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Mei T, Forde NJ, Floris DL, Dell'Acqua F, Stones R, Ilioska I, Durston S, Moessnang C, Banaschewski T, Holt RJ, Baron-Cohen S, Rausch A, Loth E, Oakley B, Charman T, Ecker C, Murphy DGM, Beckmann CF, Llera A, Buitelaar JK. Autism Is Associated With Interindividual Variations of Gray and White Matter Morphology. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:1084-1093. [PMID: 36075529 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although many studies have explored atypicalities in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) morphology of autism, most of them relied on unimodal analyses that did not benefit from the likelihood that different imaging modalities may reflect common neurobiology. We aimed to establish brain patterns of modalities that differentiate between individuals with and without autism and explore associations between these brain patterns and clinical measures in the autism group. METHODS We studied 183 individuals with autism and 157 nonautistic individuals (age range, 6-30 years) in a large, deeply phenotyped autism dataset (EU-AIMS LEAP [European Autism Interventions-A Multicentre Study for Developing New Medications Longitudinal European Autism Project]). Linked independent component analysis was used to link all participants' GM volume and WM diffusion tensor images, and group comparisons of modality shared variances were examined. Subsequently, we performed univariate and multivariate brain-behavior correlation analyses to separately explore the relationships between brain patterns and clinical profiles. RESULTS One multimodal pattern was significantly related to autism. This pattern was primarily associated with GM volume in bilateral insula and frontal, precentral and postcentral, cingulate, and caudate areas and co-occurred with altered WM features in the superior longitudinal fasciculus. The brain-behavior correlation analyses showed a significant multivariate association primarily between brain patterns that involved variation of WM and symptoms of restricted and repetitive behavior in the autism group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the assets of integrated analyses of GM and WM alterations to study the brain mechanisms that underpin autism and show that the complex clinical autism phenotype can be interpreted by brain covariation patterns that are spread across the brain involving both cortical and subcortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Mei
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Natalie J Forde
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Dorothea L Floris
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Methods of Plasticity Research, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavio Dell'Acqua
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Stones
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Iva Ilioska
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sarah Durston
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Carolin Moessnang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; Department of Applied Psychology, SRH University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rosemary J Holt
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Annika Rausch
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Loth
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bethany Oakley
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Llera
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Yan S, Zhang Y, Yin X, Chen J, Zhu Z, Jin H, Li H, Yin J, Jiang Y. Alterations in white matter integrity and network topological properties are associated with a decrease in global motion perception in older adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1045263. [PMID: 36967826 PMCID: PMC10034108 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1045263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have mainly explored the effects of structural and functional aging of cortical regions on global motion sensitivity in older adults, but none have explored the structural white matter (WM) substrates underlying the age-related decrease in global motion perception (GMP). In this study, random dot kinematogram and diffusion tensor imaging were used to investigate the effects of age-related reductions in WM fiber integrity and connectivity across various regions on GMP. We recruited 106 younger adults and 94 older adults and utilized both tract-based spatial statistics analysis and graph theoretical analysis to comprehensively investigate group differences in WM microstructural and network connections between older and younger adults at the microscopic and macroscopic levels. Moreover, partial correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between alterations in WM and the age-related decrease in GMP. The results showed that decreased GMP in older adults was related to decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) of the inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and cingulum cingulate gyrus. Decreased global efficiency of the WM structural network and increased characteristic path length were closely associated with decreased global motion sensitivity. These results suggest that the reduced GMP in older adults may stem from reduced WM integrity in specific regions of WM fiber tracts as well as decreased efficiency of information integration and communication between distant cortical regions, supporting the “disconnection hypothesis” of cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhen Yan
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Medicine School of Rehabilitation, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaojuan Yin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Juntao Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ziliang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Jin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Hua Jin,
| | - Han Li
- The First Central Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianzhong Yin
- Department of Radiology, People’s Hospital of Haikou, Haikou, China
| | - Yunpeng Jiang
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
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Roddy DW, Roman E, Nasa A, Gazzaz A, Zainy A, Burke T, Staines L, Kelleher I, O'Neill A, Clarke M, O'Hanlon E, Cannon M. Microstructural changes along the cingulum in young adolescents with psychotic experiences: An along-tract analysis. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5116-5131. [PMID: 36004608 PMCID: PMC9825926 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Psychotic experiences (PEs) such as hallucinations and delusions are common among young people without psychiatric diagnoses and are associated with connectivity and white matter abnormalities, particularly in the limbic system. Using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adolescents with reported PEs and matched controls, we examined the cingulum white matter tract along its length rather than as the usually reported single indivisible structure. Complex regional differences in diffusion metrics were found along the bundle at key loci following Bonferroni significance adjustment (p < .00013) with moderate to large effect sizes (.11-.76) throughout all significant subsegments. In this prospective community-based cohort of school-age children, these findings suggest that white matter alterations in the limbic system may be more common in the general non-clinical adolescent population than previously thought. Such white matter alternations may only be uncovered using a similar more granular along-tract analysis of white matter tracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren William Roddy
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland,Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd BuildingTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Elena Roman
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Anurag Nasa
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd BuildingTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Areej Gazzaz
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Ahmed Zainy
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Tom Burke
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Lorna Staines
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Ian Kelleher
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Aisling O'Neill
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Mary Clarke
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
| | - Erik O'Hanlon
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland,Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Lloyd BuildingTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Mary Cannon
- Department of PsychiatryRoyal College of Surgeons in IrelandDublinIreland
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Lingo VanGilder J, Bergamino M, Hooyman A, Fitzhugh MC, Rogalsky C, Stewart JC, Beeman SC, Schaefer SY. Using whole-brain diffusion tensor analysis to evaluate white matter structural correlates of delayed visuospatial memory and one-week motor skill retention in nondemented older adults: A preliminary study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274955. [PMID: 36137126 PMCID: PMC9499308 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Skill retention is important for motor rehabilitation outcomes. Recent work has demonstrated that delayed visuospatial memory performance may predict motor skill retention in older and neuropathological populations. White matter integrity between parietal and frontal cortices may explain variance in upper-extremity motor learning tasks and visuospatial processes. We performed a whole-brain analysis to determine the white matter correlates of delayed visuospatial memory and one-week motor skill retention in nondemented older adults. We hypothesized that better frontoparietal tract integrity would be positively related to better behavioral performance. Nineteen participants (age>58) completed diffusion-weighted imaging, then a clinical test of delayed visuospatial memory and 50 training trials of an upper-extremity motor task; participants were retested on the motor task one week later. Principal component analysis was used to create a composite score for each participant’s behavioral data, i.e. shared variance between delayed visuospatial memory and motor skill retention, which was then entered into a voxel-based regression analysis. Behavioral results demonstrated that participants learned and retained their skill level after a week of no practice, and their delayed visuospatial memory score was positively related to the extent of skill retention. Consistent with previous work, neuroimaging results indicated that regions within bilateral anterior thalamic radiations, corticospinal tracts, and superior longitudinal fasciculi were related to better delayed visuospatial memory and skill retention. Results of this study suggest that the simple act of testing for specific cognitive impairments prior to therapy may identify older adults who will receive little to no benefit from the motor rehabilitation regimen, and that these neural regions may be potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennapher Lingo VanGilder
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Maurizio Bergamino
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Andrew Hooyman
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Megan C. Fitzhugh
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Corianne Rogalsky
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jill C. Stewart
- Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Scott C. Beeman
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sydney Y. Schaefer
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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5
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Li M, Wang Y, Tachibana M, Rahman S, Kagitani-Shimono K. Atypical structural connectivity of language networks in autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of diffusion tensor imaging studies. Autism Res 2022; 15:1585-1602. [PMID: 35962721 PMCID: PMC9546367 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often show pervasive and complex language impairments that are closely associated with aberrant structural connectivity of language networks. However, the characteristics of white matter connectivity in ASD have remained inconclusive in previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies. The current meta‐analysis aimed to comprehensively elucidate the abnormality in language‐related white matter connectivity in individuals with ASD. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline databases to identify relevant studies. The standardized mean difference was calculated to measure the pooled difference in DTI metrics in each tract between the ASD and typically developing (TD) groups. The moderating effects of age, sex, language ability, and symptom severity were investigated using subgroup and meta‐regression analysis. Thirty‐three DTI studies involving 831 individuals with ASD and 836 TD controls were included in the meta‐analysis. ASD subjects showed significantly lower fractional anisotropy or higher mean diffusivity across language‐associated tracts than TD controls. These abnormalities tended to be more prominent in the left language networks than in the right. In addition, children with ASD exhibit more pronounced and pervasive disturbances in white matter connectivity than adults. These results support the under‐connectivity hypothesis and demonstrate the widespread abnormal microstructure of language‐related tracts in patients with ASD. Otherwise, white matter abnormalities in the autistic brain could vary depending on the developmental stage and hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yide Wang
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaya Tachibana
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shafiur Rahman
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kuriko Kagitani-Shimono
- Department of Child Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Dimond D, Schuetze M, Smith RE, Dhollander T, Cho I, Vinette S, Ten Eycke K, Lebel C, McCrimmon A, Dewey D, Connelly A, Bray S. Reduced White Matter Fiber Density in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:1778-1788. [PMID: 30668849 PMCID: PMC6418389 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in brain networks and underlying white matter abnormalities have been suggested to underlie symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, robustly characterizing microstructural white matter differences has been challenging. In the present study, we applied an analytic technique that calculates structural metrics specific to differently-oriented fiber bundles within a voxel, termed "fixels". Fixel-based analyses were used to compare diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data from 25 individuals with ASD (mean age = 16.8 years) and 27 typically developing age-matched controls (mean age = 16.9 years). Group comparisons of fiber density (FD) and bundle morphology were run on a fixel-wise, tract-wise, and global white matter (GWM) basis. We found that individuals with ASD had reduced FD, suggestive of decreased axonal count, in several major white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum (CC), bilateral inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus, right arcuate fasciculus, and right uncinate fasciculus, as well as a GWM reduction. Secondary analyses assessed associations with social impairment in participants with ASD, and showed that lower FD in the splenium of the CC was associated with greater social impairment. Our findings suggest that reduced FD could be the primary microstructural white matter abnormality in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Dimond
- Department of Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Manuela Schuetze
- Department of Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Robert E Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Ivy Cho
- Department of Psychological Clinical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Vinette
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Kayla Ten Eycke
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Adam McCrimmon
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Alan Connelly
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Signe Bray
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
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7
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Zhao M, Fu W. The resilience of parents who have children with autism spectrum disorder in China: a social culture perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2020; 68:207-218. [PMID: 35309696 PMCID: PMC8928842 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2020.1747761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parenting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to be challenging worldwide, especially in the Chinese context where there lacks support for parents. METHOD Five parents of children with ASD of high level of resilience in China were interviewed about their experiences of raising children with ASD and influencing factors of developing resilience. RESULTS Findings highlighted the process of developing resilience shaping from the interaction between different social system, including introspect and self-cultivation in micro system, acceptance of ASD, playing various roles for their children, and expanded social network in the interactions between micro and mezzo systems and accept the worst results in the interactions between micro and macro systems. The characteristics of resilience for Chinese parents of children with ASD were that parents built positive relationships with themselves and outsides though active interaction and changed their social environment as an outcome. CONCLUSION The results of this study may reveal the process and characteristics of resilience for Chinese parents having children with ASD, which can be a starting point for other parents to understand and learn from them. Besides, it provides insight for service providers into paying attention to the whole experience of parents and help them to expand the relative network to support them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiju Zhao
- Faculty of Children Development and Education, China Women’s University, Beijing, China
| | - Wangqian Fu
- China Institute of Education and Social Development, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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8
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Aleksonis HA, Wier R, Pearson MM, Cannistraci CJ, Anderson AW, Kuttesch JF, Compas BE, Hoskinson KR. Associations among diffusion tensor imaging and neurocognitive function in survivors of pediatric brain tumor: A pilot study. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD 2019; 10:111-122. [PMID: 31146596 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2019.1613993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine associations among neurocognitive outcomes and white matter integrity in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), and genu of the corpus callosum (gCC) in survivors of pediatric brain tumor and healthy controls (HCs). Eleven survivors (ages 8-16; >2 years post-treatment) and 14 HCs underwent MRI; diffusion tensor imaging tractography (DSI Studio) was used to assess white matter integrity. Participants completed neuropsychological assessment of overall cognitive ability, executive function, processing speed, divided attention, and memory. As previously reported, survivors performed significantly worse than HCs on measures of overall IQ, working memory, processing speed, and executive function (ps < .01), but not on measures of long-delay memory. Mean fractional anisotropy was significantly lower in survivors than HC in the right IFOF, left UF, and gCC (ps < .05). Correlations with the total sample revealed a number of significant positive associations among white matter tracts and scores on neurocognitive measures. Survivors show deficits on measures of cognitive function and decreased white matter integrity compared to HCs. Results revealed a more general pattern of associations among white matter pathways and neurocognitive outcomes than initially hypothesized. It is possible that survivors with diffuse pathology from treatment effects (i.e., hydrocephalus or posterior fossa syndrome) show more general decreases in cognitive functioning and white matter integrity. Additional research with a larger and more diverse group of survivors is needed to better understand white matter integrity and neurocognitive outcome associations in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A Aleksonis
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ryan Wier
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew M Pearson
- Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Sacred Heart Medical Group, Pensacola, Florida, USA
| | - Christopher J Cannistraci
- Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adam W Anderson
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - John F Kuttesch
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Bruce E Compas
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kristen R Hoskinson
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Liu R, Chen H, Qin R, Gu Y, Chen X, Zou J, Jiang Y, Li W, Bai F, Zhang B, Wang X, Xu Y. The Altered Reconfiguration Pattern of Brain Modular Architecture Regulates Cognitive Function in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Front Neurol 2019; 10:324. [PMID: 31024423 PMCID: PMC6461194 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a common cause of cognitive dysfunction. However, little is known whether the altered reconfiguration pattern of brain modular architecture regulates cognitive dysfunction in SVD. Methods: We recruited 25 cases of SVD without cognitive impairment (SVD-NCI) and 24 cases of SVD with mild cognitive impairment (SVD-MCI). According to the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, healthy controls (HC) were divided into 17 subjects (HC-low risk) and 19 subjects (HC-high risk). All individuals underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive assessments. Graph-theoretical analysis was used to explore alterations in the modular organization of functional brain networks. Multiple regression and mediation analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between MRI markers, network metrics and cognitive performance. Results: We identified four modules corresponding to the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), sensorimotor network and visual network. With increasing vascular risk factors, the inter- and intranetwork compensation of the ECN and a relatively reserved DMN itself were observed in individuals at high risk for SVD. With declining cognitive ability, SVD-MCI showed a disrupted ECN intranetwork and increased DMN connection. Furthermore, the intermodule connectivity of the right inferior frontal gyrus of the ECN mediated the relationship between periventricular white matter hyperintensities and visuospatial processing in SVD-MCI. Conclusions: The reconfiguration pattern of the modular architecture within/between the DMN and ECN advances our understanding of the neural underpinning in response to vascular risk and SVD burden. These observations may provide novel insight into the underlying neural mechanism of SVD-related cognitive impairment and may serve as a potential non-invasive biomarker to predict and monitor disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renyuan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruomeng Qin
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Yucheng Gu
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Junhui Zou
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - YongCheng Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Weikai Li
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School and The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
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10
