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Chen Y, Yan J, Jiang M, Zhang T, Zhao Z, Zhao W, Zheng J, Yao D, Zhang R, Kendrick KM, Jiang X. Adversarial Learning Based Node-Edge Graph Attention Networks for Autism Spectrum Disorder Identification. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL NETWORKS AND LEARNING SYSTEMS 2024; 35:7275-7286. [PMID: 35286265 DOI: 10.1109/tnnls.2022.3154755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Graph neural networks (GNNs) have received increasing interest in the medical imaging field given their powerful graph embedding ability to characterize the non-Euclidean structure of brain networks based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. However, previous studies are largely node-centralized and ignore edge features for graph classification tasks, resulting in moderate performance of graph classification accuracy. Moreover, the generalizability of GNN model is still far from satisfactory in brain disorder [e.g., autism spectrum disorder (ASD)] identification due to considerable individual differences in symptoms among patients as well as data heterogeneity among different sites. In order to address the above limitations, this study proposes a novel adversarial learning-based node-edge graph attention network (AL-NEGAT) for ASD identification based on multimodal MRI data. First, both node and edge features are modeled based on structural and functional MRI data to leverage complementary brain information and preserved in the constructed weighted adjacent matrix for individuals through the attention mechanism in the proposed NEGAT. Second, two AL methods are employed to improve the generalizability of NEGAT. Finally, a gradient-based saliency map strategy is utilized for model interpretation to identify important brain regions and connections contributing to the classification. Experimental results based on the public Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange I (ABIDE I) data demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves a classification accuracy of 74.7% between ASD and typical developing (TD) groups based on 1007 subjects across 17 different sites and outperforms the state-of-the-art methods, indicating satisfying classification ability and generalizability of the proposed AL-NEGAT model. Our work provides a powerful tool for brain disorder identification.
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Wang L, Qin Y, Yang S, Jin D, Zhu Y, Li X, Li W, Wang Y, Jin C. Posterior default mode network is associated with the social performance in male children with autism spectrum disorder: A dynamic causal modeling analysis based on triple-network model. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26750. [PMID: 38853710 PMCID: PMC11163228 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The triple-network model has been widely applied in neuropsychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the mechanism of causal regulations within the triple-network and their relations with symptoms of ASD remains unclear. 81 male ASD and 80 well matched typically developing control (TDC) were included in this study, recruited from Autism Brain Image Data Exchange-I datasets. Spatial reference-based independent component analysis was used to identify the anterior and posterior part of default-mode network (aDMN and pDMN), salience network (SN), and bilateral executive-control network (ECN) from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Spectral dynamic causal model and parametric empirical Bayes with Bayesian model reduction/average were adopted to explore the effective connectivity (EC) within triple-network and the relationship between EC and autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) scores. After adjusting for age and site effect, ASD and TDC groups both showed inhibition patterns. Compared with TDC, ASD group showed weaker self-inhibition in aDMN and pDMN, stronger inhibition in pDMN→aDMN, weaker inhibition in aDMN→LECN, pDMN→SN, LECN→SN, and LECN→RECN. Furthermore, negative relationships between ADOS scores and pDMN self-inhibition strength, as well as with the EC of pDMN→aDMN were observed in ASD group. The present study reveals imbalanced effective connections within triple-networks in ASD children. More attentions should be focused at the pDMN, which modulates the core symptoms of ASD and may serve as an important region for ASD diagnosis and the target region for ASD treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
- Department of RadiologyXi'an Daxing HospitalXi'anChina
| | - Yue Qin
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
- Department of RadiologyXi'an Daxing HospitalXi'anChina
| | - Shuhan Yang
- Department of Disease Control and PreventionNinth Hospital of Xi'anXi'anChina
| | - Dayong Jin
- Department of RadiologyXi'an Daxing HospitalXi'anChina
| | - Yinhu Zhu
- Department of RadiologyXi'an Daxing HospitalXi'anChina
| | - Xin Li
- Department of RadiologyXi'an Daxing HospitalXi'anChina
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Radiology, Tangdu HospitalAir Force Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Yarong Wang
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Chenwang Jin
- Department of RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
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Batouli SAH, Razavi F, Sisakhti M, Oghabian Z, Ahmadzade H, Tehrani Doost M. Examining the Dominant Presence of Brain Grey Matter in Autism During Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Basic Clin Neurosci 2023; 14:585-604. [PMID: 38628837 PMCID: PMC11016874 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.2021.1774.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms appearing from early childhood. Behavioral modifications, special education, and medicines are used to treat ASD; however, the effectiveness of the treatments depends on early diagnosis of the disorder. The primary approach in diagnosing ASD is based on clinical interviews and valid scales. Still, methods based on brain imaging could also be possible diagnostic biomarkers for ASD. Methods To identify the amount of information the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals on ASD, we reviewed 292 task-based fMRI studies on ASD individuals. This study is part of a systematic review with the registration number CRD42017070975. Results We observed that face perception, language, attention, and social processing tasks were mainly studied in ASD. In addition, 73 brain regions, nearly 83% of brain grey matter, showed an altered activation between the ASD and normal individuals during these four tasks, either in a lower or a higher activation. Conclusion Using imaging methods, such as fMRI, to diagnose and predict ASD is a great objective; research similar to the present study could be the initial step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Foroogh Razavi
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Minoo Sisakhti
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Oghabian
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Haady Ahmadzade
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Tehrani Doost
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Roozbeh Psychiatry Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Chen Z, Hu B, Liu X, Becker B, Eickhoff SB, Miao K, Gu X, Tang Y, Dai X, Li C, Leonov A, Xiao Z, Feng Z, Chen J, Chuan-Peng H. Sampling inequalities affect generalization of neuroimaging-based diagnostic classifiers in psychiatry. BMC Med 2023; 21:241. [PMID: 37400814 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02941-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of machine learning models for aiding in the diagnosis of mental disorder is recognized as a significant breakthrough in the field of psychiatry. However, clinical practice of such models remains a challenge, with poor generalizability being a major limitation. METHODS Here, we conducted a pre-registered meta-research assessment on neuroimaging-based models in the psychiatric literature, quantitatively examining global and regional sampling issues over recent decades, from a view that has been relatively underexplored. A total of 476 studies (n = 118,137) were included in the current assessment. Based on these findings, we built a comprehensive 5-star rating system to quantitatively evaluate the quality of existing machine learning models for psychiatric diagnoses. RESULTS A global sampling inequality in these models was revealed quantitatively (sampling Gini coefficient (G) = 0.81, p < .01), varying across different countries (regions) (e.g., China, G = 0.47; the USA, G = 0.58; Germany, G = 0.78; the UK, G = 0.87). Furthermore, the severity of this sampling inequality was significantly predicted by national economic levels (β = - 2.75, p < .001, R2adj = 0.40; r = - .84, 95% CI: - .41 to - .97), and was plausibly predictable for model performance, with higher sampling inequality for reporting higher classification accuracy. Further analyses showed that lack of independent testing (84.24% of models, 95% CI: 81.0-87.5%), improper cross-validation (51.68% of models, 95% CI: 47.2-56.2%), and poor technical transparency (87.8% of models, 95% CI: 84.9-90.8%)/availability (80.88% of models, 95% CI: 77.3-84.4%) are prevailing in current diagnostic classifiers despite improvements over time. Relating to these observations, model performances were found decreased in studies with independent cross-country sampling validations (all p < .001, BF10 > 15). In light of this, we proposed a purpose-built quantitative assessment checklist, which demonstrated that the overall ratings of these models increased by publication year but were negatively associated with model performance. CONCLUSIONS Together, improving sampling economic equality and hence the quality of machine learning models may be a crucial facet to plausibly translating neuroimaging-based diagnostic classifiers into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Chen
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science (ERC-MPS), School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Bowen Hu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuerong Liu
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science (ERC-MPS), School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kuan Miao
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science (ERC-MPS), School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingmei Gu
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science (ERC-MPS), School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yancheng Tang
- School of Business and Management, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Dai
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Artemiy Leonov
- School of Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Zhibing Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengzhi Feng
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science (ERC-MPS), School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ji Chen
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Hu Chuan-Peng
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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Helmy E, Elnakib A, ElNakieb Y, Khudri M, Abdelrahim M, Yousaf J, Ghazal M, Contractor S, Barnes GN, El-Baz A. Role of Artificial Intelligence for Autism Diagnosis Using DTI and fMRI: A Survey. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1858. [PMID: 37509498 PMCID: PMC10376963 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a wide range of diseases characterized by difficulties with social skills, repetitive activities, speech, and nonverbal communication. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1 in 44 American children currently suffer from ASD. The current gold standard for ASD diagnosis is based on behavior observational tests by clinicians, which suffer from being subjective and time-consuming and afford only late detection (a child must have a mental age of at least two to apply for an observation report). Alternatively, brain imaging-more specifically, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-has proven its ability to assist in fast, objective, and early ASD diagnosis and detection. With the recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques, sufficient tools have been developed for both automated ASD diagnosis and early detection. More recently, the development of deep learning (DL), a young subfield of AI based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), has successfully enabled the processing of brain MRI data with improved ASD diagnostic abilities. This survey focuses on the role of AI in autism diagnostics and detection based on two basic MRI modalities: diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI (fMRI). In addition, the survey outlines the basic findings of DTI and fMRI in autism. Furthermore, recent techniques for ASD detection using DTI and fMRI are summarized and discussed. Finally, emerging tendencies are described. The results of this study show how useful AI is for early, subjective ASD detection and diagnosis. More AI solutions that have the potential to be used in healthcare settings will be introduced in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Helmy
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Elgomheryia Street, Mansoura 3512, Egypt;
| | - Ahmed Elnakib
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Yaser ElNakieb
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Mohamed Khudri
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Mostafa Abdelrahim
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Jawad Yousaf
- Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering Department, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates; (J.Y.); (M.G.)
