# Neural signatures, developmental precursors, and outcomes in young children with ASD and ADHD

> **NIH NIH P50** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $485,063

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – Project 2: Neural signatures, developmental precursors, and outcomes in young children with
ASD and ADHD
Although recognized as distinct diagnostic conditions, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are highly comorbid. The overlap in clinical presentation, risk factors, and co-
heritability of ASD and ADHD has led some authors to propose that these disorders share underlying biological
mechanisms and that ADHD is a milder, less severe subtype within the ASD syndrome. Moreover, the
presence of co-occurring ADHD has significant clinical implications, where individuals with comorbid ASD and
ADHD have substantially poorer outcomes. To date, very little research has focused on the overlap of ASD
and ADHD during early childhood. Thus, we know relatively little about the extent to which ASD and ADHD
represent distinct conditions or the impact of co-occurring ADHD symptoms on early behavioral patterns and
brain mechanisms in ASD. In Project 2, we will study the neural signatures, biomarkers, developmental
trajectories, and clinical outcomes associated with comorbid ASD and ADHD with the overarching goal of
generating knowledge that will allow earlier detection of these overlapping conditions and more individualized
treatment approaches that take into account the additive and interactive effects of both conditions. The primary
goals of Project 2 are to (1) elucidate shared and distinct neural signatures and biomarkers related to ASD vs.
ADHD, (2) examine the functional and clinical impact of co-occurring ADHD symptoms in young children with
ASD, and (3) identify early characteristics of infants and toddlers later diagnosed with ASD with and without
elevated ADHD symptoms. To this end, in Project 2, we will recruit four groups of children between 36-72
months of age with the following clinical features: ASD only, ASD+ADHD, ADHD only, and typically-developing
(TD) children. The specific aims to achieve our overall study goals are to (1) identify differences and
commonalities in neural signatures and biomarkers based on neurophysiology and eye-gaze tracking across
the four groups; (2) examine how these biomarkers are correlated with specific symptom profiles based on
shared and distinct phenotypic characteristics of ASD and ADHD; (3) determine the clinical impact of ADHD in
young children with ASD; and (4) explore the extent to which developmental precursors linked to diagnostic
outcome can be detected during the infant-toddler period. The latter aim will be accomplished by analyzing
home video recordings taken in the first and second year of life of children later diagnosed with ASD only,
ADHD only, ASD+ADHD, vs. TD, based on observations made via automated computer vision analysis of
movement and affect, as well as human coding of vocalizations/verbalizations, joint attention, gaze and
orienting behavior, affect, and repetitive behaviors. Project 2 will provide a detailed, comprehensive
understanding ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985158
- **Project number:** 5P50HD093074-04
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Geraldine Dawson
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $485,063
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-07 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985158

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985158, Neural signatures, developmental precursors, and outcomes in young children with ASD and ADHD (5P50HD093074-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985158. Licensed CC0.

---

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