1
|
Guo X, Zhang X, Liu J, Zhai G, Zhang T, Zhou R, Lu H, Gao L. Resolving heterogeneity in dynamics of synchronization stability within the salience network in autism spectrum disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 131:110956. [PMID: 38296155 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterogeneity in resting-state functional connectivity (FC) are one of the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Traditional resting-state FC primarily focuses on linear correlations, ignoring the nonlinear properties involved in synchronization between networks or brain regions. METHODS In the present study, the cross-recurrence quantification analysis, a nonlinear method based on dynamical systems, was utilized to quantify the synchronization stability between brain regions within the salience network (SN) of ASD. Using the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 207 children (ASD/typically-developing controls (TC): 105/102) in Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange database, we analyzed the laminarity and trapping time differences of the synchronization stability between the ASD subtype derived by a K-means clustering analysis and the TC group, and examined the relationship between synchronization stability and the severity of clinical symptoms of the ASD subtypes. RESULTS Based on the synchronization stability within the SN of ASD, we identified two subtypes that showed opposite changes in synchronization stability relative to the TC group. In addition, the synchronization stability of ASD subtypes 1 and 2 can predict the social interaction and communication impairments, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal that ASD subgroups with different patterns of synchronization stability within the SN appear distinct clinical symptoms, and highlight the importance of exploring the potential neural mechanism of ASD from a nonlinear perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Guo
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Information Transmission and Signal Processing, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China.
| | - Xia Zhang
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Information Transmission and Signal Processing, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Guangjin Zhai
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Information Transmission and Signal Processing, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Information Transmission and Signal Processing, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Rongjuan Zhou
- Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066000, China
| | - Huibin Lu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Information Transmission and Signal Processing, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Le Gao
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Information Transmission and Signal Processing, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kaneko T, Nakamura T, Ryokawa A, Washizuka S, Kitoh Y, Fujinaga Y. Connective differences between patients with depression with and without ASD: A case-control study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289735. [PMID: 37582068 PMCID: PMC10427005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Researchers find it difficult to distinguish between depression with ASD (Depress-wASD) and without ASD (Depression) in adult patients. We aimed to clarify the differences in brain connectivity between patients with depression with ASD and without ASD. METHODS From April 2017 to February 2019, 22 patients with suspected depression were admitted to the hospital for diagnosis or follow-up and met the inclusion criteria. The diagnosis was determined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 by skilled psychiatrists. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Young Mania Raging Scale (YMRS), Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Parent-interview ASD Rating Scale-Text Revision (PARS-TR), and Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Japanese version (AQ-J) were used to assess the patients' background and help with diagnosis. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was performed using the 3-T-MRI system. rs-fMRI was processed using the CONN functional connectivity toolbox. Voxel-based morphometry was performed using structural images. RESULTS No significant difference was observed between the Depress-wASD and Depression groups using the HAM-D, YMRS, AQ-J, Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and verbal IQ results. rs-fMRI for the Depress-wASD group indicated a positive connection between the salience network (SN) and right supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and a negative connection between the SN and hippocampus and para-hippocampus than that for the Depression group. No significant structural differences were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS We identified differences in the SN involving the SMG and hippocampal regions between the Depress-wASD and Depression groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoki Kaneko
- Department of Radiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
| | - Toshinori Nakamura
- Department of Psychology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
| | - Akiko Ryokawa
- Department of Psychology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Washizuka
- Department of Psychology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kitoh
- Department of Radiology, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Yasunari Fujinaga