| | - Mohammed Ghazal
- Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering Department, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates; (J.Y.); (M.G.)
| | - Sohail Contractor
- Department of Radiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Gregory Neal Barnes
- Department of Neurology, Pediatric Research Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Ayman El-Baz
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
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Jiang X, Shou XJ, Zhao Z, Chen Y, Meng FC, Le J, Song TJ, Xu XJ, Guo W, Ke X, Cai XE, Zhao W, Kou J, Huo R, Liu Y, Yuan HS, Xing Y, Han JS, Han SP, Li Y, Lai H, Zhang L, Jia MX, Liu J, Liu X, Kendrick KM, Zhang R. A brain structural connectivity biomarker for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in early childhood. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2023; 3:kkad005. [PMID: 38666122 PMCID: PMC11003421 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with altered brain development, but it is unclear which specific structural changes may serve as potential diagnostic markers, particularly in young children at the age when symptoms become fully established. Furthermore, such brain markers need to meet the requirements of precision medicine and be accurate in aiding diagnosis at an individual rather than only a group level. Objective This study aimed to identify and model brain-wide differences in structural connectivity using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in young ASD and typically developing (TD) children. Methods A discovery cohort including 93 ASD and 26 TD children and two independent validation cohorts including 12 ASD and 9 TD children from three different cities in China were included. Brain-wide (294 regions) structural connectivity was measured using DTI (fractional anisotropy, FA) together with symptom severity and cognitive development. A connection matrix was constructed for each child for comparisons between ASD and TD groups. Pattern classification was performed on the discovery dataset and the resulting model was tested on the two independent validation datasets. Results Thirty-three structural connections showed increased FA in ASD compared to TD children and associated with both autistic symptom severity and impaired general cognitive development. The majority (29/33) involved the frontal lobe and comprised five different networks with functional relevance to default mode, motor control, social recognition, language and reward. Overall, classification achieved very high accuracy of 96.77% in the discovery dataset, and 91.67% and 88.89% in the two independent validation datasets. Conclusions Identified structural connectivity differences primarily involving the frontal cortex can very accurately distinguish novel individual ASD from TD children and may therefore represent a robust early brain biomarker which can address the requirements of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Jiang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Shou
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning; Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics; and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhongbo Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Yuzhong Chen
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Fan-Chao Meng
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiao Le
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Tian-Jia Song
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xin-Jie Xu
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Weitong Guo
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ke
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiao-E Cai
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Juan Kou
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Ran Huo
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Radiology Department, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Radiology Department, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hui-Shu Yuan
- Radiology Department, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan Xing
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ji-Sheng Han
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Song-Ping Han
- Wuxi Shenpingxintai Medical Technology Co., Ltd, Wuxi 214091, China
| | - Yun Li
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Hua Lai
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Mei-Xiang Jia
- Mental Health Institute, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Health, The Ministry of Public Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Mental Health Institute, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Health, The Ministry of Public Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Shandong Ke Luo Ni Ke (CLINIC) Medical Technology Co., Ltd, Dezhou 253011, China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Neuroscience Research Institute; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China; and Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Autism Research Center of Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
- Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, 100191,Beijing, China
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7
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Chen Z, Liu X, Yang Q, Wang YJ, Miao K, Gong Z, Yu Y, Leonov A, Liu C, Feng Z, Chuan-Peng H. Evaluation of Risk of Bias in Neuroimaging-Based Artificial Intelligence Models for Psychiatric Diagnosis: A Systematic Review. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e231671. [PMID: 36877519 PMCID: PMC9989906 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.1671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Neuroimaging-based artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostic models have proliferated in psychiatry. However, their clinical applicability and reporting quality (ie, feasibility) for clinical practice have not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVE To systematically assess the risk of bias (ROB) and reporting quality of neuroimaging-based AI models for psychiatric diagnosis. EVIDENCE REVIEW PubMed was searched for peer-reviewed, full-length articles published between January 1, 1990, and March 16, 2022. Studies aimed at developing or validating neuroimaging-based AI models for clinical diagnosis of psychiatric disorders were included. Reference lists were further searched for suitable original studies. Data extraction followed the CHARMS (Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modeling Studies) and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. A closed-loop cross-sequential design was used for quality control. The PROBAST (Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool) and modified CLEAR (Checklist for Evaluation of Image-Based Artificial Intelligence Reports) benchmarks were used to systematically evaluate ROB and reporting quality. FINDINGS A total of 517 studies presenting 555 AI models were included and evaluated. Of these models, 461 (83.1%; 95% CI, 80.0%-86.2%) were rated as having a high overall ROB based on the PROBAST. The ROB was particular high in the analysis domain, including inadequate sample size (398 of 555 models [71.7%; 95% CI, 68.0%-75.6%]), poor model performance examination (with 100% of models lacking calibration examination), and lack of handling data complexity (550 of 555 models [99.1%; 95% CI, 98.3%-99.9%]). None of the AI models was perceived to be applicable to clinical practices. Overall reporting completeness (ie, number of reported items/number of total items) for the AI models was 61.2% (95% CI, 60.6%-61.8%), and the completeness was poorest for the technical assessment domain with 39.9% (95% CI, 38.8%-41.1%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This systematic review found that the clinical applicability and feasibility of neuroimaging-based AI models for psychiatric diagnosis were challenged by a high ROB and poor reporting quality. Particularly in the analysis domain, ROB in AI diagnostic models should be addressed before clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Chen
- School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuerong Liu
- School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingwu Yang
- Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan-Jiang Wang
- Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kuan Miao
- School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheng Gong
- School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Yu
- School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Artemiy Leonov
- Department of Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Chunlei Liu
- School of Psychology, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, China
| | - Zhengzhi Feng
- School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Experimental Research Center for Medical and Psychological Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hu Chuan-Peng
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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8
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Kim JI, Bang S, Yang JJ, Kwon H, Jang S, Roh S, Kim SH, Kim MJ, Lee HJ, Lee JM, Kim BN. Classification of Preschoolers with Low-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Multimodal MRI Data. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:25-37. [PMID: 34984638 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05368-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Multimodal imaging studies targeting preschoolers and low-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients are scarce. We applied machine learning classifiers to parameters from T1-weighted MRI and DTI data of 58 children with ASD (age 3-6 years) and 48 typically developing controls (TDC). Classification performance reached an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 88.8%, 93.0%, and 83.8%, respectively. The most prominent features were the cortical thickness of the right inferior occipital gyrus, mean diffusivity of the middle cerebellar peduncle, and nodal efficiency of the left posterior cingulate gyrus. Machine learning-based analysis of MRI data was useful in distinguishing low-functioning ASD preschoolers from TDCs. Combination of T1 and DTI improved classification accuracy about 10%, and large-scale multi-modal MRI studies are warranted for external validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Inhyang Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Medical Center, 222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkyu Bang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ju Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejin Kwon
- Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 02722, Republic of Korea
| | - Soomin Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungwon Roh
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Medical Center, 222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Hyeon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Medical Center, 222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Jung Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ju Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
