Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry · Apr 2012
ReviewNeurobiological circuits regulating attention, cognitive control, motivation, and emotion: disruptions in neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders.
This article aims to review basic and clinical studies outlining the roles of prefrontal cortical (PFC) networks in the behavior and cognitive functions that are compromised in childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and how these map into the neuroimaging evidence of circuit abnormalities in these disorders. ⋯ Altogether, there is a good correspondence between anatomical circuitry mediating compromised functions and patterns of brain structure and function changes in children with neuropsychiatric disorders. Medications may optimize the neurochemical environment in PFC and associated circuitries, and improve structure and function.