- Department of Radiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Coccaro A, Di Bono MG, Maffei A, Orefice C, Lievore R, Mammarella I, Liotti M. Resting State Dynamic Reconfiguration of Spatial Attention Cortical Networks and Visuospatial Functioning in Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD): A HD-EEG Investigation. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050731. [PMID: 37239203 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in visuospatial processing but spared verbal competencies. Neurocognitive markers may provide confirmatory evidence for characterizing NVLD as a separate neurodevelopmental disorder. Visuospatial performance and high-density electroencephalography (EEG) were measured in 16 NLVD and in 16 typically developing (TD) children. Cortical source modeling was applied to assess resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in spatial attention networks (dorsal (DAN) and ventral attention networks (VAN)) implicated in visuospatial abilities. A machine-learning approach was applied to investigate whether group membership could be predicted from rs-FC maps and if these connectivity patterns were predictive of visuospatial performance. Graph theoretical measures were applied to nodes inside each network. EEG rs-FC maps in the gamma and beta band differentiated children with and without NVLD, with increased but more diffuse and less efficient functional connections bilaterally in the NVLD group. While rs-FC of the left DAN in the gamma range predicted visuospatial scores for TD children, in the NVLD group rs-FC of the right DAN in the delta range predicted impaired visuospatial performance, confirming that NVLD is a disorder with a predominant dysfunction in right hemisphere connectivity patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Coccaro
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Via Orus 2/B, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Di Bono
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Antonio Maffei
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Via Orus 2/B, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Camilla Orefice
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Rachele Lievore
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Irene Mammarella
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Mario Liotti
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Via Orus 2/B, 35129 Padova, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A1S6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Morris P, Hope E, Foulsham T, Mills JP. Dancing out for a voice; a narrative review of the literature exploring autism, physical activity, and dance. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2023; 33:202-215. [PMID: 36775520 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterised by profound challenges with social communication and social interaction. Currently, there are few therapeutic interventions that successfully target some of the functionally impairing traits associated with autism. Furthermore, many of these interventions comprise a variety of limitations; including, limited accessibility, extensive durations, or the requirement of a trained professional to deliver the intervention. New research suggests that instead of targeting all traits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder with a single solution, scientific research should focus on providing therapeutic tools that alleviate functionally impairing facets specific to the individual. Owing to the nature of physical activity, sports, and dance (coordinated movement) these activities could provide opportunities to enhance communication skills and social development in autistic children. Therefore, this paper gives a narrative overview of the literature surrounding communication and coordinated movement; outlining what is meant by communication challenges, exploring the benefits of coordinated movement for traits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and delineating how coordinated movement elicits positive outcomes for autistic children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Morris
- School of Sport, Exercise Science and Rehabilitation, University of Essex, UK.
| | - Edward Hope
- School of Sport, Exercise Science and Rehabilitation, University of Essex, UK
| | - Tom Foulsham
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, UK
| | - John P Mills
- School of Sport, Exercise Science and Rehabilitation, University of Essex, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Karavallil Achuthan S, Coburn KL, Beckerson ME, Kana RK. Amplitude of low frequency fluctuations during resting state fMRI in autistic children. Autism Res 2023; 16:84-98. [PMID: 36349875 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) provides an excellent platform for examining the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF), which are key indices of brain functioning. However, ALFF and fALFF have been used only sporadically to study autism. rs-fMRI data from 69 children (40 autistic, mean age = 8.47 ± 2.20 years; age range: 5.2 to 13.2; and 29 non-autistic, mean age = 9.02 ± 1.97 years; age range 5.9 to 12.9) were obtained from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE II). ALFF and fALFF were measured using CONN connectivity toolbox and SPM12, at whole-brain & network-levels. A two-sampled t-test and a 2 Group (autistic, non-autistic) × 7 Networks ANOVA were conducted to test group differences in ALFF and fALFF. The whole-brain analysis identified significantly reduced ALFF values for autistic participants in left parietal opercular cortex, precuneus, and right insula. At the network level, there was a significant effect of diagnostic group and brain network on ALFF values, and only significant effect of network, not group, on fALFF values. Regression analyses indicated a significant effect of age on ALFF values of certain networks in autistic participants. Such intrinsically different network-level responses in autistic participants may have implications for task-level recruitment and synchronization of brain areas, which may in turn impact optimal cognitive functioning. Moreover, differences in low frequency fluctuations of key networks, such as the DMN and SN, may underlie alterations in brain responses in autism that are frequently reported in the literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Karavallil Achuthan
