title: Detecting abnormalities of corpus callosum connectivity in autism using magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor tractography.
abstract: The corpus callosum (CC) has emerged as one of the primary targets of autism research. To detect aberrant CC interhemispheric connectivity in autism, we performed T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based tractography in 18 children with high functioning autism (HFA) and 16 well-matched typically developing (TD) children. We compared global and regional T1 measures (CC volume, and CC density), and the DTI measures [fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), average fiber length (AFL), and fiber number (FN)] of transcallosal fibers, between the two groups. We also evaluated the relationships between scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and CC T1 or DTI measurements. Significantly less white matter density in the anterior third of the CC, and higher ADC and lower FN values of the anterior third transcallosal fiber tracts were found in HFA patients compared to TD children. These results suggested that the anterior third CC density and transcallosal fiber connectivity were affected in HFA children.
authors: Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Southeast University Medical College, Jiangyin, 214400 China.
authors: Shanshan
authors: S
authors: Hong
authors: Child Mental Health Research Center of Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China. Electronic address: kexynj@hotmail.com.
authors: Xiaoyan
authors: X
authors: Ke
authors: Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210096 China.
authors: Tianyu
authors: T
authors: Tang
authors: Child Mental Health Research Center of Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China.
authors: Yueyue
authors: Y
authors: Hang
authors: Child Mental Health Research Center of Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China.
authors: Kangkang
authors: K
authors: Chu
authors: Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210096 China.
authors: Haiqing
authors: H
authors: Huang
authors: Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210096 China.
authors: Zongcai
authors: Z
authors: Ruan
authors: Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210096 China.
authors: Zuhong
authors: Z
authors: Lu
authors: Child Mental Health Research Center of Nanjing Brain Hospital affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China.
authors: Guotai
authors: G
authors: Tao
authors: Department of Psychiatry and McKnight Brain Institue, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States.
authors: Yijun
authors: Y
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016880:Anisotropy; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*