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Williamson BJ, Altaye M, Kadis DS. Detrended connectometry analysis to assess white matter correlates of performance in childhood. Neuroimage 2019; 186:637-646. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.11.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
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11
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Picci G, Gotts SJ, Scherf KS. A theoretical rut: revisiting and critically evaluating the generalized under/over-connectivity hypothesis of autism. Dev Sci 2018; 19:524-49. [PMID: 27412228 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In 2004, two papers proposed that pervasive functional under-connectivity (Just et al., ) or a trade-off between excessive local connectivity at the cost of distal under-connectivity (Belmonte et al., ) characterizes atypical brain organization in autism. Here, we take stock of the most recent and rigorous functional and structural connectivity findings with a careful eye toward evaluating the extent to which they support these original hypotheses. Indeed, the empirical data do not support them. From rsfMRI studies in adolescents and adults, there is an emerging consensus regarding long-range functional connections indicating cortico-cortical under-connectivity, specifically involving the temporal lobes, combined with subcortical-cortical over-connectivity. In contrast, there is little to no consensus regarding local functional connectivity or findings from task-based functional connectivity studies. The structural connectivity data suggest that white matter tracts are pervasively weak, particularly in the temporal lobe. Together, these findings are revealing how deeply complex the story is regarding atypical neural network organization in autism. In other words, distance and strength of connectivity as individual factors or as interacting factors do not consistently explain the patterns of atypical neural connectivity in autism. Therefore, we make several methodological recommendations and highlight developmental considerations that will help researchers in the field cultivate new hypotheses about the nature and mechanisms of potentially aberrant functional and structural connectivity in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Picci
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, USA
| | - Stephen J Gotts
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, USA
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12
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Yamasaki T, Maekawa T, Fujita T, Tobimatsu S. Connectopathy in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Evidence from Visual Evoked Potentials and Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:627. [PMID: 29170625 PMCID: PMC5684146 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show superior performance in processing fine details; however, they often exhibit impairments of gestalt face, global motion perception, and visual attention as well as core social deficits. Increasing evidence has suggested that social deficits in ASD arise from abnormal functional and structural connectivities between and within distributed cortical networks that are recruited during social information processing. Because the human visual system is characterized by a set of parallel, hierarchical, multistage network systems, we hypothesized that the altered connectivity of visual networks contributes to social cognition impairment in ASD. In the present review, we focused on studies of altered connectivity of visual and attention networks in ASD using visual evoked potentials (VEPs), event-related potentials (ERPs), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A series of VEP, ERP, and DTI studies conducted in our laboratory have demonstrated complex alterations (impairment and enhancement) of visual and attention networks in ASD. Recent data have suggested that the atypical visual perception observed in ASD is caused by altered connectivity within parallel visual pathways and attention networks, thereby contributing to the impaired social communication observed in ASD. Therefore, we conclude that the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of ASD constitutes a “connectopathy.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Takao Yamasaki
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Minkodo Minohara Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Maekawa
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takako Fujita
- Department of Pediatrics, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shozo Tobimatsu
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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13
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Fitzgerald J, Leemans A, Kehoe E, O'Hanlon E, Gallagher L, McGrath J. Abnormal fronto-parietal white matter organisation in the superior longitudinal fasciculus branches in autism spectrum disorders. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 47:652-661. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Fitzgerald
- Department of Psychiatry; School of Medicine; Trinity College Dublin; Dublin Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience; Trinity College Dublin; Lloyd Building Dublin Ireland
| | - Alexander Leemans
- Image Sciences Institute; University Medical Center Utrecht; Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth Kehoe
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience; Trinity College Dublin; Lloyd Building Dublin Ireland
| | - Erik O'Hanlon
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience; Trinity College Dublin; Lloyd Building Dublin Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Dublin Ireland
| | - Louise Gallagher
- Department of Psychiatry; School of Medicine; Trinity College Dublin; Dublin Ireland
- Linndara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service; Dublin Ireland
| | - Jane McGrath
- Department of Psychiatry; School of Medicine; Trinity College Dublin; Dublin Ireland
- Linndara Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service; Dublin Ireland
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14
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Toselli B, Tortora D, Severino M, Arnulfo G, Canessa A, Morana G, Rossi A, Fato MM. Improvement in White Matter Tract Reconstruction with Constrained Spherical Deconvolution and Track Density Mapping in Low Angular Resolution Data: A Pediatric Study and Literature Review. Front Pediatr 2017; 5:182. [PMID: 28913326 PMCID: PMC5582070 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2017.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) allows noninvasive investigation of brain structure in vivo. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a frequently used application of DW-MRI that assumes a single main diffusion direction per voxel, and is therefore not well suited for reconstructing crossing fiber tracts. Among the solutions developed to overcome this problem, constrained spherical deconvolution with probabilistic tractography (CSD-PT) has provided superior quality results in clinical settings on adult subjects; however, it requires particular acquisition parameters and long sequences, which may limit clinical usage in the pediatric age group. The aim of this work was to compare the results of DTI with those of track density imaging (TDI) maps and CSD-PT on data from neonates and children, acquired with low angular resolution and low b-value diffusion sequences commonly used in pediatric clinical MRI examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed DW-MRI studies of 50 children (eight neonates aged 3-28 days, 20 infants aged 1-8 months, and 22 children aged 2-17 years) acquired on a 1.5 T Philips scanner using 34 gradient directions and a b-value of 1,000 s/mm2. Other sequence parameters included 60 axial slices; acquisition matrix, 128 × 128; average scan time, 5:34 min; voxel size, 1.75 mm × 1.75 mm × 2 mm; one b = 0 image. For each subject, we computed principal eigenvector (EV) maps and directionally encoded color TDI maps (DEC-TDI maps) from whole-brain tractograms obtained with CSD-PT; the cerebellar-thalamic, corticopontocerebellar, and corticospinal tracts were reconstructed using both CSD-PT and DTI. Results were compared by two neuroradiologists using a 5-point qualitative score. RESULTS The DEC-TDI maps obtained presented higher anatomical detail than EV maps, as assessed by visual inspection. In all subjects, white matter (WM) tracts were successfully reconstructed using both tractography methodologies. The mean qualitative scores of all tracts obtained with CSD-PT were significantly higher than those obtained with DTI (p-value < 0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION CSD-PT can be successfully applied to DW-MRI studies acquired at 1.5 T with acquisition parameters adapted for pediatric subjects, thus providing TDI maps with greater anatomical detail. This methodology yields satisfactory results for clinical purposes in the pediatric age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Toselli
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Gabriele Arnulfo
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Canessa
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Morana
- Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Rossi
- Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Massimo Fato
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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15
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Moseley RL, Correia MM, Baron-Cohen S, Shtyrov Y, Pulvermüller F, Mohr B. Reduced Volume of the Arcuate Fasciculus in Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Conditions. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:214. [PMID: 27242478 PMCID: PMC4867673 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical language is a fundamental feature of autism spectrum conditions (ASC), but few studies have examined the structural integrity of the arcuate fasciculus, the major white matter tract connecting frontal and temporal language regions, which is usually implicated as the main transfer route used in processing linguistic information by the brain. Abnormalities in the arcuate have been reported in young children with ASC, mostly in low-functioning or non-verbal individuals, but little is known regarding the structural properties of the arcuate in adults with ASC or, in particular, in individuals with ASC who have intact language, such as those with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome. We used probabilistic tractography of diffusion-weighted imaging to isolate and scrutinize the arcuate in a mixed-gender sample of 18 high-functioning adults with ASC (17 Asperger syndrome) and 14 age- and IQ-matched typically developing controls. Arcuate volume was significantly reduced bilaterally with clearest differences in the right hemisphere. This finding remained significant in an analysis of all male participants alone. Volumetric reduction in the arcuate was significantly correlated with the severity of autistic symptoms as measured by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. These data reveal that structural differences are present even in high-functioning adults with ASC, who presented with no clinically manifest language deficits and had no reported developmental language delay. Arcuate structural integrity may be useful as an index of ASC severity and thus as a predictor and biomarker for ASC. Implications for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Moseley
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth UniversityDorset, UK; Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitCambridge, UK; Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK; Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK
| | - Marta M Correia
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK; Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough National Health Service Foundation TrustCambridge, UK
| | - Yury Shtyrov
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitCambridge, UK; Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus UniversityAarhus, Denmark; Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, National Research University Higher School of EconomicsMoscow, Russia
| | - Friedemann Pulvermüller
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitCambridge, UK; Brain Language Laboratory, Freie Universität BerlinBerlin, Germany
| | - Bettina Mohr
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
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16
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Roine U, Roine T, Salmi J, Nieminen-von Wendt T, Tani P, Leppämäki S, Rintahaka P, Caeyenberghs K, Leemans A, Sams M. Abnormal wiring of the connectome in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Mol Autism 2015; 6:65. [PMID: 26677408 PMCID: PMC4681075 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-015-0058-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Recent brain imaging findings suggest that there are widely distributed abnormalities affecting the brain connectivity in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using graph theoretical analysis, it is possible to investigate both global and local properties of brain’s wiring diagram, i.e., the connectome. Methods We acquired diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data from 14 adult males with high-functioning ASD and 19 age-, gender-, and IQ-matched controls. As with diffusion tensor imaging-based tractography, it is not possible to detect complex (e.g., crossing) fiber configurations, present in 60–90 % of white matter voxels; we performed constrained spherical deconvolution-based whole brain tractography. Unweighted and weighted structural brain networks were then reconstructed from these tractography data and analyzed with graph theoretical measures. Results In subjects with ASD, global efficiency was significantly decreased both in the unweighted and the weighted networks, normalized characteristic path length was significantly increased in the unweighted networks, and strength was significantly decreased in the weighted networks. In the local analyses, betweenness centrality of the right caudate was significantly increased in the weighted networks, and the strength of the right superior temporal pole was significantly decreased in the unweighted networks in subjects with ASD. Conclusions Our findings provide new insights into understanding ASD by showing that the integration of structural brain networks is decreased and that there are abnormalities in the connectivity of the right caudate and right superior temporal pole in subjects with ASD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-015-0058-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Roine
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2 C, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland ; Advanced Magnetic Imaging Centre, Aalto University, Otakaari 5, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Timo Roine
- iMinds-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium
| | - Juha Salmi
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2 C, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland ; Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Fabriksgatan 2, FI-20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Taina Nieminen-von Wendt
- Neuropsychiatric Rehabilitation and Medical Centre Neuromental, Kaupintie 11 A, FI-00440 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Tani
- Clinic for Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Tukholmankatu 8 F, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sami Leppämäki
- Clinic for Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Tukholmankatu 8 F, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland ; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pertti Rintahaka
- Clinic for Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Tukholmankatu 8 F, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Karen Caeyenberghs
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Locked Bag 4115, Fitzroy MDC, VIC 3065 Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexander Leemans
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mikko Sams