- Department of Psychology & The Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Kelly L Coburn
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, USA
| | - Meagan E Beckerson
- Department of Psychology & The Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Rajesh K Kana
- Department of Psychology & The Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abnormal Dynamic Functional Network Connectivity in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clin Neuroradiol 2022; 32:1087-1096. [PMID: 35543744 DOI: 10.1007/s00062-022-01173-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study sought to explore changes of brain dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and investigate their relationship with clinical manifestations. METHODS Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired from 78 adult ASD patients from autism brain imaging data exchange datasets, and 65 age-matched healthy controls subjects from the local community. Independent component analysis was conducted to evaluate dFNC patterns on the basis of 13 independent components (ICs) within 11 resting-state networks (RSN), namely, auditory network (AUDN), basal ganglia network (BGN), language network (LN), sensorimotor network (SMN), precuneus network (PUCN), salience network (SN), visuospatial network (VSN), dorsal default mode network (dDMN), high visual network (hVIS), primary visual network (pVIS), ventral default mode network (vDMN). Fraction time, mean dwell time, number of transitions, and RSN connectivity were calculated for group comparisons. Correlation analyses were performed between abnormal metrics and autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) scores. RESULTS Compared with controls, ASD patients had higher fraction time and mean dwell time in state 2 (P = 0.017, P = 0.014). Reduced dFNC was found in the SMN with PUCN, SMN with hVIS, and increased dFNC was observed in the dDMN with SN in state 2 in the ASD group. Fraction time and mean dwell time was positively correlated with stereotyped behavior scores of ADOS. CONCLUSION The findings demonstrated the importance of evaluating transient alterations in specific neural networks of adult ASD patients. The abnormal metrics and connectivity may be related to symptoms such as stereotyped behavior.
Collapse
|
7
|
Kamalian A, Khodadadifar T, Saberi A, Masoudi M, Camilleri JA, Eickhoff CR, Zarei M, Pasquini L, Laird AR, Fox PT, Eickhoff SB, Tahmasian M. Convergent regional brain abnormalities in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: A neuroimaging meta-analysis of 73 studies. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 14:e12318. [PMID: 35664889 PMCID: PMC9148620 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Numerous studies have reported brain alterations in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, they pointed to inconsistent findings. Methods We used a meta‐analytic approach to identify the convergent structural and functional brain abnormalities in bvFTD. Following current best‐practice neuroimaging meta‐analysis guidelines, we searched PubMed and Embase databases and performed reference tracking. Then, the coordinates of group comparisons between bvFTD and controls from 73 studies were extracted and tested for convergence using activation likelihood estimation. Results We identified convergent abnormalities in the anterior cingulate cortices, anterior insula, amygdala, paracingulate, striatum, and hippocampus. Task‐based and resting‐state functional connectivity pointed to the networks that are connected to the obtained consistent regions. Functional decoding analyses suggested associated dysfunction of emotional processing, interoception, reward processing, higher‐order cognitive functions, and olfactory and gustatory perceptions in bvFTD. Discussion Our findings highlighted the key role of the salience network and subcortical regions in the pathophysiology of bvFTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aida Kamalian
- School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Tina Khodadadifar
- School of Cognitive Sciences Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Amin Saberi
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Maryam Masoudi
- School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Julia A Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Claudia R Eickhoff
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Research Center Jülich Structural and Functional Organisation of the Brain (INM-1) Jülich Germany
| | - Mojtaba Zarei
- Institute of Medical Science and Technology Shahid Beheshti University Tehran Iran
| | - Lorenzo Pasquini
- Department of Neurology Memory and Aging Center University of California-San Francisco San Francisco California USA
| | - Angela R Laird
- Department of Physics Florida International University Miami Florida USA
| | - Peter T Fox
- Research Imaging Institute University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Texas USA.,South Texas Veterans Health Care System San Antonio Texas USA
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Masoud Tahmasian