| | - Bung-Nyun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-no, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Moridian P, Ghassemi N, Jafari M, Salloum-Asfar S, Sadeghi D, Khodatars M, Shoeibi A, Khosravi A, Ling SH, Subasi A, Alizadehsani R, Gorriz JM, Abdulla SA, Acharya UR. Automatic autism spectrum disorder detection using artificial intelligence methods with MRI neuroimaging: A review. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:999605. [PMID: 36267703 PMCID: PMC9577321 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.999605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a brain condition characterized by diverse signs and symptoms that appear in early childhood. ASD is also associated with communication deficits and repetitive behavior in affected individuals. Various ASD detection methods have been developed, including neuroimaging modalities and psychological tests. Among these methods, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging modalities are of paramount importance to physicians. Clinicians rely on MRI modalities to diagnose ASD accurately. The MRI modalities are non-invasive methods that include functional (fMRI) and structural (sMRI) neuroimaging methods. However, diagnosing ASD with fMRI and sMRI for specialists is often laborious and time-consuming; therefore, several computer-aided design systems (CADS) based on artificial intelligence (AI) have been developed to assist specialist physicians. Conventional machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) are the most popular schemes of AI used for diagnosing ASD. This study aims to review the automated detection of ASD using AI. We review several CADS that have been developed using ML techniques for the automated diagnosis of ASD using MRI modalities. There has been very limited work on the use of DL techniques to develop automated diagnostic models for ASD. A summary of the studies developed using DL is provided in the Supplementary Appendix. Then, the challenges encountered during the automated diagnosis of ASD using MRI and AI techniques are described in detail. Additionally, a graphical comparison of studies using ML and DL to diagnose ASD automatically is discussed. We suggest future approaches to detecting ASDs using AI techniques and MRI neuroimaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Moridian
- Faculty of Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Navid Ghassemi
- Department of Computer Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Jafari
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Salam Salloum-Asfar
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Delaram Sadeghi
- Department of Medical Engineering, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Marjane Khodatars
- Department of Medical Engineering, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Afshin Shoeibi
- Data Science and Computational Intelligence Institute, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Abbas Khosravi
- Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Sai Ho Ling
- Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Abdulhamit Subasi
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Effat University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roohallah Alizadehsani
- Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Juan M. Gorriz
- Data Science and Computational Intelligence Institute, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Sara A. Abdulla
- Neurological Disorders Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - U. Rajendra Acharya
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
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10
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Saponaro S, Giuliano A, Bellotti R, Lombardi A, Tangaro S, Oliva P, Calderoni S, Retico A. Multi-site harmonization of MRI data uncovers machine-learning discrimination capability in barely separable populations: An example from the ABIDE dataset. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 35:103082. [PMID: 35700598 PMCID: PMC9198380 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Machine Learning (ML) techniques have been widely used in Neuroimaging studies of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) both to identify possible brain alterations related to this condition and to evaluate the predictive power of brain imaging modalities. The collection and public sharing of large imaging samples has favored an even greater diffusion of the use of ML-based analyses. However, multi-center data collections may suffer the batch effect, which, especially in case of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies, should be curated to avoid confounding effects for ML classifiers and masking biases. This is particularly important in the study of barely separable populations according to MRI data, such as subjects with ASD compared to controls with typical development (TD). Here, we show how the implementation of a harmo- nization protocol on brain structural features unlocks the case-control ML separation capability in the analysis of a multi-center MRI dataset. This effect is demonstrated on the ABIDE data collection, involving subjects encompassing a wide age range. After data harmonization, the overall ASD vs. TD discrimination capability by a Random Forest (RF) classifier improves from a very low performance (AUC = 0.58 ± 0.04) to a still low, but reasonably significant AUC = 0.67 ± 0.03. The performances of the RF classifier have been evaluated also in the age-specific subgroups of children, adolescents and adults, obtaining AUC = 0.62 ± 0.02, AUC = 0.65 ± 0.03 and AUC = 0.69 ± 0.06, respectively. Specific and consistent patterns of anatomical differences related to the ASD condition have been identified for the three different age subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Saponaro
- University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessia Giuliano
- Medical Physics Department, San Luca Hospital, 55100 Lucca, Italy
| | - Roberto Bellotti
- Physics Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Bari Division, Bari, Italy
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Physics Department, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy; National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Bari Division, Bari, Italy.
| | - Sabina Tangaro
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Bari Division, Bari, Italy; Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DISSPA), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Piernicola Oliva
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Cagliari Division, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sara Calderoni
- Developmental Psychiatry Unit - IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Retico
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa Division, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Ma L, Liu M, Xue K, Ye C, Man W, Cheng M, Liu Z, Zhu D, Liu F, Wang J. Abnormal regional spontaneous brain activities in white matter in patients with autism spectrum disorder. Neuroscience 2022; 490:1-10. [PMID: 35218886 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are accompanied by alterations of spontaneous brain activity in gray matter. However, whether the alterations of spontaneous brain activity exist in white matter remains largely unclear. In this study, 88 ASD patients and 87 typical controls (TCs) were included and regional homogeneity (ReHo) was calculated to characterize spontaneous brain activity in white matter. Voxel-wise two-sample t-tests were performed to investigate ReHo alterations, and cluster-level analyses were conducted to examine structural-functional coupling changes. Compared with TCs, the ASD group showed significantly decreased ReHo in the left superior corona radiata and left posterior limb of internal capsule, and decreased ReHo in the left anterior corona radiata with a trend level of significance. In addition, significantly weaker structural-functional coupling was observed in the left superior corona radiata and left posterior limb of internal capsule in ASD patients. Taken together, these findings highlighted abnormalities of white matter's regional spontaneous brain activity in ASD, which may provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ma
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Mengge Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Kaizhong Xue
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Caihua Ye
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Weiqi Man
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Meng Cheng
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Zhixuan Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China; Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
| | - Junping Wang
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
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12
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The Role of Diffusion Tensor MR Imaging (DTI) of the Brain in Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder: Promising Results. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21248171. [PMID: 34960265 PMCID: PMC8703859 DOI: 10.3390/s21248171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a combination of developmental anomalies that causes social and behavioral impairments, affecting around 2% of US children. Common symptoms include difficulties in communications, interactions, and behavioral disabilities. The onset of symptoms can start in early childhood, yet repeated visits to a pediatric specialist are needed before reaching a diagnosis. Still, this diagnosis is usually subjective, and scores can vary from one specialist to another. Previous literature suggests differences in brain development, environmental, and/or genetic factors play a role in developing autism, yet scientists still do not know exactly the pathology of this disorder. Currently, the gold standard diagnosis of ASD is a set of diagnostic evaluations, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) or Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) report. These gold standard diagnostic instruments are an intensive, lengthy, and subjective process that involves a set of behavioral and communications tests and clinical history information conducted by a team of qualified clinicians. Emerging advancements in neuroimaging and machine learning techniques can provide a fast and objective alternative to conventional repetitive observational assessments. This paper provides a thorough study of implementing feature engineering tools to find discriminant insights from brain imaging of white matter connectivity and using a machine learning framework for an accurate classification of autistic individuals. This work highlights important findings of impacted brain areas that contribute to an autism diagnosis and presents promising accuracy results. We verified our proposed framework on a large publicly available DTI dataset of 225 subjects from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange-II (ABIDE-II) initiative, achieving a high global balanced accuracy over the 5 sites of up to 99% with 5-fold cross validation. The data used was slightly unbalanced, including 125 autistic subjects and 100 typically developed (TD) ones. The achieved balanced accuracy of the proposed technique is the highest in the literature, which elucidates the importance of feature engineering steps involved in extracting useful knowledge and the promising potentials of adopting neuroimaging for the diagnosis of autism.
