independent and pooled (i.e.
Study 1 + Study 2) sample of affected children. The results of the proposed studies will directly inform future
research on putative genetic and environmental factors associated with ADHD, and ultimately, development of
precision medicine treatment for the disorder.
 Through the current proposal, the P.I. seeks intensive training in electrophysiology methods and latent
class analysis, as well as continued training in developmental cognitive neuroscience. The proposed
mechanism will support the P.I. in establishing her own laboratory in year 3, and will allow her to apply for
future funding to support a prospective, longitudinal study of infants at-risk for ADHD. The P.I. will accomplish
her training goals with the mentorship of a highly qualified team of senior investigators at the University of
Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the University of Colorado. She plans
to execute the K99 research at the Center on Human Development and Disability at the University of
Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10476596
- **Project number:** 5R00MH116064-04
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Anne Bernard Arnett
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-07 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10476596

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10476596, Neurophysiologically Defined Subtypes of ADHD (5R00MH116064-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10476596. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*