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fisher PW, Reyes-Portillo JA, Riddle MA, Litwin HD. Systematic Review: Nonverbal Learning Disability. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022; 61:159-186. [PMID: 33892110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize the current state of the research literature on nonverbal learning disability (NVLD), including criteria used to define NVLD in research contexts and the quality of the extant research; and to determine what research can tell us about ways in which NVLD is distinct from DSM neurodevelopmental disorders and typical development. METHOD A systematic search of 7 databases was conducted to identify research on NVLD published through February 2019. Criteria used to define NVLD were extracted from identified studies and sorted by category. Each study was assessed for risk of bias and rated "good," "fair," or "poor;" findings from studies rated good or fair were summarized. RESULTS A total of 61 articles (63 studies) met inclusion criteria. There was great heterogeneity in the criteria used to define NVLD. Deficits in visuospatial ability/intelligence was the most common criterion used, followed by discrepancy between verbal and nonverbal intelligence (VIQ>PIQ split of 10 or greater). All studies were cross-sectional and most included small, poorly described samples. Most studies focused on children and young adolescents. Eight studies were rated as good, 42 as fair, and 13 as poor. Review of results from the 50 good or fair studies suggest that there is sufficient evidence that youths with NVLD (as defined by significant deficits in visuospatial abilities) can be clearly differentiated from their typically developing peers, those with verbal learning disorders, and from other clinical groups (eg, individuals with high functioning autism). CONCLUSION A standard set of criteria for determining an NVLD diagnosis would greatly improve research studies and the possibility of inclusion in the DSM and the International Classification of Diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prudence W Fisher
- Drs. Fisher, Reyes-Portillo, and Litwin are with New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York.
| | - Jazmin A Reyes-Portillo
- Drs. Fisher, Reyes-Portillo, and Litwin are with New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York; Dr. Reyes-Portillo is also with Montclair State University, New Jersey
| | - Mark A Riddle
- Dr. Riddle is with The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hillary D Litwin
- Drs. Fisher, Reyes-Portillo, and Litwin are with New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Nair A, Jalal R, Liu J, Tsang T, McDonald NM, Jackson L, Ponting C, Jeste SS, Bookheimer SY, Dapretto M. Altered Thalamocortical Connectivity in 6-Week-Old Infants at High Familial Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:4191-4205. [PMID: 33866373 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Converging evidence from neuroimaging studies has revealed altered connectivity in cortical-subcortical networks in youth and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Comparatively little is known about the development of cortical-subcortical connectivity in infancy, before the emergence of overt ASD symptomatology. Here, we examined early functional and structural connectivity of thalamocortical networks in infants at high familial risk for ASD (HR) and low-risk controls (LR). Resting-state functional connectivity and diffusion tensor imaging data were acquired in 52 6-week-old infants. Functional connectivity was examined between 6 cortical seeds-prefrontal, motor, somatosensory, temporal, parietal, and occipital regions-and bilateral thalamus. We found significant thalamic-prefrontal underconnectivity, as well as thalamic-occipital and thalamic-motor overconnectivity in HR infants, relative to LR infants. Subsequent structural connectivity analyses also revealed atypical white matter integrity in thalamic-occipital tracts in HR infants, compared with LR infants. Notably, aberrant connectivity indices at 6 weeks predicted atypical social development between 9 and 36 months of age, as assessed with eye-tracking and diagnostic measures. These findings indicate that thalamocortical connectivity is disrupted at both the functional and structural level in HR infants as early as 6 weeks of age, providing a possible early marker of risk for ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Nair
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Rhideeta Jalal
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Janelle Liu
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tawny Tsang
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nicole M McDonald
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lisa Jackson
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Carolyn Ponting
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Shafali S Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Susan Y Bookheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mirella Dapretto
