Lucile Brun1, Guillaume Auzias1, Marine Viellard2, Nathalie Villeneuve3, Nadine Girard4, François Poinso2, David Da Fonseca5, Christine Deruelle6. 1. Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Unite Mixte de Recherche 7289, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France. 2. Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Unite Mixte de Recherche 7289, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France; Centre de Ressource Autisme, Service de Pédopsychiatrie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Ste Marguerite, Marseille, France. 3. Centre de Ressource Autisme, Service de Pédopsychiatrie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Ste Marguerite, Marseille, France. 4. Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale, Unite Mixte de Recherche 7339, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille Timone, Service de Neuroradiologie Diagnostique et Interventionnelle, Marseille, France. 5. Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Unite Mixte de Recherche 7289, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France; Service de Pédopsychiatrie, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Salvator, Marseille, France. 6. Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Unite Mixte de Recherche 7289, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France. Electronic address: christine.deruelle@univ-amu.fr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that autism spectrum disorder results from abnormalities in the cortical folding pattern. Usual morphometric measurements have failed to provide reliable neuroanatomic markers. Here, we propose that sulcal pits, which are the deepest points in each fold, are suitable candidates to uncover this atypical cortical folding. METHODS: Sulcal pits were extracted from a magnetic resonance imaging database of 102 children (1.5-10 years old) distributed in three groups: children with autistic disorder (n = 59), typically developing children (n = 22), and children with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (n = 21). The geometrical properties of sulcal pits were compared between these three groups. RESULTS: Fold-level analyses revealed a reduced pit depth in the left ascending ramus of the Sylvian fissure in children with autistic disorder only. The depth of this central fold of Broca's area was correlated with the social communication impairments that are characteristic of the pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support an atypical gyrogenesis of this specific fold in autistic disorder that could be used for differential diagnosis. Sulcal pits constitute valuable markers of the cortical folding dynamics and could help for the early detection of atypical brain maturation.
BACKGROUND: Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that autism spectrum disorder results from abnormalities in the cortical folding pattern. Usual morphometric measurements have failed to provide reliable neuroanatomic markers. Here, we propose that sulcal pits, which are the deepest points in each fold, are suitable candidates to uncover this atypical cortical folding. METHODS: Sulcal pits were extracted from a magnetic resonance imaging database of 102 children (1.5-10 years old) distributed in three groups: children with autistic disorder (n = 59), typically developing children (n = 22), and children with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (n = 21). The geometrical properties of sulcal pits were compared between these three groups. RESULTS: Fold-level analyses revealed a reduced pit depth in the left ascending ramus of the Sylvian fissure in children with autistic disorder only. The depth of this central fold of Broca's area was correlated with the social communication impairments that are characteristic of the pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support an atypical gyrogenesis of this specific fold in autistic disorder that could be used for differential diagnosis. Sulcal pits constitute valuable markers of the cortical folding dynamics and could help for the early detection of atypical brain maturation.
Authors: Ethan H Willbrand; Benjamin J Parker; Willa I Voorhies; Jacob A Miller; Ilwoo Lyu; Tyler Hallock; Lyndsey Aponik-Gremillion; Seth R Koslov; Silvia A Bunge; Brett L Foster; Kevin S Weiner Journal: Sci Adv Date: 2022-09-07 Impact factor: 14.957
Authors: Vaidehi S Natu; Michael J Arcaro; Michael A Barnett; Jesse Gomez; Margaret Livingstone; Kalanit Grill-Spector; Kevin S Weiner Journal: Cereb Cortex Date: 2021-01-01 Impact factor: 5.357