Research on acoustic communication and its underlying neurobiological substrates has led to new insights about the functioning of central pattern generators (CPGs). CPG-related atypicalities may point to brainstem irregularities rather than cortical malfunctions for early vocalizations/babbling. The “vocal pattern generator,” together with other CPGs, seems to have great potential in disentangling neurodevelopmental disorders and potentially predict neurological development.

The current study examined regional frontal lobe volumes based on functionally relevant subdivisions in contemporaneously recruited samples of boys and girls with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Forty-four boys (21 ADHD, 23 control) and 42 girls (21 ADHD, 21 control), ages 8–13 years, participated. Sulcal–gyral landmarks were used to manually delimit functionally relevant regions within the frontal lobe: primary motor cortex, anterior cingulate, deep white matter, premotor regions [supplementary motor complex (SMC), frontal eye field, lateral premotor cortex (LPM)], and prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions [medial PFC, dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC), inferior PFC, lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and medial OFC]. Compared to sex-matched controls, boys and girls with ADHD showed reduced volumes (gray and white matter) in the left SMC. Conversely, girls (but not boys) with ADHD showed reduced gray matter volume in left LPM; while boys (but not girls) with ADHD showed reduced white matter volume in left medial PFC. Reduced left SMC gray matter volumes predicted increased go/no–go commission rate in children with ADHD. Reduced left LPM gray matter volumes predicted increased go/no–go variability, but only among girls with ADHD. Results highlight different patterns of anomalous frontal lobe development among boys and girls with ADHD beyond that detected by measuring whole lobar volumes. (JINS, 2011, 17, 1047–1057)

Data are presented on 157newborn infants followed sequentially in a randomized home-based nursing-intervention trial for drug-exposedinfants with follow up at 3 (N=118), 6 (N=124), and 12 months (N=77). The objectivesof this study were to describe the longitudinal neurodevelopmental status of a cohort of children withintrauterine exposure to illicit drugs during their gestation, characterize the evolution of early toneabnormalities in a polydrug-exposed cohort, and determine whether neuromotor outcome is associated withdrug-exposure patterns. For analysis, infants were grouped based on maternal drug-use pattern and the presence ofdrug metabolites in the neonatal drug screen. The sequential neuromotor examination was used at each age todefine the neuromotor status of six domains and define categorical classifications as either normal, suspect, orabnormal. Multiple patterns of neuromotor abnormalities were observed during the neonatal period; most resolvedover time. Axial hypotonia was a prominent finding in the neonatal period; however, it was infrequent in abnormalexaminations at 12 months. Increased lower-extremity tone was a less frequent finding during the neonatal period.Infants whose neonatal urine drug screen was positive for both cocaine and opiates, were more likely than infantswith negative urine drug screens, cocaine only, or opiate only drug screen results to have abnormal neuromotorexaminations; while positive maternal drug screens for concurrent cocaine and opiate use were associated withperipheral hypertonia. Persistence of increased leg-extensor tone was found in 67% of the abnormal examinationsat 12 months. Acquisition of rolling and walking was delayed in the drug-exposed cohort.