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ramphal B, Pagliaccio D, Thomas LV, He X, Margolis AE. Contributions of Cerebellar White Matter Microstructure to Social Difficulty in Nonverbal Learning Disability. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 20:931-937. [PMID: 33856654 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01265-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that the cerebellum may contribute to variety of cognitive capacities, including social cognition. Nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) is characterized by visual-spatial and social impairment. Recent functional neuroimaging studies have shown that children with NVLD have altered cerebellar resting-state functional connectivity, which is associated with various symptom domains. However, little is known about cerebellar white matter microstructure in NVLD and whether it contributes to social deficits. Twenty-seven children (12 with NVLD, 15 typically developing (TD)) contributed useable diffusion tensor imaging data. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to quantify fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cerebellar peduncles. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist, providing a measure of social difficulty. Children with NVLD had greater fractional anisotropy in the left and right inferior cerebellar peduncle. Furthermore, right inferior cerebellar peduncle FA was associated with social impairment as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist Social Problems subscale. Finally, the association between NVLD diagnosis and greater social impairment was mediated by right inferior cerebellar peduncle FA. These findings provide additional evidence that the cerebellum contributes both to social cognition and to the pathophysiology of NVLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Ramphal
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - David Pagliaccio
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Lauren V Thomas
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Xiaofu He
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Amy E Margolis
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Anzalone C, Luedke JC, Green JJ, Decker SL. QEEG coherence patterns related to mathematics ability in children. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD 2020; 11:328-338. [PMID: 33052731 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2020.1830403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigates the utility of resting-state EEG coherence values in predicting standardized math scores in children. Quantitative EEG and standardized academic achievement analyses were performed on 60 school-aged children. Analyses assessing intrahemispheric coherence at rest were conducted across the sample of participants and several coherence networks were extracted and compared to standardized math achievement values. Specifically, networks that included Brodmann area 40 (a brain region involved in the cognitive processes responsible for mathematics performance) and whose coherence values were significantly correlated with standardized math scores were examined. Results indicate a total of four coherence networks, two in each hemisphere, that have utility in predicting general math skills in children. In addition to BA 40, these coherence networks include BAs in the right temporal lobe, right frontoparietal lobe, left superior temporal lobe, and the left medial prefrontal cortex. These findings address the current dearth of research on the neurological connectivity patterns that are foundational for mathematics abilities in children. Further, these results lay a foundation for the supplementary use of EEG in the assessment and identification practices surrounding math learning disabilities in children and additionally provide a neurocognitive framework upon which intervention research may be targeted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Anzalone
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica C Luedke
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica J Green
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Scott L Decker
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Banker SM, Pagliaccio D, Ramphal B, Thomas L, Dranovsky A, Margolis AE. Altered structure and functional connectivity of the hippocampus are associated with social and mathematical difficulties in nonverbal learning disability. Hippocampus 2020; 31:79-88. [PMID: 32949475 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus is known to play a critical role in a variety of complex abilities, including visual-spatial reasoning, social functioning, and math. Nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in visual-spatial reasoning that are accompanied by impairment in social function or mathematics, as well as motor or executive function skills. Despite the overlap between behaviors supported by the hippocampus and impairments in NVLD, the structure and function of the hippocampus in NVLD has not been studied. To address this gap in the literature, we first compared hippocampal volume and resting-state functional connectivity in children with NVLD (n = 24) and typically developing (TD) children (n = 20). We then explored associations between hippocampal structure, connectivity, and performance on measures of spatial, social, and mathematical ability. Relative to TD children, those with NVLD showed significant reductions in left hippocampal volume and greater hippocampal-cerebellar connectivity. In children with NVLD, reduced hippocampal volume associated with worse mathematical problem solving. Although children with NVLD exhibited more social problems (social responsiveness scale [SRS]) and higher hippocampal-cerebellar connectivity relative to TD children, greater connectivity was associated with fewer social problems among children with NVLD but not TD children. Such an effect may suggest a compensatory mechanism. These structural and functional alterations of the hippocampus may disrupt its putative role in organizing conceptual frameworks through cognitive mapping, thus contributing to the cross-domain difficulties that characterize NVLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Banker
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David Pagliaccio
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, The New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bruce Ramphal
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, The New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lauren Thomas