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2 C, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland ; Advanced Magnetic Imaging Centre, Aalto University, Otakaari 5, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
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17
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Roine T, Jeurissen B, Perrone D, Aelterman J, Philips W, Leemans A, Sijbers J. Informed constrained spherical deconvolution (iCSD). Med Image Anal 2015; 24:269-281. [DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2015.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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18
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Muetzel RL, Mous SE, van der Ende J, Blanken LME, van der Lugt A, Jaddoe VWV, Verhulst FC, Tiemeier H, White T. White matter integrity and cognitive performance in school-age children: A population-based neuroimaging study. Neuroimage 2015; 119:119-28. [PMID: 26067345 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Child and adolescent brain development are typically accompanied by marked improvements in a wide range of cognitive abilities. However, limited information is available surrounding the role of white matter in shaping cognitive abilities in children. The current study examined associations between white matter microstructure and cognitive performance in a large sample (n=778) of 6- to 10-year-old children. Results show white matter microstructure is related to non-verbal intelligence and to visuospatial ability, independent of age. Specificity was demonstrated, as white matter associations with visuospatial ability were independent of general intellectual ability. Associations between white matter integrity and cognition were similar in boys and girls. In summary, results demonstrate white matter structure-function associations are present in children, independent of age and broader cognitive abilities. The presence of such associations in the general population is informative for studies examining child psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan L Muetzel
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sabine E Mous
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan van der Ende
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laura M E Blanken
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frank C Verhulst
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tonya White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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19
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Roine U, Salmi J, Roine T, Wendt TNV, Leppämäki S, Rintahaka P, Tani P, Leemans A, Sams M. Constrained spherical deconvolution-based tractography and tract-based spatial statistics show abnormal microstructural organization in Asperger syndrome. Mol Autism 2015; 6:4. [PMID: 25874076 PMCID: PMC4396538 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-6-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate potential differences in neural structure in individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS), high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main symptoms of AS are severe impairments in social interactions and restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests or activities. METHODS Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired for 14 adult males with AS and 19 age, sex and IQ-matched controls. Voxelwise group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) were studied with tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Based on the results of TBSS, a tract-level comparison was performed with constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD)-based tractography, which is able to detect complex (for example, crossing) fiber configurations. In addition, to investigate the relationship between the microstructural changes and the severity of symptoms, we looked for correlations between FA and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Empathy Quotient and Systemizing Quotient. RESULTS TBSS revealed widely distributed local increases in FA bilaterally in individuals with AS, most prominent in the temporal part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, corticospinal tract, splenium of corpus callosum, anterior thalamic radiation, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO), posterior thalamic radiation, uncinate fasciculus and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). CSD-based tractography also showed increases in the FA in multiple tracts. However, only the difference in the left ILF was significant after a Bonferroni correction. These results were not explained by the complexity of microstructural organization, measured using the planar diffusion coefficient. In addition, we found a correlation between AQ and FA in the right IFO in the whole group. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that there are local and tract-level abnormalities in white matter (WM) microstructure in our homogenous and carefully characterized group of adults with AS, most prominent in the left ILF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Roine
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2 C, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Juha Salmi
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2 C, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Timo Roine
- iMinds-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp Belgium
| | - Taina Nieminen-von Wendt
- Neuropsychiatric Rehabilitation and Medical Centre Neuromental, Kaupintie 11 A, FI-00440 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sami Leppämäki
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Neuropsychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Tukholmankatu 8 F, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland ; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pertti Rintahaka
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Neuropsychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Tukholmankatu 8 F, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Tani
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Neuropsychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Tukholmankatu 8 F, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alexander Leemans
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mikko Sams
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2 C, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland ; Advanced Magnetic Imaging Centre, Aalto University, Otakaari 5, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 50 children between the ages of 6 and 17 years. The etiology of ASD is not precisely known. ASD is an umbrella term, which includes both low- (IQ < 70) and high-functioning (IQ > 70) individuals. A better understanding of the disorder and how it manifests in individual subjects can lead to more effective intervention plans to fulfill the individual's treatment needs.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive investigational tool that can be used to study the ways in which the brain develops or deviates from the typical developmental trajectory. MRI offers insights into the structure, function, and metabolism of the brain. In this article, we review published studies on brain connectivity changes in ASD using either resting state functional MRI or diffusion tensor imaging.The general findings of decreases in white matter integrity and in long-range neural coherence are well known in the ASD literature. Nevertheless, the detailed localization of these findings remains uncertain, and few studies link these changes in connectivity with the behavioral phenotype of the disorder. With the help of data sharing and large-scale analytic efforts, however, the field is advancing toward several convergent themes, including the reduced functional coherence of long-range intra-hemispheric cortico-cortical default mode circuitry, impaired inter-hemispheric regulation, and an associated, perhaps compensatory, increase in local and short-range cortico-subcortical coherence.
