title: Neuroanatomy of Individual Differences in Language in Adult Males with Autism.
abstract: One potential source of heterogeneity within autism spectrum conditions (ASC) is language development and ability. In 80 high-functioning male adults with ASC, we tested if variations in developmental and current structural language are associated with current neuroanatomy. Groups with and without language delay differed behaviorally in early social reciprocity, current language, but not current autistic features. Language delay was associated with larger total gray matter (GM) volume, smaller relative volume at bilateral insula, ventral basal ganglia, and right superior, middle, and polar temporal structures, and larger relative volume at pons and medulla oblongata in adulthood. Despite this heterogeneity, those with and without language delay showed significant commonality in morphometric features when contrasted with matched neurotypical individuals (n = 57). In ASC, better current language was associated with increased GM volume in bilateral temporal pole, superior temporal regions, dorsolateral fronto-parietal and cerebellar structures, and increased white matter volume in distributed frontal and insular regions. Furthermore, current language-neuroanatomy correlation patterns were similar across subgroups with or without language delay. High-functioning adult males with ASC show neuroanatomical variations associated with both developmental and current language characteristics. This underscores the importance of including both developmental and current language as specifiers for ASC, to help clarify heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK Department of Psychology and Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Nicosia CY 1678, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, PO23, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AL, UK.
authors.forename: Bhismadev
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.affiliation: Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB21 5EF, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suckling
authors.affiliation: Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK GlaxoSmithKline, Clinical Unit Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB21 5EF, UK.
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Bullmore
authors.affiliation: MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, PO80, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Happé
authors.affiliation: Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, PO23, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Declan G M
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB21 5EF, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baron-Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: autism; individual differences; language; neuroanatomy; specifiers