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, The New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alex Dranovsky
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, The New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amy E Margolis
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, The New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Margolis AE, Broitman J, Davis JM, Alexander L, Hamilton A, Liao Z, Banker S, Thomas L, Ramphal B, Salum GA, Merikangas K, Goldsmith J, Paus T, Keyes K, Milham MP. Estimated Prevalence of Nonverbal Learning Disability Among North American Children and Adolescents. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e202551. [PMID: 32275324 PMCID: PMC7148441 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.2551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in visual-spatial processing but not in reading or verbal ability; in addition, problems in math calculation, visual executive functioning, fine-motor skills, and social skills are often present. To our knowledge, there are no population-based estimates of the prevalence of NVLD in community samples. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of the NVLD cognitive profile in 3 independent samples of children and adolescents from studies centered around brain imaging in the US and Canada. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study used data from 2 samples recruited from the community and overselected for children with psychiatric disorders (Healthy Brain Network [HBN], January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, and Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample [NKI], January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2018) and 1 community-ascertained population sample (Saguenay Youth Study [SYS], January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2012) overselected for active maternal smoking during pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prevalence of NVLD. Criteria for NVLD were based on clinical records of deficits in visual-spatial reasoning and impairment in 2 of 4 domains of function (fine-motor skills, math calculation, visual executive functioning, and social skills). Sample weighting procedures adjusted for demographic differences in sample frequencies compared with underlying target populations. Inflation factor weights accounted for overrepresentation of psychiatric disorders (HBN and NKI samples). RESULTS Across 3 independent samples, the prevalence of NVLD was estimated among 2596 children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years (mean [SD] age, 12.5 [3.4] years; 1449 male [55.8%]). After sample and inflation weights were applied, the prevalence of NVLD was 2.78% (95% CI, 2.03%-3.52%) in the HBN sample and 3.9% (95% CI, 1.96%-5.78%) in the NKI sample. In the SYS sample, the prevalence of NVLD was 3.10% (95% CI, 1.93%-4.27%) after applying the sample weight. Across samples and estimation strategies, the population prevalence of NVLD was estimated to range from 3% to 4%. When applied to the US population younger than 18 years, 2.2 million to 2.9 million children and adolescents were estimated to have NVLD. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The findings suggest that the prevalence of NVLD in children and adolescents may be 3% to 4%. Given that few youths are diagnosed with NVLD and receive treatment, increased awareness, identification of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, and development and testing interventions for the disorder are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy E. Margolis
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jessica Broitman
- International Control Mastery Therapy Center, Berkeley, California
| | - John M. Davis
- Department of Educational Psychology, California State University, Hayward
| | - Lindsay Alexander
- Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, New York
| | - Ava Hamilton
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Zhijie Liao
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah Banker
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Lauren Thomas
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Bruce Ramphal
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Giovanni A. Salum
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Section on Negative Affect and Social Processes, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Kathleen Merikangas
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jeff Goldsmith
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Tomas Paus
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine Keyes
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Michael P. Milham
- Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, New York
- Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Banker SM, Ramphal B, Pagliaccio D, Thomas L, Rosen E, Sigel AN, Zeffiro T, Marsh R, Margolis AE. Spatial Network Connectivity and Spatial Reasoning Ability in Children with Nonverbal Learning Disability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:561. [PMID: 31953441 PMCID: PMC6969178 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56003-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD) is characterized by deficits in visual-spatial, but not verbal, reasoning. Nevertheless, the functioning of the neural circuits supporting spatial processing have yet to be assessed in children with NVLD. We compared the resting state functional connectivity of a spatial brain network among children with NVLD, children with reading disorder (RD), and typically developing (TD) children. Seventy-five participants (7-15 years old) were included in the study (20 TD, 24 NVLD, and 31 RD). Group differences in global efficiency and functional