Article: White matter fractional anisotrophy differences and correlates of diagnostic symptoms in autism

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TitleWhite matter fractional anisotrophy differences and correlates of diagnostic symptoms in autism
AuthorsCheung, C2
Chua, SE1 2
Cheung, V2
Khong, PL1 2
Tai, KS3
Wong, TKW2
Ho, TP2
McAlonan, GM1 2
KeywordsBrain
Children
Diffusion tensor
Magnetic resonance imaging
Morphometry
Issue Date2009
PublisherBlackwell Publishing Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journals/JCPP
CitationJournal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry And Allied Disciplines, 2009, v. 50 n. 9, p. 1102-1112 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02086.x
AbstractBackground: Individuals with autism have impairments in 3 domains: communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviours. Our previous work suggested early structural and connectivity abnormalities in prefrontal-striato-temporal-cerebellar networks but it is not clear how these are linked to diagnostic indices. Method: Children with autism (IQ > 70) aged 6 to 14 years old and matched typically developing controls were studied using diffusion tensor imaging. Voxel-based methods were used to compare fractional anisotrophy (FA) measures in each group and to correlate FA measures in the autism group with the diagnostic phenotype described by the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R) algorithm for ICD-10. Results: After controlling for the effects of age and white matter volume, we found that FA in the autism group was significantly lower than controls in bilateral prefrontal and temporal regions, especially in the right ventral temporal lobe adjacent to the fusiform gyrus. FA was greater in autism in the right inferior frontal gyrus and left occipital lobe. We observed a tight correlation between lower FA and higher ADI-R diagnostic algorithm scores across white matter tracts extending from these focal regions of group difference. Communication and social reciprocity impairments correlated with lower FA throughout fronto-striato-temporal pathways. Repetitive behaviours correlated with white matter indices in more posterior brain pathways, including splenium of the corpus callosum and cerebellum. Conclusions: Our data support the position that diagnostic symptoms of autism are associated with a core disruption of white matter development. © 2009 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
ISSN0021-9630
2011 Impact Factor: 4.281
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.207
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02086.x
ISI Accession Number IDWOS:000269264800008
Funding AgencyGrant Number
University of Hong Kong
Funding Information:

This study was supported by a University of Hong Kong Grant to SEC.

ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorCheung, C
dc.contributor.authorChua, SE
dc.contributor.authorCheung, V
dc.contributor.authorKhong, PL
dc.contributor.authorTai, KS
dc.contributor.authorWong, TKW
dc.contributor.authorHo, TP
dc.contributor.authorMcAlonan, GM
dc.date.accessioned2010-09-06T06:41:19Z
dc.date.available2010-09-06T06:41:19Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractBackground: Individuals with autism have impairments in 3 domains: communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviours. Our previous work suggested early structural and connectivity abnormalities in prefrontal-striato-temporal-cerebellar networks but it is not clear how these are linked to diagnostic indices. Method: Children with autism (IQ > 70) aged 6 to 14 years old and matched typically developing controls were studied using diffusion tensor imaging. Voxel-based methods were used to compare fractional anisotrophy (FA) measures in each group and to correlate FA measures in the autism group with the diagnostic phenotype described by the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R) algorithm for ICD-10. Results: After controlling for the effects of age and white matter volume, we found that FA in the autism group was significantly lower than controls in bilateral prefrontal and temporal regions, especially in the right ventral temporal lobe adjacent to the fusiform gyrus. FA was greater in autism in the right inferior frontal gyrus and left occipital lobe. We observed a tight correlation between lower FA and higher ADI-R diagnostic algorithm scores across white matter tracts extending from these focal regions of group difference. Communication and social reciprocity impairments correlated with lower FA throughout fronto-striato-temporal pathways. Repetitive behaviours correlated with white matter indices in more posterior brain pathways, including splenium of the corpus callosum and cerebellum. Conclusions: Our data support the position that diagnostic symptoms of autism are associated with a core disruption of white matter development. © 2009 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
dc.description.naturelink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationJournal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry And Allied Disciplines, 2009, v. 50 n. 9, p. 1102-1112 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02086.x
dc.identifier.citeulike5657758
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02086.x
dc.identifier.epage1112
dc.identifier.hkuros162124
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000269264800008
Funding AgencyGrant Number
University of Hong Kong
Funding Information:

This study was supported by a University of Hong Kong Grant to SEC.

dc.identifier.issn0021-9630
2011 Impact Factor: 4.281
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.207
dc.identifier.issue9
dc.identifier.pmid19490309
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-69249122419
dc.identifier.spage1102
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/72398
dc.identifier.volume50
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journals/JCPP
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.rightsThe definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
dc.subject.meshAutistic Disorder - pathology
dc.subject.meshBasal Ganglia - pathology
dc.subject.meshBrain - pathology
dc.subject.meshCorpus Callosum - pathology
dc.subject.meshDiffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
dc.subjectBrain
dc.subjectChildren
dc.subjectDiffusion tensor
dc.subjectMagnetic resonance imaging
dc.subjectMorphometry
dc.titleWhite matter fractional anisotrophy differences and correlates of diagnostic symptoms in autism
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. State Key Laboratory for Brain and Cognitive Sciences
  2. The University of Hong Kong
  3. Hospital Authority