https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-024-01161-y
Regular Article
The effect of high-order interactions on the functional brain networks of boys with ADHD
1
Xi’an Key Laboratory of Human–Machine Integration and Control Technology for Intelligent Rehabilitation, School of Computer Science, Xijing University, 710123, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
2
School of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yan’an University, 716000, Yan’an, People’s Republic of China
3
Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Applied Technology of Controllable Neutron Source, Xijing University, 710123, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
Received:
3
February
2024
Accepted:
1
April
2024
Published online:
15
April
2024
Investigating the functional connectivities in the brain networks of individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long intrigued researchers. ADHD individuals have defects in recognizing others’facial emotions, resulting in inappropriate social interactions. While great attention has been paid to examining the pairwise interactions between various brain regions in individuals with ADHD, further exploration is required to investigate the impact of simultaneous interactions involving more than two brain regions on ADHD. To fill this research gap, the higher-order interactions of the brain networks of ADHD and healthy boys while observing facial emotions are analyzed in this study. Weighted brain hyper-networks are constructed based on the maximum cliques of the brain networks as hyperlinks. The statistical analysis of topological features extracted from the boys’brain hyper-networks revealed significant differences 
between the ADHD and healthy groups in the frontal, right temporal, and occipital brain regions. These findings may represent the defects in the higher-order interactions of brain networks in ADHD boys while processing facial images, emotions, and vision. It is hoped this study can help us gain an understanding of the complicated behavior of brain networks under the influence of ADHD.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
