Diffusion tensor imaging of white matter in the superior temporal gyrus and temporal stem in autism.
Recent MRI studies have indicated that regions of the temporal lobe including the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and the temporal stem (TS) appear to be abnormal in autism. In this study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements of white matter in the STG and the TS were compared in 43 autism and 34 control subjects. DTI measures of mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were compared between groups. In all regions, fractional anisotropy was significantly decreased and both mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity were significantly increased in the autism group. These results suggest that white matter microstructure in autism is abnormal in these temporal lobe regions, which is consistent with theories of aberrant brain connectivity in autism.
Lee
Jee Eun
JE
Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Waisman Center, Madison, WI, United States.
Bigler
Erin D
ED
Alexander
Andrew L
AL
Lazar
Mariana
M
DuBray
Molly B
MB
Chung
Moo K
MK
Johnson
Michael
M
Morgan
Jubel
J
Miller
Judith N
JN
McMahon
William M
WM
Lu
Jeffrey
J
Jeong
Eun-Kee
EK
Lainhart
Janet E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*