connectivity among 12 regions comprising a previously defined spatial network were evaluated. Associations with behavior were explored. Global efficiency of the spatial network associated positively with spatial ability and inversely with socioemotional problems. Within the spatial network, associations between left posterior cingulate (PCC) and right retrosplenial cortical activity were reduced in children with NVLD relative to those without spatial deficits (RD and TD). Connectivity between left PCC and right posterior cerebellum (Crus I and II) was reduced in both groups of children with learning disabilities (NVLD and RD) relative to TD children. Functional connectivity of the spatial network was atypically associated with cognitive and socioemotional performance in children with NVLD. Identifying a neurobiological substrate for NVLD provides evidence that it is a discrete clinical entity and suggests targets for treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Banker
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Bruce Ramphal
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - David Pagliaccio
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Lauren Thomas
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rosen
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Anika N Sigel
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Thomas Zeffiro
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.,Neurometrika, Potomac, MD, 20854, USA
| | - Rachel Marsh
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Amy E Margolis
- The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Li CL, Deng YJ, He YH, Zhai HC, Jia FC. The development of brain functional connectivity networks revealed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Neural Regen Res 2019; 14:1419-1429. [PMID: 30964068 PMCID: PMC6524509 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.253526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies on brain functional connectivity networks in children have mainly focused on changes in function in specific brain regions, as opposed to whole brain connectivity in healthy children. By analyzing the independent components of activation and network connectivity between brain regions, we examined brain activity status and development trends in children aged 3 and 5 years. These data could provide a reference for brain function rehabilitation in children with illness or abnormal function. We acquired functional magnetic resonance images from 15 3-year-old children and 15 5-year-old children under natural sleep conditions. The participants were recruited from five kindergartens in the Nanshan District of Shenzhen City, China. The parents of the participants signed an informed consent form with the premise that they had been fully informed regarding the experimental protocol. We used masked independent component analysis and BrainNet Viewer software to explore the independent components of the brain and correlation connections between brain regions. We identified seven independent components in the two groups of children, including the executive control network, the dorsal attention network, the default mode network, the left frontoparietal network, the right frontoparietal network, the salience network, and the motor network. In the default mode network, the posterior cingulate cortex, medial frontal gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule were activated in both 3- and 5-year-old children, supporting the “three-brain region theory” of the default mode network. In the frontoparietal network, the frontal and parietal gyri were activated in the two groups of children, and functional connectivity was strengthened in 5-year-olds compared with 3-year-olds, although the nodes and network connections were not yet mature. The high-correlation network connections in the default mode networks and dorsal attention networks had been significantly strengthened in 5-year-olds vs. 3-year-olds. Further, the salience network in the 3-year-old children included an activated insula/inferior frontal gyrus-anterior cingulate cortex network circuit and an activated thalamus-parahippocampal-posterior cingulate cortex-subcortical regions network circuit. By the age of 5 years, nodes and high-correlation network connections (edges) were reduced in the salience network. Overall, activation of the dorsal attention network, default mode network, left frontoparietal network, and right frontoparietal network increased (the volume of activation increased, the signals strengthened, and the high-correlation connections increased and strengthened) in 5-year-olds compared with 3-year-olds, but activation in some brain nodes weakened or disappeared in the salience network, and the network connections (edges) were reduced. Between the ages of 3 and 5 years, we observed a tendency for function in some brain regions to be strengthened and for the generalization of activation to be reduced, indicating that specialization begins to develop at this time. The study protocol was approved by the local ethics committee of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in China with approval No. SIAT-IRB-131115-H0075 on November 15, 2013.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Lin Li
- School of Education, South China Normal University; Center of Network and Modern Educational Technology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yan-Jun Deng
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu-Hui He
- Donghui Kindergarten, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hong-Chang Zhai
- School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fu-Cang Jia
- Research Lab for Medical Imaging and Digital Surgery, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|