Multimodal Brain Imaging in Autism Spectrum Disorders

描述（由申请人提供）：几条证据线为异常连接模型提供支持，以解释自闭症的潜在神经病理学。然而，没有研究提供自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）个体的功能和结构连接异常的一致证据。本研究将利用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和弥散张量成像（DTI）研究ASD患者的神经连通性异常。我们将研究损伤的两个领域（面部感知和对社会信息的反应），并确定神经连接如何与症状严重程度相关。25名高功能ASD患者（FSIQ bb80）和25名典型发展（TD）患者将参与这项研究。根据年龄、性别和FSIQ将TD组与ASD组进行匹配。白质结构异常（分数各向异性降低）被假设与ASD中功能连接异常相关。结构和功能连通性测量的异常程度预计将由临床严重程度介导。为培养开展多模态成像研究所需的技能，要求设立职业发展奖。申请人将接受DTI培训，并开发不同成像模式的成像数据组合和统计分析方法。神经成像和自闭症谱系障碍领域专家的咨询和培训将通过课程和研讨会得到加强。该培训计划的实施将对ASD特定损伤的基础上的白质连接的完整性进行连贯和彻底的评估。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Several lines of evidence provide support for a model of abnormal connectivity to explain the underlying neuropathology of autism. However, no study has provided converging evidence of both functional and structural connectivity abnormalities in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this proposal, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) will be used to investigate abnormalities in neural connectivity in ASD. We will study two domains of impairment (face perception and response to social information) and determine how neural connectivity relates to symptom severity. Twenty-five individuals with high functioning ASD (FSIQ > 80) and 25 typically developing (TD) individuals will participate in the study. The TD group will be matched to the ASD group according to age, gender, and FSIQ. White matter structural abnormalities (reduced fractional anisotropy) are hypothesized to be correlated to abnormal functional connectivity in ASD. The degree of abnormality in measures of structural and functional connectivity is expected to be mediated by clinical severity. A Career Development Award is requested in order to develop the skills necessary to conduct multimodal imaging research. The applicant will obtain training in DTI and develop methods for combining and statistically analyzing imaging data from different imaging modalities. Consultation and training from experts in the fields of neuroimaging and autism spectrum disorders will be augmented by coursework and seminars. The implementation of this training plan will yield a cohesive and thorough assessment of the integrity of white matter connections that underlie specific impairments in ASD.