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21
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Chang YS, Owen JP, Desai SS, Hill SS, Arnett AB, Harris J, Marco EJ, Mukherjee P. Autism and sensory processing disorders: shared white matter disruption in sensory pathways but divergent connectivity in social-emotional pathways. PLoS One 2014; 9:e103038. [PMID: 25075609 PMCID: PMC4116166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over 90% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) demonstrate atypical sensory behaviors. In fact, hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment is now included in the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. However, there are children with sensory processing differences who do not meet an ASD diagnosis but do show atypical sensory behaviors to the same or greater degree as ASD children. We previously demonstrated that children with Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) have impaired white matter microstructure, and that this white matter microstructural pathology correlates with atypical sensory behavior. In this study, we use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fiber tractography to evaluate the structural connectivity of specific white matter tracts in boys with ASD (n = 15) and boys with SPD (n = 16), relative to typically developing children (n = 23). We define white matter tracts using probabilistic streamline tractography and assess the strength of tract connectivity using mean fractional anisotropy. Both the SPD and ASD cohorts demonstrate decreased connectivity relative to controls in parieto-occipital tracts involved in sensory perception and multisensory integration. However, the ASD group alone shows impaired connectivity, relative to controls, in temporal tracts thought to subserve social-emotional processing. In addition to these group difference analyses, we take a dimensional approach to assessing the relationship between white matter connectivity and participant function. These correlational analyses reveal significant associations of white matter connectivity with auditory processing, working memory, social skills, and inattention across our three study groups. These findings help elucidate the roles of specific neural circuits in neurodevelopmental disorders, and begin to explore the dimensional relationship between critical cognitive functions and structural connectivity across affected and unaffected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Shin Chang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Julia P. Owen
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Shivani S. Desai
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Susanna S. Hill
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Anne B. Arnett
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Julia Harris
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Elysa J. Marco
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Pratik Mukherjee
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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Roine T, Jeurissen B, Perrone D, Aelterman J, Leemans A, Philips W, Sijbers J. Isotropic non-white matter partial volume effects in constrained spherical deconvolution. Front Neuroinform 2014; 8:28. [PMID: 24734018 PMCID: PMC3975100 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2014.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging method, which can be used to investigate neural tracts in the white matter (WM) of the brain. Significant partial volume effects (PVEs) are present in the DW signal due to relatively large voxel sizes. These PVEs can be caused by both non-WM tissue, such as gray matter (GM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and by multiple non-parallel WM fiber populations. High angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) methods have been developed to correctly characterize complex WM fiber configurations, but to date, many of the HARDI methods do not account for non-WM PVEs. In this work, we investigated the isotropic PVEs caused by non-WM tissue in WM voxels on fiber orientations extracted with constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD). Experiments were performed on simulated and real DW-MRI data. In particular, simulations were performed to demonstrate the effects of varying the diffusion weightings, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), fiber configurations, and tissue fractions. Our results show that the presence of non-WM tissue signal causes a decrease in the precision of the detected fiber orientations and an increase in the detection of false peaks in CSD. We estimated 35-50% of WM voxels to be affected by non-WM PVEs. For HARDI sequences, which typically have a relatively high degree of diffusion weighting, these adverse effects are most pronounced in voxels with GM PVEs. The non-WM PVEs become severe with 50% GM volume for maximum spherical harmonics orders of 8 and below, and already with 25% GM volume for higher orders. In addition, a low diffusion weighting or SNR increases the effects. The non-WM PVEs may cause problems in connectomics, where reliable fiber tracking at the WM-GM interface is especially important. We suggest acquiring data with high diffusion-weighting 2500-3000 s/mm(2), reasonable SNR (~30) and using lower SH orders in GM contaminated regions to minimize the non-WM PVEs in CSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Roine
- iMinds-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of AntwerpAntwerp, Belgium
| | - Ben Jeurissen
- iMinds-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of AntwerpAntwerp, Belgium
| | - Daniele Perrone
- Ghent University-iMinds/Image Processing and InterpretationGhent, Belgium
| | - Jan Aelterman
- Ghent University-iMinds/Image Processing and InterpretationGhent, Belgium
| | - Alexander Leemans
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wilfried Philips
- Ghent University-iMinds/Image Processing and InterpretationGhent, Belgium
| | - Jan Sijbers
- iMinds-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of AntwerpAntwerp, Belgium
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23
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Lazar M, Miles LM, Babb JS, Donaldson JB. Axonal deficits in young adults with High Functioning Autism and their impact on processing speed. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2014; 4:417-25. [PMID: 24624327 PMCID: PMC3950557 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Microstructural white matter deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been suggested by both histological findings and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) studies, which show reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) and increased mean diffusivity (MD). However, imaging reports are generally not consistent across studies and the underlying physiological causes of the reported differences in FA and MD remain poorly understood. In this study, we sought to further characterize white matter deficits in ASD by employing an advanced diffusion imaging method, the Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging (DKI), and a two-compartment diffusion model of white matter. This model differentially describes intra- and extra-axonal white matter compartments using Axonal Water Fraction (faxon) a measure reflecting axonal caliber and density, and compartment-specific diffusivity measures. Diagnostic utility of these measures and associations with processing speed performance were also examined. Comparative studies were conducted in 16 young male adults with High Functioning Autism (HFA) and 17 typically developing control participants (TDC). Significantly decreased faxon was observed in HFA compared to the control group in most of the major white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum, cortico-spinal tracts, and superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi. Intra-axonal diffusivity (Daxon) was also found to be reduced in some of these regions. Decreased axial extra-axonal diffusivity (ADextra) was noted in the genu of the corpus callosum. Reduced processing speed significantly correlated with decreased faxon and Daxon in several tracts. faxon of the left cortico-spinal tract and superior longitudinal fasciculi showed good accuracy in discriminating the HFA and TDC groups. In conclusion, these findings suggest altered axonal microstructure in young adults with HFA which is associated with reduced processing speed. Compartment-specific diffusion metrics appear to improve specificity and sensitivity to white matter deficits in this population. White matter microstructure is altered in young adults with High Functioning Autism. We report decreased Axonal Water Fraction and intra-axonal diffusivity. Changes in these DKI metrics are consistent with axonal deficits. Alterations in axonal diffusion metrics correlate with reduced processing speed. DKI may yield promising biomarkers for autism diagnosis and characterization.
