title: In vivo 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the attentional networks in autism.
abstract: Attentional dysfunction is one of the most consistent findings in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, the significance of such findings for the pathophysiology of autism is unclear. In this study, we investigated cellular neurochemistry with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging ((1)H-MRS) in brain regions associated with networks subserving alerting, orienting, and executive control of attention in patients with ASD. Concentrations of cerebral N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatinine+phosphocreatinine, choline-containing compounds, myo-inositol (Ins) and glutamate+glutamine (Glx) were determined by 3T (1)H-MRS examinations in 14 high-functioning medication-free adults with a diagnosis of ASD and 14 age- and IQ-matched healthy controls (HC) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), thalamus, temporoparietal junction (TPJ), and areas near or along the intraparietal sulcus (IPS). Compared to HC group, the ASD group showed significantly lower Glx concentration in right ACC and reduced Ins concentration in left TPJ. This study provides evidence of abnormalities in neurotransmission related to networks subserving executive control and alerting of attention, functions which have been previously implicated in ASD pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Evdokia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anagnostou
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolevzon
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Buxbaum
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hollander
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hof
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult