Structural Neural Phenotype of Autism: Preliminary Evidence from a Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study Using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics
Structural Neural Phenotype of Autism: Preliminary Evidence from a Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study Using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics
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DOI：
10.3174/ajnr.a2558
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发表时间：
2011-10-01
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Pelphrey, K. A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Jou, R. J.;Mateljevic, N.;Pelphrey, K. A.
背景和目的：越来越多的证据表明，神经连接的广泛畸变是自闭症的潜在神经生物学基础。本研究使用 DTI 评估白质异常，实施体素分析和束标记策略来测试自闭症的结构神经表型。 材料和方法：受试者包括 15 名自闭症男孩和 8 名对照者，按年龄、认知功能、性别和惯用手进行分组。 DTI 数据是使用 31 扫描仪获得的。 FSL（包括 TBSS）用于处理和分析 DTI 数据，其中 FA 被选为纤维束完整性的主要衡量标准。使用集成的白质纤维束成像图集标记受影响的体素。对每个受影响纤维束的 FA 与社会反应量表得分之间进行事后相关分析。结果：自闭症组表现出双侧 FA 减少，涉及许多关联束、连合束和投射束，受影响最严重的是小钳子。最受影响的关联束是额枕下束和上纵束。自闭症组没有出现 FA 增加的区域。在控制多重比较后，所有事后相关分析都变得不显着。结论：这项研究提供了自闭症患者许多长程纤维束 FA 减少的初步证据，表明长程皮质连接异常。尽管这些发现的空间分布表明存在广泛的异常，但不同束受到影响的程度存在重大差异，表明自闭症具有更具体的神经表型。
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 31 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.