title: Language Ability Predicts Cortical Structure and Covariance in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: There is significant clinical heterogeneity in language and communication abilities of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, no consistent pathology regarding the relationship of these abilities to brain structure has emerged. Recent developments in anatomical correlation-based approaches to map structural covariance networks (SCNs), combined with detailed behavioral characterization, offer an alternative for studying these relationships. In this study, such an approach was used to study the integrity of SCNs of cortical thickness and surface area associated with language and communication, in 46 high-functioning, school-age children with ASD compared with 50 matched, typically developing controls (all males) with IQ > 75. Findings showed that there was alteration of cortical structure and disruption of fronto-temporal cortical covariance in ASD compared with controls. Furthermore, in an analysis of a subset of ASD participants, alterations in both cortical structure and covariance were modulated by structural language ability of the participants, but not communicative function. These findings indicate that structural language abilities are related to altered fronto-temporal cortical covariance in ASD, much more than symptom severity or cognitive ability. They also support the importance of better characterizing ASD samples while studying brain structure and for better understanding individual differences in language and communication abilities in ASD.
authors.affiliation: International Laboratory for Brain Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, CanadaH2V 2J2.
authors.forename: Megha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharda
authors.affiliation: International Laboratory for Brain Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, CanadaH2V 2J2.
authors.forename: Nicholas E V
authors.initials: NEV
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: International Laboratory for Brain Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2V 2J2.|Montreal Neurological Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B4.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tryfon
authors.affiliation: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: Krissy A R
authors.initials: KAR
authors.lastname: Doyle-Thomas
authors.affiliation: International Laboratory for Brain Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, CanadaH2V 2J2.
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ouimet
authors.affiliation: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
authors.forename: Evdokia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anagnostou
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaH3A 2B4.
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaT5G 0B7.
authors.forename: Lonnie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zwaigenbaum
authors.affiliation: The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaM5T 3H7.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lerch
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaH3A 2B4.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: International Laboratory for Brain Music and Sound Research (BRAMS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2V 2J2.|Montreal Neurological Institute, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B4.
authors.forename: Krista L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hyde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: MRI; brain; communication; connectivity; cortical; language