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Key Words
- AD, Axial diffusivity
- ADextra, Axial extra-axonal diffusivity
- ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Axonal integrity
- DKI, Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging
- DTI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging
- Daxon, Intra-axonal diffusivity
- Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging
- DigitSC, Digit Symbol-Coding
- FA, Fractional anisotropy
- HFA, High Functioning Autism
- Information processing capacity
- MD, Mean diffusivity
- Processing speed
- RD, Radial diffusivity
- RDextra, Radial extra-axonal diffusivity
- TDC, Typically developing control
- White matter
- faxon, Axonal Water Fraction
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lazar
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Laura M Miles
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, United States
| | - James S Babb
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Jeffrey B Donaldson
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, United States
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Tax CMW, Jeurissen B, Vos SB, Viergever MA, Leemans A. Recursive calibration of the fiber response function for spherical deconvolution of diffusion MRI data. Neuroimage 2014; 86:67-80. [PMID: 23927905 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.07.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 07/07/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chantal M W Tax
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Ben Jeurissen
- iMinds-Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sjoerd B Vos
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Max A Viergever
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Leemans
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Quantification of changes in language-related brain areas in autism spectrum disorders using large-scale network analysis. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg 2014; 9:357-65. [PMID: 24459035 DOI: 10.1007/s11548-014-0977-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is difficult, as symptoms vary greatly and are difficult to quantify objectively. Recent work has focused on the assessment of non-invasive diffusion tensor imaging-based biomarkers that reflect the microstructural characteristics of neuronal pathways in the brain. While tractography-based approaches typically analyze specific structures of interest, a graph-based large-scale network analysis of the connectome can yield comprehensive measures of larger-scale architectural patterns in the brain. Commonly applied global network indices, however, do not provide any specificity with respect to functional areas or anatomical structures. Aim of this work was to assess the concept of network centrality as a tool to perform locally specific analysis without disregarding the global network architecture and compare it to other popular network indices. METHODS We create connectome networks from fiber tractographies and parcellations of the human brain and compute global network indices as well as local indices for Wernicke's Area, Broca's Area and the Motor Cortex. Our approach was evaluated on 18 children suffering from ASD and 18 typically developed controls using magnetic resonance imaging-based cortical parcellations in combination with diffusion tensor imaging tractography. RESULTS We show that the network centrality of Wernicke's area is significantly (p<0.001) reduced in ASD, while the motor cortex, which was used as a control region, did not show significant alterations. This could reflect the reduced capacity for comprehension of language in ASD. CONCLUSIONS The betweenness centrality could potentially be an important metric in the development of future diagnostic tools in the clinical context of ASD diagnosis. Our results further demonstrate the applicability of large-scale network analysis tools in the domain of region-specific analysis with a potential application in many different psychological disorders.
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McGrath J, Johnson K, O'Hanlon E, Garavan H, Leemans A, Gallagher L. Abnormal functional connectivity during visuospatial processing is associated with disrupted organisation of white matter in autism. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:434. [PMID: 24133425 PMCID: PMC3783945 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of structural and functional neural connectivity has been widely reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) but there is a striking lack of research attempting to integrate analysis of functional and structural connectivity in the same study population, an approach that may provide key insights into the specific neurobiological underpinnings of altered functional connectivity in autism. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether functional connectivity abnormalities were associated with structural abnormalities of white matter (WM) in ASD and (2) to examine the relationships between aberrant neural connectivity and behavior in ASD. Twenty-two individuals with ASD and 22 age, IQ-matched controls completed a high-angular-resolution diffusion MRI scan. Structural connectivity was analysed using constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD) based tractography. Regions for tractography were generated from the results of a previous study, in which 10 pairs of brain regions showed abnormal functional connectivity during visuospatial processing in ASD. WM tracts directly connected 5 of the 10 region pairs that showed abnormal functional connectivity; linking a region in the left occipital lobe (left BA19) and five paired regions: left caudate head, left caudate body, left uncus, left thalamus, and left cuneus. Measures of WM microstructural organization were extracted from these tracts. Fractional anisotropy (FA) reductions in the ASD group relative to controls were significant for WM connecting left BA19 to left caudate head and left BA19 to left thalamus. Using a multimodal imaging approach, this study has revealed aberrant WM microstructure in tracts that directly connect brain regions that are abnormally functionally connected in ASD. These results provide novel evidence to suggest that structural brain pathology may contribute (1) to abnormal functional connectivity and (2) to atypical visuospatial processing in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane McGrath
- Department of Psychiatry Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
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