Structural and Functional Neuroimaging of the Auditory System in Autism

描述(由申请人提供)：没有已知的结构、功能或遗传异常会导致自闭症。鉴于自闭症并不是单一的原因，评估多个生物标志物以更好地了解自闭症是有利的。这个项目建立在我们对自闭症的神经生物学基础的有限知识之上。特别是，这项K01提案寻求整合结构和功能大脑数据，以了解结构缺陷如何导致神经功能障碍，以及这些结构和功能大脑异常如何引起自闭症症状。一个主要的目标是检查听觉辐射和听觉皮质，因为听觉系统的功能和结构异常与自闭症有关。该项目使用扩散磁共振成像来定量评估听觉辐射的白质，并使用脑磁图(MEG)来测量颞上回内的活动，并确定听觉系统的神经元计时。该项目的第一个目标是开发Hardi指标来评估特定白质束的微观结构。第二个目标是使用Hardi纤维跟踪和Hardi指标来测量与自闭症相关的听觉系统中的微结构异常。第三个是将自闭症儿童的弥散磁共振指标与脑磁图的听觉皮质反应联系起来。第四个也是最后一个目标是调查来自额叶的输入对听觉COREX活动的作用。这套独特的哈迪和梅格可以为自闭症的神经生物学基础提供一致的证据。这个项目由蒂莫西·罗伯茨博士和苏珊·利维博士指导。计划开展培训活动，为候选人提供脑磁图实验使用和自闭症临床治疗方面的更多专业知识。该研究和培训计划旨在补充候选人的背景，并导致作为神经精神障碍的独立调查员的职业生涯。这项提案将在费城儿童医院(CHOP)的实验室和诊所内进行。拟议的K01项目利用了CHOP和宾夕法尼亚大学提供的独特资源和专家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There is no known structural, functional, or genetic abnormality that singularly causes autism. Given that there is not a single cause of autism, it is advantageous to assess multiple biomarkers to better understand autism. This project builds upon our limited knowledge of the neurobiological basis of autism. In particular, this K01 proposal seeks to integrate structural and functional brain data to learn how structural defects cause neurological dysfunction, and how these structural and functional brain abnormalities gives rise to autism symptoms. A primary goal is to examine the auditory radiation and auditory cortex because functional and structural abnormalities of the auditory system are associated with autism. This project uses diffusion MRI to quantitatively assess the white matter of the auditory radiation and magnetoencephalogray (MEG) to measure activity within the superior temporal gyrus and determine neuronal timings of the auditory system. The first goal of this project is to develop HARDI metrics to assess the microstructure of specific white matter tracts. The second goal is to use HARDI fiber tracking along with the HARDI metrics to measure microstructural abnormalities in the auditory system associated with autism. The third is to correlate diffusion MR metrics with auditory cortex responses from MEG in children with autism. The fourth and final goal is to investigate the role of input from the frontal lobe on auditory corex activity. This unique suite of HARDI and MEG can provide converging evidence on the neurobiological basis of autism. This project is mentored by Dr. Timothy Roberts and Dr. Susan Levy. Training activities are planned to provide the candidate with expanded expertise in the experimental use of MEG and the clinical management of autism. The research and training program are designed to complement the candidate's background and lead to a career as an independent investigator of neuropsychiatric disorders. This proposal will be conducted within the laboratories and clinics of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The proposed K01 project takes advantage of unique resources and experts available at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania.