Information

Related Research Units

Developmental Medicine Research

Research Overview

Dr. Arnett and her research team aim to improve precision medicine care for children and families affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Arnett’s laboratory investigates brain-behavior associations leading to atypical neurodevelopment among children. Research initiatives have included investigations of neurocognitive and genetic etiologies of ADHD, learning disorders and autism; as well as single gene disorders associated with autism and intellectual disability.

Research Background

Anne B. Arnett, PhD, is a Scientist in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and a Wade Family Investigator in Child Psychology. She received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Washington. Dr. Arnett’s research within the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience at Boston Children’s Hospital utilizes electroencephalography (EEG), event-related potential (ERP) and neuropsychological methods to investigate individual variability among children at risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and associated diagnoses. Dr. Arnett’s goal is to improve clinical care for children and families affected by ADHD and related neurodevelopmental disorders through identification of biomarkers that can inform precision medicine care practices.

Selected Publications

  1. Mamiya, P.a, Arnett, A.B.a, Stein, M.A. (2021). Precision Medicine Care in ADHD: The Case for Neural Excitation and Inhibition. Brain Sciences, 11(1), 91.
  2. Arnett, A.B., Beighley, J., Nelson, E., Hoekzema, K., Wang, T., Eichler, E.E. & Bernier, R.A. (2020). Developmental Predictors of Cognitive and Adaptive Outcomes in Genetic Subtypes of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism Research, 13(10), 1659-1669.
  3. Bren, M. S., Garg, P., Tang, L., Mendonca, D., Levy, T., Barbosa, M., Arnett, A. B., Kurtz-Nelson, E….Buxbaum, J.D., Siper, P.M., De Rubeis, S. (2020). Episignatures stratifying Helsmoortel-Van Der Aa Syndrome show modest correlation with phenotype. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 107(3), 555- 563.
  4. Trinh, S.a, Arnett, A.B.a, Kurtz-Nelson, E., Beighley, J., Picoto, M. & Bernier, R. (2020). Transcriptional Subtyping Explains Phenotypic Variability in Genetic Subtypes of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 1-9.
  5. Rutter, T.* & Arnett, A.B. (2020). Temperament Traits Mark Liability for Coexisting Psychiatric Symptoms in Children with Elevated ADHD Symptoms. Journal of Attention Disorders. 1087054720943282
  6. Beighley, J.S., Hudac, C., Arnett, A.B., Peterson, J.L., Gerdts, J., Wallace, A.S., Mefford, H., O’Roak, B.J., Eichler, E. & Bernier, R.A. (2020). Clinical phenotypes of carriers of mutations in CHD8 or its conserved target genes. Biological Psychiatry, 87(2), 123-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.020
  7. Arnett, A.B., Trinh, S., Bernier, R.A. (2019). The state of research on the genetics of autism spectrum disorder: methodological, clinical and conceptual progress. Current Opinion in Psychology, 27, 1-5.
  8. Arnett, A.B., Hudac, C., DesChamps, T., Cairney, B.E.*, Gerdts, J., Wallace, A.S., Bernier, R.A. & Webb, S.J. (2018). Auditory perception is associated with implicit language learning and receptive language ability in autism spectrum disorder. Brain and Language, 187, 1-8.
  9. Arnett, A.B. & Stein, M. (2018). Refining ADHD Treatment Choices: Invited Commentary. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30295-5.
  10. Arnett, A.B., Rhoads, C.L.*, Hoekzema, K., Turner, T.N., Gerdts, J., Wallace, A.S., Bedroisan-Sermone, S., Eichler, E.E. and Bernier, R.A. (2018). The autism spectrum phenotype in ADNP Syndrome. Journal of Autism Research, 11(9), 1300-1310.

Media

Parentcast Podcast

Dr. Anne Arnett is featured: How do I support my child with ADHD?

