White matter impairments in autism, evidence from voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging.
This study explored white matter abnormalities in a group of Chinese children with high functioning autism (HFA). Twelve male children with HFA and ten matched typically developing children underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as well three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI for voxel-based morphometry (VBM). We found a significant decrease of the white matter density in the right frontal lobe, left parietal lobe and right anterior cingulate and a significant increase in the right frontal lobe, left parietal lobe and left cingulate gyrus in the HFA group compared with the control group. The HFA group also had decreased FA in the frontal lobe and left temporal lobe. By combining DT-MRI FA and MRI volumetric analyses based on the VBM model, the results showed consistent white matter abnormalities in a group of Chinese children with HFA.
Ke
Xiaoyan
X
Child Mental Health Research Center of Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. kexynj@hotmail.com
Tang
Tianyu
T
Hong
Shanshan
S
Hang
Yueyue
Y
Zou
Bing
B
Li
Huiguo
H
Zhou
Zhenyu
Z
Ruan
Zongcai
Z
Lu
Zuhong
Z
Tao
Guotai
G
Liu
Yijun
Y
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology