Connectivity of Anterior Cingulate Cortex Networks in Autism

描述（由申请人提供）：在这个探索性/发展性申请中，我们提出了一种新的方法来研究自闭症的病理生理学，自闭症越来越被理解为一种社交障碍综合征。本研究旨在通过将社交障碍（自闭症的一个关键功能障碍）的生态意义测量与以前扣带皮层为中心的网络完整性联系起来，进一步了解自闭症中皮质-皮质连接不足的意义。此外，它旨在探索执行功能（通常在自闭症中受损）的生态意义测量与基于背前扣带皮层的网络的关系，该网络通常涉及执行控制。与之前对这些网络中自闭症相关异常的研究不同，我们建议使用最近开发的静息状态血氧水平依赖于功能连通性的fMRI测量（即区域间时间一致性）来实现这些目标。我们还建议使用扩散张量成像来评估白质完整性，并检查结构完整性和功能连通性之间的关系。我们假设自闭症相关的神经连通性损害将分别与社会和认知障碍指数、社会反应量表和执行功能行为反应量表有关。我们拟比较30名成年男性高功能自闭症患者与30名神经正常对照组的完整数据，这些数据在年龄、性别、利手性、全面智商和社会经济地位方面相匹配。这种方法有可能让我们了解自闭症的基本缺陷，从而改变目前的诊断和治疗方法。公共卫生相关性：我们建议采用一种新的方法来更好地理解自闭症的大脑机制，自闭症是一种常见的疾病，与显著的功能障碍和巨大的痛苦有关。我们将研究两个大脑网络，这两个网络在典型的神经控制中通常与社会和认知控制技能有关，这两个网络在自闭症患者中都被认为是被破坏的。我们将招募一组成年自闭症患者，将他们的数据与神经正常的志愿者进行比较。本研究为自闭症脑回路的研究引入了新技术，并有可能进一步了解自闭症的神经基础，从而改进诊断和治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this exploratory/developmental application, we propose a novel approach to the investigation of the pathophysiology of autism, which is increasingly understood as a dysconnection syndrome. This proposal aims to provide further insights into the significance of cortico-cortical under-connectivity in autism, by relating ecologically meaningful measures of social impairment (a key dysfunction in autism) to the integrity of a network centered in perigenual anterior cingulate cortex, commonly implicated in social cognition. In addition, it aims to explore the relationship of ecologically meaningful measures of executive function (often impaired in autism) to a network based in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, typically implicated in executive control. Unlike prior investigations of autism-related abnormalities in each of these networks, we propose to accomplish these aims using recently developed resting state blood-oxygenation level dependent fMRI measures of functional connectivity (i.e., inter-regional temporal coherence). We also propose to assess white matter integrity using diffusion tensor imaging and examine the relation between measures of structural integrity and functional connectivity. We hypothesize that autism-related compromises in neuronal connectivity will be related to indices of social and cognitive impairment, the Social Responsiveness Scale, and the Behavioral Response Inventory of Executive Functions, respectively. We propose to compare complete data from 30 adult males with high-functioning autism to 30 neurotypical controls group- matched for age, sex, handedness, full scale IQ, and socioeconomic status. This approach has the potential to inform our understanding of fundamental impairments in autism and consequently to transform current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to apply a novel approach to better understand the brain mechanisms involved in autism, a common condition that is associated with significant functional impairments, and immense suffering. We will study two brain networks that in neurotypical controls are commonly associated with social and cognitive control skills, both of which are thought to be disrupted in individuals with autism. We will enroll a group of adults with autism to compare their data to those of neurotypical volunteers. The proposed work introduces new techniques for the study of brain circuits in autism, and has the potential to further inform our understanding of the neural basis of autism, so that we can improve methods of diagnosis and treatment.