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13
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Ingalhalikar M, Shinde S, Karmarkar A, Rajan A, Rangaprakash D, Deshpande G. Functional Connectivity-Based Prediction of Autism on Site Harmonized ABIDE Dataset. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 68:3628-3637. [PMID: 33989150 PMCID: PMC8696194 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2021.3080259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The larger sample sizes available from multi-site publicly available neuroimaging data repositories makes machine-learning based diagnostic classification of mental disorders more feasible by alleviating the curse of dimensionality. However, since multi-site data are aggregated post-hoc, i.e. they were acquired from different scanners with different acquisition parameters, non-neural inter-site variability may mask inter-group differences that are at least in part neural in origin. Hence, the advantages gained by the larger sample size in the context of machine-learning based diagnostic classification may not be realized. METHODS We address this issue using harmonization of multi-site neuroimaging data using the ComBat technique, which is based on an empirical Bayes formulation to remove inter-site differences in data distributions, to improve diagnostic classification accuracy. Specifically, we demonstrate this using ABIDE (Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange) multi-site data for classifying individuals with Autism from healthy controls using resting state fMRI-based functional connectivity data. RESULTS Our results show that higher classification accuracies across multiple classification models can be obtained (especially for models based on artificial neural networks) from multi-site data post harmonization with the ComBat technique as compared to without harmonization, outperforming earlier results from existing studies using ABIDE. Furthermore, our network ablation analysis facilitated important insights into autism spectrum disorder pathology and the connectivity in networks shown to be important for classification covaried with verbal communication impairments in Autism. CONCLUSION Multi-site data harmonization using ComBat improves neuroimaging-based diagnostic classification of mental disorders. SIGNIFICANCE ComBat has the potential to make AI-based clinical decision-support systems more feasible in psychiatry.
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14
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Wang S, Celebi ME, Zhang YD, Yu X, Lu S, Yao X, Zhou Q, Miguel MG, Tian Y, Gorriz JM, Tyukin I. Advances in Data Preprocessing for Biomedical Data Fusion: An Overview of the Methods, Challenges, and Prospects. INFORMATION FUSION 2021; 76:376-421. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inffus.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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15
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Machine learning with neuroimaging data to identify autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroradiology 2021; 63:2057-2072. [PMID: 34420058 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-021-02774-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed through observation or interview assessments, which is time-consuming, subjective, and with questionable validity and reliability. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the role of machine learning (ML) with neuroimaging data to provide a reliable classification of ASD. METHODS A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase was conducted to identify relevant publications. Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) was used to assess the studies' quality. A bivariate random-effects model meta-analysis was employed to evaluate the pooled sensitivity, the pooled specificity, and the diagnostic performance through the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve of ML with neuroimaging data in classifying ASD. Meta-regression was also performed. RESULTS Forty-four studies (5697 ASD and 6013 typically developing individuals [TD] in total) were included in the quantitative analysis. The pooled sensitivity for differentiating ASD from TD individuals was 86.25 95% confidence interval [CI] (81.24, 90.08), while the pooled specificity was 83.31 95% CI (78.12, 87.48) with a combined area under the HSROC (AUC) of 0.889. Higgins I2 (> 90%) and Cochran's Q (p < 0.0001) suggest a high degree of heterogeneity. In the bivariate model meta-regression, a higher pooled specificity was observed in studies not using a brain atlas (90.91 95% CI [80.67, 96.00], p = 0.032). In addition, a greater pooled sensitivity was seen in studies recruiting both males and females (89.04 95% CI [83.84, 92.72], p = 0.021), and combining imaging modalities (94.12 95% [85.43, 97.76], p = 0.036). CONCLUSION ML with neuroimaging data is an exciting prospect in detecting individuals with ASD but further studies are required to improve its reliability for usage in clinical practice.
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16
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Xu M, Calhoun V, Jiang R, Yan W, Sui J. Brain imaging-based machine learning in autism spectrum disorder: methods and applications. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 361:109271. [PMID: 34174282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with early childhood onset and high heterogeneity. As the pathogenesis is still elusive, ASD diagnosis is comprised of a constellation of behavioral symptoms. Non-invasive brain imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provide a valuable objective measurement of the brain. Many efforts have been devoted to developing imaging-based diagnostic tools for ASD based on machine learning (ML) technologies. In this survey, we review recent advances that utilize machine learning approaches to classify individuals with and without ASD. First, we provide a brief overview of neuroimaging-based ASD classification studies, including the analysis of publications and general classification pipeline. Next, representative studies are highlighted and discussed in detail regarding different imaging modalities, methods and sample sizes. Finally, we highlight several common challenges and provide recommendations on future directions. In summary, identifying discriminative biomarkers for ASD diagnosis is challenging, and further establishing more comprehensive datasets and dissecting the individual and group heterogeneity will be critical to achieve better ADS diagnosis performance. Machine learning methods will continue to be developed and are poised to help advance the field in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xu
- Brainnetome Center and National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 100190; School of Artificial Intelligence, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 100049
| | - Vince Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA 30303
| | - Rongtao Jiang
- Brainnetome Center and National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 100190
| | - Weizheng Yan
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA 30303
| | - Jing Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China 100088.
