title: Brainstem White Matter Predicts Individual Differences in Manual Motor Difficulties and Symptom Severity in Autism.
abstract: Mounting evidence suggests that poorer motor skills may be related to more severe autism symptoms. This study investigated if atypical white matter microstructure in the brain mediated the relationship between motor skills and ASD symptom severity. Sixty-seven males with ASD and 42 males with typical development (5-33 years old) completed a diffusion tensor imaging scan and measures of grip strength, finger tapping, and autism symptom severity. Within the ASD group, weaker grip strength predicted more severe autism symptoms. Fractional anisotropy of the brainstem's corticospinal tract predicted both grip strength and autism symptom severity and mediated the relationship between the two. These findings suggest that brainstem white matter may contribute to autism symptoms and grip strength in ASD.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA, btravers@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Brittany G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Travers
authors.forename: Erin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bigler
authors.forename: Do P M
authors.initials: do PM
authors.lastname: Tromp
authors.forename: Nagesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adluru
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Destiche
authors.forename: Danica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samsin
authors.forename: Alyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.forename: Molly D B
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Prigge
authors.forename: Tyler C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Duffield
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lainhart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*