Publications

  1. Physical and neurophysiological maturation associated with ADHD among previously institutionalized children: a randomized controlled trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 11. View Abstract
  2. Temperament and executive functioning correlates of ADHD symptom severity during early versus middle childhood. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2024 Nov 25. View Abstract
  3. EEG aperiodic dynamics from early through late childhood: Associations with ADHD, cognition, and development. Clin Neurophysiol. 2024 Dec; 168:161-167. View Abstract
  4. Diverse clinical presentation of SPTBN1 variants: Complex versus primary attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Am J Med Genet A. 2025 Jan; 197(1):e63851. View Abstract
  5. Clinical Psychology in the Era of Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDoC): Reconciling Individually-Focused Practice with a Broader Biopsychosocial Context. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2024 04; 52(4):487-489. View Abstract
  6. Rare De Novo and Inherited Genes in Familial and Nonfamilial Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. JAMA Pediatr. 2024 Jan 01; 178(1):81-84. View Abstract
  7. Longitudinal Stability of Neural Correlates of Pediatric Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study of Event Related Potentials and Electroencephalography. J Atten Disord. 2024 Feb; 28(4):493-511. View Abstract
  8. Resting EEG correlates of neurodevelopment in a socioeconomically and linguistically diverse sample of toddlers: Wave 1 of the Kia Timata Pai best start New Zealand study. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2024 Feb; 65:101336. View Abstract
  9. Effortful Control Protects Against Familial Liability for ADHD: Longitudinal Results from the ABCD Study in the United States. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2024 04; 52(4):595-604. View Abstract
  10. A systematic review of behavioral and neurobiological profiles associated with coexisting attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and developmental coordination disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Oct; 153:105389. View Abstract
  11. Auditory-Perceptual and Auditory-Motor Timing Abilities in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Scoping Review. Brain Sci. 2023 Apr 27; 13(5). View Abstract
  12. The role of single trial variability in event related potentials in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Clin Neurophysiol. 2023 05; 149:1-8. View Abstract
  13. Delineating early developmental pathways to ADHD: Setting an international research agenda. JCPP Adv. 2023 Jun; 3(2):e12144. View Abstract
  14. The role of aperiodic spectral slope in event-related potentials and cognition among children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Neurophysiol. 2022 12 01; 128(6):1546-1554. View Abstract
  15. Neural activation, cognitive control, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Evaluating three competing etiological models. Dev Psychopathol. 2024 Feb; 36(1):255-265. View Abstract
  16. A framework for characterizing heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental data using latent profile analysis in a sample of children with ADHD. J Neurodev Disord. 2022 08 03; 14(1):45. View Abstract
  17. Absence of dynamic neural oscillatory response to environmental conditions marks childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022 12; 63(12):1615-1621. View Abstract
  18. Neural Markers of Methylphenidate Response in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022; 16:887622. View Abstract
  19. Heritability and Clinical Characteristics of Neuropsychological Profiles in Youth With and Without Elevated ADHD Symptoms. J Atten Disord. 2022 09; 26(11):1422-1436. View Abstract
  20. Reduced Error Recognition Explains Post-Error Slowing Differences among Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2022 09; 28(8):810-820. View Abstract
  21. Reflections on the genetics-first approach to advancements in molecular genetic and neurobiological research on neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neurodev Disord. 2021 06 21; 13(1):24. View Abstract
  22. Sensory processing and P300 event-related potential correlates of stimulant response in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A critical review. Clin Neurophysiol. 2021 04; 132(4):953-966. View Abstract
  23. Precision Medicine Care in ADHD: The Case for Neural Excitation and Inhibition. Brain Sci. 2021 Jan 13; 11(1). View Abstract
  24. Transcriptional subtyping explains phenotypic variability in genetic subtypes of autism spectrum disorder. Dev Psychopathol. 2020 10; 32(4):1353-1361. View Abstract
  25. Developmental Predictors of Cognitive and Adaptive Outcomes in Genetic Subtypes of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res. 2020 10; 13(10):1659-1669. View Abstract
  26. Episignatures Stratifying Helsmoortel-Van Der Aa Syndrome Show Modest Correlation with Phenotype. Am J Hum Genet. 2020 09 03; 107(3):555-563. View Abstract
  27. Temperament Traits Mark Liability for Coexisting Psychiatric Symptoms in Children With Elevated ADHD Symptoms. J Atten Disord. 2021 11; 25(13):1871-1880. View Abstract
  28. Clinical Phenotypes of Carriers of Mutations in CHD8 or Its Conserved Target Genes. Biol Psychiatry. 2020 01 15; 87(2):123-131. View Abstract
  29. Auditory perception is associated with implicit language learning and receptive language ability in autism spectrum disorder. Brain Lang. 2018 12; 187:1-8. View Abstract
  30. The autism spectrum phenotype in ADNP syndrome. Autism Res. 2018 09; 11(9):1300-1310. View Abstract
  31. Refining treatment choices for ADHD. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018 09; 5(9):691-692. View Abstract
  32. The state of research on the genetics of autism spectrum disorder: methodological, clinical and conceptual progress. Curr Opin Psychol. 2019 06; 27:1-5. View Abstract
  33. Early enhanced processing and delayed habituation to deviance sounds in autism spectrum disorder. Brain Cogn. 2018 06; 123:110-119. View Abstract
  34. Comorbid symptoms of inattention, autism, and executive cognition in youth with putative genetic risk. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2018 03; 59(3):268-276. View Abstract
  35. Literacy acquisition influences children's rapid automatized naming. Dev Sci. 2018 05; 21(3):e12589. View Abstract
  36. Explaining the sex difference in dyslexia. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017 Jun; 58(6):719-727. View Abstract
  37. White Matter Microstructure is Associated with Auditory and Tactile Processing in Children with and without Sensory Processing Disorder. Front Neuroanat. 2015; 9:169. View Abstract
  38. Links between within-person fluctuations in hyperactivity/attention problems and subsequent conduct problems. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2016 Apr; 57(4):502-9. View Abstract
  39. Factors influencing attrition in a multisite, randomized, clinical trial following traumatic brain injury in adolescence. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2015 May-Jun; 30(3):E33-40. View Abstract
  40. Sex differences in ADHD symptom severity. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015 Jun; 56(6):632-9. View Abstract
  41. Autism and sensory processing disorders: shared white matter disruption in sensory pathways but divergent connectivity in social-emotional pathways. PLoS One. 2014; 9(7):e103038. View Abstract
  42. Cognitive and behavioral indicators of ADHD symptoms prior to school age. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2013 Dec; 54(12):1284-94. View Abstract
  43. Abnormal white matter microstructure in children with sensory processing disorders. Neuroimage Clin. 2013; 2:844-53. View Abstract
  44. Behavioral and cognitive predictors of educational outcomes in pediatric traumatic brain injury. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2013 Sep; 19(8):881-9. View Abstract
  45. A cross-lagged model of the development of ADHD inattention symptoms and rapid naming speed. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2012 Nov; 40(8):1313-26. View Abstract
  46. The SWAN captures variance at the negative and positive ends of the ADHD symptom dimension. J Atten Disord. 2013 Feb; 17(2):152-62. View Abstract

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Phone: 617-919-5360
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