# Biosignatures of Executive Function and Emotion Regulation in Young Children with ADHD

> **NIH NIH R01** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $603,416

## Abstract

Project Summary
Children’s early externalizing behavior problems, including symptoms of Attention-
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity,
are the most common reason for early childhood mental health referrals and occur in 10-
25% of preschoolers. Despite the successful development of evidence-based treatments
for ADHD, early interventions have been shown to have little impact on children’s long-
term academic and social impairment. A major barrier to understanding the long-term
treatment impact on children with ADHD is that current definitions of the disorder rely
solely on DSM-V symptom profiles. A simplistic classification system limits our
understanding of the heterogeneity present in ADHD, particularly during the preschool and
early elementary school years. The heterogeneity of the disorder suggests that the ADHD
may be characterized by multiple subgroups with varying neuropsychological profiles, with
the assumption is that these profiles reflect different underlying neurobiological substrates.
However, an established understanding of the neurobiology of ADHD is lacking, in
particular, in the executive function (EF) and emotion regulation (ER) domains. In
accordance with the NIMH strategic plan (Strategy 1.4) we seek to overcome these
limitations by identifying distinct “biosignatures” derived from an integration of
neurobiological (functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); functional
MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI) and pathophysiological markers of EF and ER. This will
aid in the early identification and tailored treatment of behavioral and neuropsychological
phenotypes of ADHD. Additionally, we propose to examine the extent to which the
identified “biosignatures” predict children’s early intervention response. Understanding
and better capturing the heterogeneity of EF and ER may lead to more targeted treatments
to improve children with ADHD’s social and academic functioning.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9998018
- **Project number:** 5R01MH112588-04
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Anthony Steven Dick
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $603,416
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9998018

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9998018, Biosignatures of Executive Function and Emotion Regulation in Young Children with ADHD (5R01MH112588-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9998018. Licensed CC0.

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