Executive Functioning and Mindfulness in Adults With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Imaging

Executive Functioning and Mindfulness in Adults With ADHD Imaging

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate changes in brain functioning using an MRI machine following mindfulness meditation training.

The broad objective of this proposal is to identify functional neuroanatomical correlates of changes in executive brain functioning prior to and following an 8-week, group-based mindfulness meditation intervention within a group of 10 adults diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Another group of 10 adults diagnosed with ADHD will be placed in the waitlist condition.

Our primary hypothesis is that adults with ADHD in the treatment group will exhibit improved performance on a series of executive functioning tasks and that exposure to task stimuli will correspond to changes in neural functioning following an 8-week, group-based mindfulness intervention. Brain responses will be measured using blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal in brain regions associated with emotional and executive processes prior to and following treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ages 18-50 years
• meet DSM-IV criteria for ADHD
• intellectual functioning ≥ 80 as assessed by an IQ screener
• generally healthy (i.e., no major medical problems)

Exclusion Criteria:

• major medical condition that would make participation unsafe (e.g., have pacemaker or other metallic implant), uncomfortable (e.g., chronic pain)
• claustrophobic, or abnormally afraid of closed-in places
• current drug use