A groundbreaking study at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) aims to unravel the role of the brain’s reward system in autism and ADHD. Backed by a $919,000 National Institute of Mental Health grant, the five-year research project led by Dr. Katherine Lawrence will explore how reward network connectivity impacts these conditions.

Using high-resolution fMRI scans and advanced machine learning, Lawrence’s team will map the interaction between the brain’s reward centers — such as the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens — and other regions involved in cognitive control and sensorimotor functions. The study will also investigate how these connections differ across age, sex, and individual factors.

The research leverages data from the ENIGMA Consortium and the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, encompassing over 3,000 participants with autism or ADHD and 11,000 from the general population. This unprecedented dataset ensures findings are robust and widely applicable.

The study could revolutionize personalized interventions for autism and ADHD by identifying key biological pathways and mapping developmental trajectories, much like pediatric growth charts.

“This research is a critical step toward defining the most important pathways for future studies and targeted therapies,” Lawrence said.