MRI measures of neural connectivity in Asperger's Disorder

描述（由申请人提供）：亚斯伯格障碍患者在社会认知方面存在缺陷，这可能是由于大脑连接异常造成的（Belmonte, et al. 2004; Welchew, et al. 2005）。利用一系列先进的MRI技术，我们提出了一项研究，以检查40名亚斯伯格症患者和40名匹配对照者的解剖和结构连通性，重点关注与社会认知相关的边缘/副边缘区域（包括前扣带和后扣带、杏仁核和海马）。我们的初步研究表明，亚斯伯格症患者和健康对照者之间静息状态功能连接网络的改变，从而激发了这一研究方向。我们的具体目标是：1)使用功能连接来检查静息状态网络差异；2)利用弥散张量成像（DTI）检测白质完整性；3)检查年龄组和队列之间的发育影响。这项研究将使我们对阿斯伯格症的神经生物学有一个更清晰的认识，并可以为自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的扩展奠定基础。主要研究人员的独特能力和资源为开展这项创新工作提供了绝佳的机会。公共卫生相关性：该项目将利用磁共振成像（MRI）检查大脑连通性的测量来调查阿斯伯格症的社会缺陷。该结果将进一步了解这种情况的生物学后果，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.