Multimodal Brain Imaging in Autism Spectrum Disorders

有几条证据支持异常连接模型，以解释潜在的 自闭症的神经病理学。然而，没有一项研究提供了功能和功能都一致的证据。 自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)患者的结构连接性异常。在这份提案中， 将使用功能磁共振成像(FMRI)和扩散张量成像(DTI)来研究 ASD患者的神经连接异常。我们将研究两个领域的损害(脸部知觉和 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。二十- 5名高功能自闭症患者(FSIQ&>80)和25名典型发育迟缓患者(TD)将 参与研究。TD组将根据年龄、性别和年龄与ASD组匹配 FSIQ。假设白质结构异常(降低的分数各向异性)是相关的 与ASD中异常的功能连接有关。结构和结构测量中的异常程度 功能连接预计会受到临床严重程度的影响。职业发展奖是 为培养开展多模式成像研究所必需的技能，需要开展这方面的研究。申请者将会 获得DTI方面的培训，开发组合和统计分析成像数据的方法 不同的成像方式。神经影像和自闭症领域专家的咨询和培训 谱系障碍将通过课程作业和研讨会得到扩大。这一培训计划的实施 将对作为基础的脑白质连接的完整性进行连贯和彻底的评估 ASD中的特定损害。

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.