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17
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He Q, Wang Q, Wu Y, Yi L, Wei K. Automatic classification of children with autism spectrum disorder by using a computerized visual-orienting task. Psych J 2021; 10:550-565. [PMID: 33847077 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Early screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) primarily rely on behavioral observations by qualified clinicians whose decision process can benefit from the combination of machine learning algorithms and sensor data. We designed a computerized visual-orienting task with gaze-related or non-gaze-related directional cues, which triggered participants' gaze-following behavior. Based on their eye-movement data registered by an eye tracker, we applied the machine learning algorithms to classify high-functioning children with ASD (HFA), low-functioning children with ASD (LFA), and typically developing children (TD). We found that TD children had higher success rates in obtaining rewards than HFA children, and HFA children had higher rates than LFA children. Based on raw eye-tracking data, our machine learning algorithm could classify the three groups with an accuracy of 81.1% and relatively high sensitivity and specificity. Classification became worse if only data from the gaze or nongaze conditions were used, suggesting that "less-social" directional cues also carry useful information for distinguishing these groups. Our findings not only provide insights about visual-orienting deficits among children with ASD but also demonstrate the promise of combining classical behavioral paradigms with machine learning algorithms for aiding the screening for individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao He
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiandong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaxue Wu
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yi
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kunlin Wei
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
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18
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Komatsu H, Watanabe E, Fukuchi M. Psychiatric Neural Networks and Precision Therapeutics by Machine Learning. Biomedicines 2021; 9:403. [PMID: 33917863 PMCID: PMC8068267 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Learning and environmental adaptation increase the likelihood of survival and improve the quality of life. However, it is often difficult to judge optimal behaviors in real life due to highly complex social dynamics and environment. Consequentially, many different brain regions and neuronal circuits are involved in decision-making. Many neurobiological studies on decision-making show that behaviors are chosen through coordination among multiple neural network systems, each implementing a distinct set of computational algorithms. Although these processes are commonly abnormal in neurological and psychiatric disorders, the underlying causes remain incompletely elucidated. Machine learning approaches with multidimensional data sets have the potential to not only pathologically redefine mental illnesses but also better improve therapeutic outcomes than DSM/ICD diagnoses. Furthermore, measurable endophenotypes could allow for early disease detection, prognosis, and optimal treatment regime for individuals. In this review, decision-making in real life and psychiatric disorders and the applications of machine learning in brain imaging studies on psychiatric disorders are summarized, and considerations for the future clinical translation are outlined. This review also aims to introduce clinicians, scientists, and engineers to the opportunities and challenges in bringing artificial intelligence into psychiatric practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetoshi Komatsu
- Medical Affairs, Kyowa Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., Osaka 530-0005, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya City 464-8602, Japan
| | - Emi Watanabe
- Interactive Group, Accenture Japan Ltd., Tokyo 108-0073, Japan;
| | - Mamoru Fukuchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, Gunma 370-0033, Japan;
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19
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Sarovic D, Hadjikhani N, Schneiderman J, Lundström S, Gillberg C. Autism classified by magnetic resonance imaging: A pilot study of a potential diagnostic tool. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2020; 29:1-18. [PMID: 32945591 PMCID: PMC7723195 DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Individual anatomical biomarkers have limited power for the classification of autism. The present study introduces a multivariate classification approach using structural magnetic resonance imaging data from individuals with and without autism. METHODS The classifier utilizes z-normalization, parameter weighting, and interindividual comparison on brain segmentation data, for estimation of an individual summed total index (TI). The TI indicates whether the gross morphological pattern of each individual's brain is in the direction of cases or controls. RESULTS Morphometric analysis found significant differences within subcortical gray matter structures and limbic areas. There was no significant difference in total brain volume. A case-control pilot-study of TIs in normally intelligent individuals with autism (24) and without (21) yielded a maximal accuracy of 78.9% following cross-validation. It showed a high accuracy compared with machine learning methods when tested on the same dataset. The TI correlated well with the autism quotient (R = 0.51) across groups. CONCLUSION These results are on par with studies on autism using machine learning. The main contributions are its transparency and simplicity. The possibility of including additional neuroimaging data further increases the potential of the classifier as a diagnostic aid for neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as a research tool for neuroscientific investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Sarovic
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,MedTech West, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nouchine Hadjikhani
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard University, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Justin Schneiderman
- MedTech West, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Lundström
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christopher Gillberg
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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20
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Rashid B, Calhoun V. Towards a brain-based predictome of mental illness. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:3468-3535. [PMID: 32374075 PMCID: PMC7375108 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging-based approaches have been extensively applied to study mental illness in recent years and have deepened our understanding of both cognitively healthy and disordered brain structure and function. Recent advancements in machine learning techniques have shown promising outcomes for individualized prediction and characterization of patients with psychiatric disorders. Studies have utilized features from a variety of neuroimaging modalities, including structural, functional, and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data, as well as jointly estimated features from multiple modalities, to assess patients with heterogeneous mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism. We use the term "predictome" to describe the use of multivariate brain network features from one or more neuroimaging modalities to predict mental illness. In the predictome, multiple brain network-based features (either from the same modality or multiple modalities) are incorporated into a predictive model to jointly estimate features that are unique to a disorder and predict subjects accordingly. To date, more than 650 studies have been published on subject-level prediction focusing on psychiatric disorders. We have surveyed about 250 studies including schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance dependence. In this review, we present a comprehensive review of recent neuroimaging-based predictomic approaches, current trends, and common shortcomings and share our vision for future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnaly Rashid
- Department of PsychiatryHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Vince Calhoun
- Tri‐Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS)Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
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21
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Vargason T, Grivas G, Hollowood-Jones KL, Hahn J. Towards a Multivariate Biomarker-Based Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Review and Discussion of Recent Advancements. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2020; 34:100803. [PMID: 32446437 PMCID: PMC7248126 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2020.100803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
An ever-evolving understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology necessitates that diagnostic standards also evolve from being observation-based to include quantifiable clinical measurements. The multisystem nature of ASD motivates the use of multivariate methods of statistical analysis over common univariate approaches for discovering clinical biomarkers relevant to this goal. In addition to characterization of important behavioral patterns for improving current diagnostic instruments, multivariate analyses to date have allowed for thorough investigation of neuroimaging-based, genetic, and metabolic abnormalities in individuals with ASD. This review highlights current research using multivariate statistical analyses to quantify the value of these behavioral and physiological markers for ASD diagnosis. A detailed discussion of a blood-based diagnostic test for ASD using specific metabolite concentrations is also provided. The advancement of ASD biomarker research promises to provide earlier and more accurate diagnoses of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy Vargason
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
| | - Genevieve Grivas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
| | - Kathryn L Hollowood-Jones
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
| | - Juergen Hahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY; Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
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22
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Big data approaches to develop a comprehensive and accurate tool aimed at improving autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and subtype stratification. LIBRARY HI TECH 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/lht-08-2019-0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is difficult to diagnose accurately due to its heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Comprehensive models combining different big data approaches (e.g. neuroimaging, genetics, eye tracking, etc.) may offer the opportunity to characterize ASD from multiple distinct perspectives. This paper aims to provide an overview of a novel diagnostic approach for ASD classification and stratification based on these big data approaches.Design/methodology/approachMultiple types of data were collected and recorded for three consecutive years, including clinical assessment, neuroimaging, gene mutation and expression and response signal data. The authors propose to establish a classification model for predicting ASD clinical diagnostic status by integrating the various data types. Furthermore, the authors suggest a data-driven approach to stratify ASD into subtypes based on genetic and genomic data.FindingsBy utilizing complementary information from different types of ASD patient data, the proposed integration model has the potential to achieve better prediction performance than models focusing on only one data type. The use of unsupervised clustering for the gene-based data-driven stratification will enable identification of more homogeneous subtypes. The authors anticipate that such stratification will facilitate a more consistent and personalized ASD diagnostic tool.Originality/valueThis study aims to utilize a more comprehensive investigation of ASD-related data types than prior investigations, including proposing longitudinal data collection and a storage scheme covering diverse populations. Furthermore, this study offers two novel diagnostic models that focus on case-control status prediction and ASD subtype stratification, which have been under-explored in the prior literature.
