INTRODUCTION: Repetitive behaviour and inhibitory control deficits are core features of autism; and it has been suggested that they result from differences in the anatomy of striatum; and/or the 'connectivity' of subcortical regions to frontal cortex. There are few studies, however, that have measured the micro-structural organisation of white matter tracts connecting striatum and frontal cortex. AIMS: To investigate differences in bulk volume of striatum and micro-structural organisation of fronto-striatal white matter in people with autism; and their association with repetitive behaviour and inhibitory control. METHODS: We compared the bulk volume of striatum (caudate nucleus, putamen and nucleus accumbens) and white matter organisation of fronto-striatal tracts using (respectively) structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and tract specific diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures in 21 adults with autism and 22 controls. We also assessed performance on a cognitive inhibition (go/nogo) task. RESULTS: Bulk volume of striatal structures did not differ between groups. However, adults with autism had a significantly smaller total brain white matter volume, lower fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts connecting putamen to frontal cortical areas, higher mean diffusivity of white matter tracts connecting accumbens to frontal cortex and worse performance on the go/nogo task. Also, performance on the go/nogo task was significantly related to anatomical variation when both groups were combined; but not within the autism group alone. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that autism may be associated with differences in the anatomy of fronto-striatal white matter tracts.
INTRODUCTION: Repetitive behaviour and inhibitory control deficits are core features of autism; and it has been suggested that they result from differences in the anatomy of striatum; and/or the 'connectivity' of subcortical regions to frontal cortex. There are few studies, however, that have measured the micro-structural organisation of white matter tracts connecting striatum and frontal cortex. AIMS: To investigate differences in bulk volume of striatum and micro-structural organisation of fronto-striatal white matter in people with autism; and their association with repetitive behaviour and inhibitory control. METHODS: We compared the bulk volume of striatum (caudate nucleus, putamen and nucleus accumbens) and white matter organisation of fronto-striatal tracts using (respectively) structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and tract specific diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures in 21 adults with autism and 22 controls. We also assessed performance on a cognitive inhibition (go/nogo) task. RESULTS: Bulk volume of striatal structures did not differ between groups. However, adults with autism had a significantly smaller total brain white matter volume, lower fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts connecting putamen to frontal cortical areas, higher mean diffusivity of white matter tracts connecting accumbens to frontal cortex and worse performance on the go/nogo task. Also, performance on the go/nogo task was significantly related to anatomical variation when both groups were combined; but not within the autism group alone. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that autism may be associated with differences in the anatomy of fronto-striatal white matter tracts.
Authors: L M Nagae; D M Zarnow; L Blaskey; J Dell; S Y Khan; S Qasmieh; S E Levy; T P L Roberts Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2012-04-05 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Brittany G Travers; Nagesh Adluru; Chad Ennis; Do P M Tromp; Dan Destiche; Sam Doran; Erin D Bigler; Nicholas Lange; Janet E Lainhart; Andrew L Alexander Journal: Autism Res Date: 2012-07-11 Impact factor: 5.216
Authors: Michael S C Thomas; Anna Fedor; Rachael Davis; Juan Yang; Hala Alireza; Tony Charman; Jackie Masterson; Wendy Best Journal: Psychol Rev Date: 2019-06-06 Impact factor: 8.934
Authors: Daan van Rooij; Evdokia Anagnostou; Celso Arango; Guillaume Auzias; Marlene Behrmann; Geraldo F Busatto; Sara Calderoni; Eileen Daly; Christine Deruelle; Adriana Di Martino; Ilan Dinstein; Fabio Luis Souza Duran; Sarah Durston; Christine Ecker; Damien Fair; Jennifer Fedor; Jackie Fitzgerald; Christine M Freitag; Louise Gallagher; Ilaria Gori; Shlomi Haar; Liesbeth Hoekstra; Neda Jahanshad; Maria Jalbrzikowski; Joost Janssen; Jason Lerch; Beatriz Luna; Mauricio Moller Martinho; Jane McGrath; Filippo Muratori; Clodagh M Murphy; Declan G M Murphy; Kirsten O'Hearn; Bob Oranje; Mara Parellada; Alessandra Retico; Pedro Rosa; Katya Rubia; Devon Shook; Margot Taylor; Paul M Thompson; Michela Tosetti; Gregory L Wallace; Fengfeng Zhou; Jan K Buitelaar Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2017-11-17 Impact factor: 18.112