PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R.J. Jou
AU  - N. Mateljevic
AU  - M.D. Kaiser
AU  - D.R. Sugrue
AU  - F.R. Volkmar
AU  - K.A. Pelphrey
TI  - Structural Neural Phenotype of Autism: Preliminary Evidence from a Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study Using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A2558
DP  - 2011 Oct 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1607--1613
VI  - 32
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/32/9/1607.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/32/9/1607.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2011 Oct 01; 32
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is mounting evidence suggesting widespread aberrations in neural connectivity as the underlying neurobiology of autism. Using DTI to assess white matter abnormalities, this study implemented a voxelwise analysis and tract-labeling strategy to test for a structural neural phenotype in autism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects included 15 boys with autism and 8 controls, group-matched on age, cognitive functioning, sex, and handedness. DTI data were obtained by using a 3T scanner. FSL, including TBSS, was used to process and analyze DTI data where FA was chosen as the primary measure of fiber tract integrity. Affected voxels were labeled by using an integrated white matter tractography atlas. Post hoc correlation analyses were performed between FA of each affected fiber tract and scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale. RESULTS: The autism group exhibited bilateral reductions in FA involving numerous association, commissural, and projection tracts, with the most severely affected being the forceps minor. The most affected association tracts were the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and superior longitudinal fasciculus. There were no areas of increased FA in the autism group. All post hoc correlation analyses became nonsignificant after controlling for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence of reduced FA along many long-range fiber tracts in autism, suggesting aberrant long-range corticocortical connectivity. Although the spatial distribution of these findings suggests widespread abnormalities, there are major differences in the degree to which different tracts are affected, suggesting a more specific neural phenotype in autism. AMYamygdalaASDautism spectrum disordersATRanterior thalamic radiationBCCbody of corpus callosumCNGcingulumCSTcorticospinal tractDASDifferential Abilities ScaleDTIdiffusion tensor imagingFAfractional anisotropyFDTFMRIB Diffusion ToolboxFFAfusiform face areaFMAJforceps majorFMINforceps minorfMRIfunctional MR imagingFMRIBOxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the BrainFSLFMRIB Software LibraryGRAPPAgeneralized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitionIFOFinferior fronto-occipital fasciculusILFinferior longitudinal fasciculusJHUJohns Hopkins UniversityMNIMontreal Neurologic InstituteSLFsuperior longitudinal fasciculusSRSSocial Responsiveness ScaleSSCsomatosensory cortexSTSsuperior temporal sulcusTBSSTract-Based Spatial StatisticsTDCtypically developing controlTPJtemporal parietal junctionUNFuncinate fasciculusVMPCventromedial prefrontal cortex