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23
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Correia MM, Rittman T, Barnes CL, Coyle-Gilchrist IT, Ghosh B, Hughes LE, Rowe JB. Towards accurate and unbiased imaging-based differentiation of Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal syndrome. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa051. [PMID: 32671340 PMCID: PMC7325838 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The early and accurate differential diagnosis of parkinsonian disorders is still a significant challenge for clinicians. In recent years, a number of studies have used magnetic resonance imaging data combined with machine learning and statistical classifiers to successfully differentiate between different forms of Parkinsonism. However, several questions and methodological issues remain, to minimize bias and artefact-driven classification. In this study, we compared different approaches for feature selection, as well as different magnetic resonance imaging modalities, with well-matched patient groups and tightly controlling for data quality issues related to patient motion. Our sample was drawn from a cohort of 69 healthy controls, and patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (n = 35), progressive supranuclear palsy Richardson’s syndrome (n = 52) and corticobasal syndrome (n = 36). Participants underwent standardized T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Strict data quality control and group matching reduced the control and patient numbers to 43, 32, 33 and 26, respectively. We compared two different methods for feature selection and dimensionality reduction: whole-brain principal components analysis, and an anatomical region-of-interest based approach. In both cases, support vector machines were used to construct a statistical model for pairwise classification of healthy controls and patients. The accuracy of each model was estimated using a leave-two-out cross-validation approach, as well as an independent validation using a different set of subjects. Our cross-validation results suggest that using principal components analysis for feature extraction provides higher classification accuracies when compared to a region-of-interest based approach. However, the differences between the two feature extraction methods were significantly reduced when an independent sample was used for validation, suggesting that the principal components analysis approach may be more vulnerable to overfitting with cross-validation. Both T1-weighted and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data could be used to successfully differentiate between subject groups, with neither modality outperforming the other across all pairwise comparisons in the cross-validation analysis. However, features obtained from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data resulted in significantly higher classification accuracies when an independent validation cohort was used. Overall, our results support the use of statistical classification approaches for differential diagnosis of parkinsonian disorders. However, classification accuracy can be affected by group size, age, sex and movement artefacts. With appropriate controls and out-of-sample cross validation, diagnostic biomarker evaluation including magnetic resonance imaging based classifiers may be an important adjunct to clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta M Correia
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Timothy Rittman
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Ian T Coyle-Gilchrist
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Boyd Ghosh
- Wessex Neurological Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Laura E Hughes
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Denmark
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24
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Ansel A, Posen Y, Ellis R, Deutsch L, Zisman PD, Gesundheit B. Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): A Meta-analysis. Rambam Maimonides Med J 2019; 10:RMMJ.10375. [PMID: 31675302 PMCID: PMC6824829 DOI: 10.5041/rmmj.10375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the reported accuracy and sensitivity of the various modalities used to diagnose autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in efforts to help focus further biomarker research on the most promising methods for early diagnosis. METHODS The Medline scientific literature database was searched to identify publications assessing potential clinical ASD biomarkers. Reports were categorized by the modality used to assess the putative markers, including protein, genetic, metabolic, or objective imaging methods. The reported sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, and overall agreement were summarized and analyzed to determine weighted averages for each diagnostic modality. Heterogeneity was measured using the I2 test. RESULTS Of the 71 papers included in this analysis, each belonging to one of five modalities, protein-based followed by metabolite-based markers provided the highest diagnostic accuracy, each with a pooled overall agreement of 83.3% and respective weighted area under the curve (AUC) of 89.5% and 88.3%. Sensitivity provided by protein markers was highest (85.5%), while metabolic (85.9%) and protein markers (84.7%) had the highest specificity. Other modalities showed degrees of sensitivity, specificity, and overall agreements in the range of 73%-80%. CONCLUSIONS Each modality provided for diagnostic accuracy and specificity similar or slightly higher than those reported for the gold-standard Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) instrument. Further studies are required to identify the most predictive markers within each modality and to evaluate biological pathways or clustering with possible etiological relevance. Analyses will also be necessary to determine the potential of these novel biomarkers in diagnosing pediatric patients, thereby enabling early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yehudit Posen
- Cell-El Therapeutics Ltd, Jerusalem, Israel
- PSW Ltd, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ronald Ellis
- Cell-El Therapeutics Ltd, Jerusalem, Israel
- Biotech & Biopharma Consulting, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lisa Deutsch
- Biostats Statistical Consulting Ltd, Modiin, Israel
| | | | - Benjamin Gesundheit
- Cell-El Therapeutics Ltd, Jerusalem, Israel
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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25
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Wolfers T, Floris DL, Dinga R, van Rooij D, Isakoglou C, Kia SM, Zabihi M, Llera A, Chowdanayaka R, Kumar VJ, Peng H, Laidi C, Batalle D, Dimitrova R, Charman T, Loth E, Lai MC, Jones E, Baumeister S, Moessnang C, Banaschewski T, Ecker C, Dumas G, O’Muircheartaigh J, Murphy D, Buitelaar JK, Marquand AF, Beckmann CF. From pattern classification to stratification: towards conceptualizing the heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 104:240-254. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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26
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Eill A, Jahedi A, Gao Y, Kohli JS, Fong CH, Solders S, Carper RA, Valafar F, Bailey BA, Müller RA. Functional Connectivities Are More Informative Than Anatomical Variables in Diagnostic Classification of Autism. Brain Connect 2019; 9:604-612. [PMID: 31328535 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2019.0689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Machine learning techniques have been implemented to reveal brain features that distinguish people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) from typically developing (TD) peers. However, it remains unknown whether different neuroimaging modalities are equally informative for diagnostic classification. We combined anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (aMRI), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) using conditional random forest (CRF) for supervised learning to compare how informative each modality was in diagnostic classification. In-house data (N = 93) included 47 TD and 46 ASD participants, matched on age, motion, and nonverbal IQ. Four main analyses consistently indicated that fcMRI variables were significantly more informative than anatomical variables from aMRI and DWI. This was found (1) when the top 100 variables from CRF (run separately in each modality) were combined for multimodal CRF; (2) when only 19 top variables reaching >67% accuracy in each modality were combined in multimodal CRF; and (3) when the large number of initial variables (before dimension reduction) potentially biasing comparisons in favor of fcMRI was reduced using a less granular region of interest scheme. Consistent superiority of fcMRI was even found (4) when 100 variables per modality were randomly selected, removing any such potential bias. Greater informative value of functional than anatomical modalities may relate to the nature of fcMRI data, reflecting more closely behavioral condition, which is also the basis of diagnosis, whereas brain anatomy may be more reflective of neurodevelopmental history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aina Eill
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Afrooz Jahedi
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Yangfeifei Gao
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
| | - Jiwandeep S Kohli
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
| | - Christopher H Fong
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Seraphina Solders
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Ruth A Carper
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Faramarz Valafar
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Barbara A Bailey
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
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27
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Tanu, Kakkar D. Diagnostic Assessment Techniques and Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF E-HEALTH AND MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS 2019. [DOI: 10.4018/ijehmc.2019070105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous neurological disorder that has led to a spectrum of diagnosis techniques. The screening instruments, medical and technological tools initiate the diagnosis process. Clinicians and psychologists propose therapies depending on the examination done by these methodologies. The literature has accounted dozens of diagnostic methods and alternative and complementary therapies but still lack in highlighting the proper biomarker for early detection and intervention. The emerging multi-modal neuro-imaging techniques have correlated the brain's functional and structural measures and diagnosed ASD with more sensitivity than individual approaches. The purpose of this review article is: (i) to provide an overview of the emerging ASD diagnosis methods and different markers and; (ii) to present the idea of integrating all the individual methods in to a multi-modal diagnostic system to enhance detection sensitivity. This system possesses the potential to diagnose and predict ASD clinically, neurologically & objectively with high detection sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanu
- Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, India
| | - Deepti Kakkar
- Dr B R Ambedkar National institute of Technology, Jalandhar, India
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28
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Rowley PA, Guerrero-Gonzalez J, Alexander AL, Yu JPJ. Convergent microstructural brain changes across genetic models of autism spectrum disorder-A pilot study. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 283:83-91. [PMID: 30557783 PMCID: PMC6398946 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and genetically heterogeneous neuropsychiatric disease affecting as many as 1 in 68 children. Large scale genetic sequencing of individuals along the autism spectrum has uncovered several genetic risk factors for ASD; however, understanding how, and to what extent, individual genes contribute to the overall disease phenotype remains unclear. Neuroimaging studies of ASD have revealed a wide spectrum of structural and functional perturbations that are thought to reflect, in part, the complex genetic heterogeneity underpinning ASD. These perturbations, in both preclinical models and clinical patients, were identified in preclinical genetic models and ASD patients when compared to control populations; however, few studies have directly explored intrinsic differences between the models themselves. To better understand the degree and extent to which individual genes associated with ASD differ in their contribution to global measures of white matter microstructure, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was acquired from three novel rat genetic models of ASD (Fmr1, Nrxn1, and Pten) and DTI parameters of fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity were measured. Subsequent whole-brain voxel-wise analysis comparing each genetic model to each other (Fmr1:Nrxn1; Fmr1:Pten; Nrxn1:Pten) identified no significant differences in any comparison for all diffusion parameters assessed (FA, AD, MD, RD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Rowley
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jose Guerrero-Gonzalez
- Department of Medical Physics, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Andrew L Alexander
- Department of Medical Physics, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - John-Paul J Yu
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706 USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705 USA.
