MRI measures of neural connectivity in Asperger's Disorder

描述(由申请人提供)：患有阿斯伯格障碍的受试者在社会认知方面有缺陷，这可能是由于大脑连接异常(Belmonte等人)。2004年；Welchew等人。2005)。使用一系列先进的MRI技术，我们提出了一项研究，以检查40名亚斯伯格障碍患者和40名匹配对照的解剖和结构连通性，重点关注与社会认知相关的边缘/边缘旁区域(包括前扣带回和后扣带回、杏仁核和海马体)。这一系列研究的动机是我们的初步工作表明，患有阿斯伯格障碍的受试者和健康对照组之间的静息状态功能连接网络发生了变化。我们的具体目标是：1)使用功能连接来检查静息状态网络的差异；2)使用扩散张量成像(DTI)来检查白质完整性；以及3)检查不同年龄组和队列之间的发育影响。这项研究将让我们对阿斯伯格综合症的神经生物学有一个更清晰的了解，并可以为自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)的延伸奠定基础。主要调查员拥有独特的能力和资源，这为开展这项创新工作提供了极好的机会。公共卫生相关性：这个项目将使用磁共振成像(MRI)来检查大脑连接的测量方法，以调查阿斯伯格综合症的社会缺陷。这一结果将进一步了解这种疾病的生物学后果，并可能有助于开发新的诊断或治疗技术。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Subjects with Asperger's Disorder have deficits in social cognition, which may be due to abnormal brain connectivity (Belmonte, et al. 2004; Welchew, et al. 2005). Using a battery of advanced MRI techniques, we propose a study to examine anatomical and structural connectivity in a group of 40 subjects with Asperger's Disorder and 40 matched controls, focusing on limbic/paralimbic areas associated with social cognition (including the anterior and posterior cingulate, amygdala, and hippocampus). This line of research is motivated by our preliminary work showing alterations in resting-state functional connectivity networks between subjects with Asperger's Disorder and healthy controls. Our specific aims are: 1) to use functional connectivity to examine resting-state network differences; 2) to use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter integrity; and 3) to examine developmental effects between age groups and cohorts. This study will give us a clearer picture of the neurobiology of Asperger's Disorder, and can form the basis for extensions to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The unique capabilities and resources available to the primary investigators allow for an excellent opportunity to carry out this innovative work. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project will investigate the social deficits in Asperger's Disorder using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine measures of brain connectivity. The results will further knowledge about the biological consequences of this condition, and possibly help to develop new diagnostic or therapeutic techniques.