OBJECTIVE Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is a cluster of symptoms associated with poor function in various domains of major life activities that may comprise a novel attention disorder distinct from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nevertheless, very little is known about the neural substrate of SCT in children. The present study aimed to examine associations between SCT symptoms and brain structure and function in school-aged children. METHOD We performed a cross-sectional MRI study in 178 children 8 to 12 years old from primary schools in Barcelona, Spain. Data were collected between January 2012 and March 2013. Parents completed the Sluggish Cognitive Tempo-Child Behavior Checklist (SCT-CBCL). Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging to assess regional brain volume, white matter integrity using diffusion tensor imaging, and functional connectivity in major neural networks. RESULTS SCT symptoms were associated with altered anatomy of the frontal lobe in the form of increased regional volume. The anomalously large cortical regions were less mature in terms of functional connectivity. Importantly, all the anatomical and functional anomalies identified remained significant after adjusting the analyses for ADHD symptom scores. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that SCT symptoms are associated with distinct features of brain structure and function that differ from the classical neural substrates described in ADHD.

中文翻译：

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患有迟钝的认知节奏症状的学龄儿童的大脑结构和功能。

目的迟钝的认知节奏（SCT）是与主要生活活动的各个领域中的功能差相关的一系列症状，可能包括与注意力缺乏/多动症（ADHD）不同的新型注意力障碍。然而，对于儿童SCT的神经底物知之甚少。本研究旨在检查学龄儿童SCT症状与脑结构和功能之间的关联。方法我们对西班牙巴塞罗那的178名8至12岁的儿童进行了MRI横断面研究。在2012年1月至2013年3月之间收集了数据。父母填写了缓慢的认知节拍儿童行为清单（SCT-CBCL）。参与者进行了磁共振成像，以评估区域脑容量，使用弥散张量成像的白质完整性，和主要神经网络中的功能连接。结果SCT症状与额叶解剖结构的改变以区域体积增加的形式相关。在功能连接方面，异常大的皮质区域较不成熟。重要的是，调整多动症症状评分的分析后，发现的所有解剖学和功能异常仍然很明显。结论我们的结果表明SCT症状与大脑结构和功能的独特特征有关，这与ADHD中描述的经典神经基质不同。在功能连接方面，异常大的皮质区域较不成熟。重要的是，调整多动症症状评分的分析后，发现的所有解剖学和功能异常仍然很明显。结论我们的结果表明SCT症状与大脑结构和功能的独特特征有关，这与ADHD中描述的经典神经基质不同。在功能连接方面，异常大的皮质区域较不成熟。重要的是，调整多动症症状评分的分析后，发现的所有解剖学和功能异常仍然很明显。结论我们的结果表明SCT症状与大脑结构和功能的独特特征有关，这与ADHD中描述的经典神经基质不同。