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29
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Lo YC, Chen YJ, Hsu YC, Chien YL, Gau SSF, Tseng WYI. Altered frontal aslant tracts as a heritable neural basis of social communication deficits in autism spectrum disorder: A sibling study using tract-based automatic analysis. Autism Res 2018; 12:225-238. [PMID: 30548800 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Investigating social behaviors and brain structural alterations in unaffected siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may help identify intermediate phenotypes of social communication deficits in ASD. This study hypothesized that such intermediate phenotypes could be identified in white matter tracts of the social communication model that exhibited reduced tract integrity and associations with social communication deficits. Boys with ASD (N = 30), unaffected male siblings (N = 27), and typically developing (TD) boys (N = 30) underwent clinical evaluation and MRI scanning. Group differences in generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) values, a white matter integrity index derived from diffusion MRI data, and the relationships of GFA with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4-18) scores were investigated. Significant differences were found in the GFA values of the frontal aslant tract (FAT) among the three groups, with the decreasing order of GFA from TD to siblings to ASD. The GFA values of the FAT were associated with the social communication scores (on the SRS) in the sibling group, and those of the superior longitudinal fasciculus III were associated with the social problems scores (on the CBCL/4-18) in the boys with ASD. Due to the altered tract integrity and association with social communication deficits in the unaffected siblings of individuals with ASD, the FAT might be a heritable neural basis for social communication deficits of ASD. Autism Res 2019, 12: 225-238 © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of highly heritable disorders with social communication deficits as one of the core symptoms. This study aimed to identify a neural trait of social communication deficits in individuals with ASD. We investigated brain structural alterations and their associations with social communication scores in unaffected siblings of individuals with ASD. The siblings' frontal aslant tract was found to be impaired, and this tract showed a significant association with the social communication scores. Our findings support that the frontal aslant tract might be a potential neural trait of social communication deficits in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chun Lo
- Institute of Medical Device and Imaging, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Research Center of Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jen Chen
- Institute of Medical Device and Imaging, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chin Hsu
- Institute of Medical Device and Imaging, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Chien
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yih Isaac Tseng
- Institute of Medical Device and Imaging, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Molecular Imaging Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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30
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Zhao F, Zhang H, Rekik I, An Z, Shen D. Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Multi-Level High-Order Functional Networks Derived From Resting-State Functional MRI. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:184. [PMID: 29867410 PMCID: PMC5960713 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional brain networks derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) have been widely used for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Typically, these networks are constructed by calculating functional connectivity (FC) between any pair of brain regions of interest (ROIs), i.e., using Pearson's correlation between rs-fMRI time series. However, this can only be called as a low-order representation of the functional interaction, because the relationship is investigated just between two ROIs. Brain disorders might not only affect low-order FC, but also high-order FC, i.e., the higher-level relationship among multiple brain regions, which might be more crucial for diagnosis. To comprehensively characterize such relationship for better diagnosis of ASD, we propose a multi-level, high-order FC network representation that can nicely capture complex interactions among brain regions. Then, we design a feature selection method to identify those discriminative multi-level, high-order FC features for ASD diagnosis. Finally, we design an ensemble classifier with multiple linear SVMs, each trained on a specific level of FC networks, for boosting the final classification accuracy. Experimental results show that the integration of both low-order and first-level high-order FC networks achieves the best ASD diagnostic accuracy (81%). We further investigated those selected discriminative low-order and high-order FC features and found that the high-order FC features can provide complementary information to the low-order FC features in the ASD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhao
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Radiology and BRIC, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Islem Rekik
- BASIRA Lab, CVIP Group, Computing, School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Zhiyong An
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, China
| | - Dinggang Shen
- Department of Radiology and BRIC, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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31
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Zhang F, Wu W, Ning L, McAnulty G, Waber D, Gagoski B, Sarill K, Hamoda HM, Song Y, Cai W, Rathi Y, O'Donnell LJ. Suprathreshold fiber cluster statistics: Leveraging white matter geometry to enhance tractography statistical analysis. Neuroimage 2018; 171:341-354. [PMID: 29337279 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This work presents a suprathreshold fiber cluster (STFC) method that leverages the whole brain fiber geometry to enhance statistical group difference analyses. The proposed method consists of 1) a well-established study-specific data-driven tractography parcellation to obtain white matter tract parcels and 2) a newly proposed nonparametric, permutation-test-based STFC method to identify significant differences between study populations. The basic idea of our method is that a white matter parcel's neighborhood (nearby parcels with similar white matter anatomy) can support the parcel's statistical significance when correcting for multiple comparisons. We propose an adaptive parcel neighborhood strategy to allow suprathreshold fiber cluster formation that is robust to anatomically varying inter-parcel distances. The method is demonstrated by application to a multi-shell diffusion MRI dataset from 59 individuals, including 30 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients and 29 healthy controls. Evaluations are conducted using both synthetic and in-vivo data. The results indicate that the STFC method gives greater sensitivity in finding group differences in white matter tract parcels compared to several traditional multiple comparison correction methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhang
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Weining Wu
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Lipeng Ning
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Gloria McAnulty
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Deborah Waber
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Borjan Gagoski
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Kiera Sarill
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Hesham M Hamoda
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Yang Song
- School of Information Technologies, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Weidong Cai
- School of Information Technologies, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yogesh Rathi
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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32
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Zhou C, Cheng Y, Ping L, Xu J, Shen Z, Jiang L, Shi L, Yang S, Lu Y, Xu X. Support Vector Machine Classification of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Based on Whole-Brain Volumetry and Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:524. [PMID: 30405461 PMCID: PMC6206075 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods have been used to detect cerebral anatomical distinction between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and healthy controls (HC). Machine learning approach allows for the possibility of discriminating patients on the individual level. However, few studies have used this automatic technique based on multiple modalities to identify potential biomarkers of OCD. High-resolution structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were acquired from 48 OCD patients and 45 well-matched HC. Gray matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were extracted as four features were examined using support vector machine (SVM). Ten brain regions of each feature contributed most to the classification were also estimated. Using different algorithms, the classifier achieved accuracies of 72.08, 61.29, 80.65, and 77.42% for GMV, WMV, FA, and MD, respectively. The most discriminative gray matter regions that contributed to the classification were mainly distributed in the orbitofronto-striatal "affective" circuit, the dorsolateral, prefronto-striatal "executive" circuit and the cerebellum. For WMV feature and the two feature sets of DTI, the shared regions contributed the most to the discrimination mainly included the uncinate fasciculus, the cingulum in the hippocampus, corticospinal tract, as well as cerebellar peduncle. Based on whole-brain volumetry and DTI images, SVM algorithm revealed high accuracies for distinguishing OCD patients from healthy subjects at the individual level. Computer-aided method is capable of providing accurate diagnostic information and might provide a new perspective for clinical diagnosis of OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.,Postgraduate College, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yuqi Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Liangliang Ping
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.,Postgraduate College, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Zonglin Shen
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Linling Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Li Shi
- Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Shuran Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiufeng Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
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Andrews DS, Marquand A, Ecker C, McAlonan G. Using Pattern Classification to Identify Brain Imaging Markers in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2018; 40:413-436. [PMID: 29626339 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2018_47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive and restrictive behaviours. The etiological and phenotypic complexity of ASD has so far hindered the development of clinically useful biomarkers for the condition. Neuroimaging studies have been valuable in establishing a biological basis for ASD. Increasingly, neuroimaging has been combined with 'machine learning'-based pattern classification methods to make individual diagnostic predictions. Moving forward, the hope is that these techniques may not only facilitate the diagnostic process but may also aid in fractionating the ASD phenotype into more biologically homogeneous sub-groups, with defined pathophysiology, predictable outcomes and/or responses to targeted treatments and/or interventions. This review chapter will first introduce 'machine learning' and pattern recognition methods in general, with a focus on their application to diagnostic classification. It will highlight why such approaches to biomarker discovery may have advantages over more conventional analytical methods. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of atypical brain structure, function and connectivity in ASD will be briefly reviewed before we describe how pattern recognition has been applied to generate predictive models for ASD. Last, we will discuss some limitations and pitfalls of pattern recognition analyses in ASD and consider how the field can advance beyond the prediction of binary outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Sayre Andrews
- The Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, The Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andre Marquand
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, The Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, The Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. .,South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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Zhang F, Savadjiev P, Cai W, Song Y, Rathi Y, Tunç B, Parker D, Kapur T, Schultz RT, Makris N, Verma R, O'Donnell LJ. Whole brain white matter connectivity analysis using machine learning: An application to autism. Neuroimage 2017; 172:826-837. [PMID: 29079524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we propose an automated white matter connectivity analysis method for machine learning classification and characterization of white matter abnormality via identification of discriminative fiber tracts. The proposed method uses diffusion MRI tractography and a data-driven approach to find fiber clusters corresponding to subdivisions of the white matter anatomy. Features extracted from each fiber cluster describe its diffusion properties and are used for machine learning. The method is demonstrated by application to a pediatric neuroimaging dataset from 149 individuals, including 70 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 79 typically developing controls (TDC). A classification accuracy of 78.33% is achieved in this cross-validation study. We investigate the discriminative diffusion features based on a two-tensor fiber tracking model. We observe that the mean fractional anisotropy from the second tensor (associated with crossing fibers) is most affected in ASD. We also find that local along-tract (central cores and endpoint regions) differences between ASD and TDC are helpful in differentiating the two groups. These altered diffusion properties in ASD are associated with multiple robustly discriminative fiber clusters, which belong to several major white matter tracts including the corpus callosum, arcuate fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus and aslant tract; and the white matter structures related to the cerebellum, brain stem, and ventral diencephalon. These discriminative fiber clusters, a small part of the whole brain tractography, represent the white matter connections that could be most affected in ASD. Our results indicate the potential of a machine learning pipeline based on white matter fiber clustering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhang
- Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA.
