We used this analysis technique to assess alterations in functional connectivity of NAcc associated with ADHD and the relationship between these alterations and the degree to which larger, delayed rewards are discounted. Children with ADHD are hypothesized to have a steeper discounting gradient than typically developing children (Sagvolden et al., 2005), which was recently reported by our group (although in that study, modulated by IQ) (Wilson et al., 2011). Task fMRI studies have found the involvement of the NAcc on performing a delay discounting task (Ballard and Knutson, 2009; McClure et al., 2004a). We aimed to: (1) examine the differences between children with ADHD and typically developing children in functional connectivity of the NAcc; (2) define which NAcc connections are correlated with discounting of delayed rewards; and (3), finally, identify which of the delay gradient related-connections are altered in children with ADHD.