| | | | | | - Yang Song
- University of Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia
| | | | - Birkan Tunç
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | - Drew Parker
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | | | - Robert T Schultz
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA; Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia PA, USA
| | | | - Ragini Verma
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA
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35
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Tylee DS, Kikinis Z, Quinn TP, Antshel KM, Fremont W, Tahir MA, Zhu A, Gong X, Glatt SJ, Coman IL, Shenton ME, Kates WR, Makris N. Machine-learning classification of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A diffusion tensor imaging study. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2017; 15:832-842. [PMID: 28761808 PMCID: PMC5522376 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental syndrome that has been studied intensively in order to understand relationships between the genetic microdeletion, brain development, cognitive function, and the emergence of psychiatric symptoms. White matter microstructural abnormalities identified using diffusion tensor imaging methods have been reported to affect a variety of neuroanatomical tracts in 22q11.2DS. In the present study, we sought to combine two discovery-based approaches: (1) white matter query language was used to parcellate the brain's white matter into tracts connecting pairs of 34, bilateral cortical regions and (2) the diffusion imaging characteristics of the resulting tracts were analyzed using a machine-learning method called support vector machine in order to optimize the selection of a set of imaging features that maximally discriminated 22q11.2DS and comparison subjects. With this unique approach, we both confirmed previously-recognized 22q11.2DS-related abnormalities in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), and identified, for the first time, 22q11.2DS-related anomalies in the middle longitudinal fascicle and the extreme capsule, which may have been overlooked in previous, hypothesis-guided studies. We further observed that, in participants with 22q11.2DS, ILF metrics were significantly associated with positive prodromal symptoms of psychosis.
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Key Words
- (-fp), fronto-parietal aspect
- (-to), temporo-occipital aspect
- (-tp), temporo-parietal aspect
- (22q11.2DS), 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
- (AD), axial diffusivity
- (DTI), diffusion tensor imaging
- (DWI), diffusion weighted image
- (EmC), extreme capsule
- (FA), fractional anisotropy
- (FOV), field of view
- (GDS), Gordon Diagnostic Systems
- (ILF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus
- (MdLF), middle longitudinal fascicle
- (RD), radial diffusivity
- (ROI), region of interest
- (SIPS), Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes
- (SRS), Social Responsiveness Scale
- (STG), superior temporal gyrus
- (SVM), support vector machine
- (UKF), Unscented Kalman Filter
- (WAIS-III), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – 3rd edition
- (WMQL), white matter query language
- (dTP), dorsal temporal pole
- 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
- Callosal asymmetry
- Diffusion tensor imaging
- Extreme capsule
- Inferior longitudinal fasciculus
- Machine-learning
- Middle longitudinal fascicle
- Support vector machine
- Velocardiofacial syndrome
- White matter query language
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Tylee
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Zora Kikinis
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Thomas P Quinn
- Bioinformatics Core Research Group, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Wanda Fremont
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| | - Muhammad A Tahir
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Anni Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xue Gong
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephen J Glatt
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| | - Ioana L Coman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Brockton, MA, USA.
| | - Wendy R Kates
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| | - Nikos Makris
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Arbabshirani MR, Plis S, Sui J, Calhoun VD. Single subject prediction of brain disorders in neuroimaging: Promises and pitfalls. Neuroimage 2017; 145:137-165. [PMID: 27012503 PMCID: PMC5031516 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 529] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging-based single subject prediction of brain disorders has gained increasing attention in recent years. Using a variety of neuroimaging modalities such as structural, functional and diffusion MRI, along with machine learning techniques, hundreds of studies have been carried out for accurate classification of patients with heterogeneous mental and neurodegenerative disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. More than 500 studies have been published during the past quarter century on single subject prediction focused on a multiple brain disorders. In the first part of this study, we provide a survey of more than 200 reports in this field with a focus on schizophrenia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), depressive disorders, autism spectrum disease (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Detailed information about those studies such as sample size, type and number of extracted features and reported accuracy are summarized and discussed. To our knowledge, this is by far the most comprehensive review of neuroimaging-based single subject prediction of brain disorders. In the second part, we present our opinion on major pitfalls of those studies from a machine learning point of view. Common biases are discussed and suggestions are provided. Moreover, emerging trends such as decentralized data sharing, multimodal brain imaging, differential diagnosis, disease subtype classification and deep learning are also discussed. Based on this survey, there is extensive evidence showing the great potential of neuroimaging data for single subject prediction of various disorders. However, the main bottleneck of this exciting field is still the limited sample size, which could be potentially addressed by modern data sharing models such as the ones discussed in this paper. Emerging big data technologies and advanced data-intensive machine learning methodologies such as deep learning have coincided with an increasing need for accurate, robust and generalizable single subject prediction of brain disorders during an exciting time. In this report, we survey the past and offer some opinions regarding the road ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad R Arbabshirani
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822, USA
| | - Sergey Plis
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Jing Sui
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; Brainnetome Center and National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; Department of ECE, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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37
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Ecker C. The neuroanatomy of autism spectrum disorder: An overview of structural neuroimaging findings and their translatability to the clinical setting. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2016; 21:18-28. [DOI: 10.1177/1362361315627136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, which is accompanied by differences in brain anatomy, functioning and brain connectivity. Due to its neurodevelopmental character, and the large phenotypic heterogeneity among individuals on the autism spectrum, the neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder is inherently difficult to describe. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in characterizing the neuroanatomical underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder across the human life span, and in identifying the molecular pathways that may be affected in autism spectrum disorder. Moreover, novel methodological frameworks for analyzing neuroimaging data are emerging that make it possible to characterize the neuroanatomy of autism spectrum disorder on the case level, and to stratify individuals based on their individual phenotypic make up. While these approaches are increasingly more often employed in the research setting, their applicability in the clinical setting remains a vision for the future. The aim of the current review is to (1) provide a general overview of recent structural neuroimaging findings examining the neuroanatomy of autism spectrum disorder across the human life span, and in males and females with the condition, (2) highlight potential neuroimaging (bio)markers that may in the future be used for the stratification of autism spectrum disorder individuals into biologically homogeneous subgroups and (3) inform treatment and intervention strategies.
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38
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Retico A, Gori I, Giuliano A, Muratori F, Calderoni S. One-Class Support Vector Machines Identify the Language and Default Mode Regions As Common Patterns of Structural Alterations in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:306. [PMID: 27445675 PMCID: PMC4925658 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of reliable brain endophenotypes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been hampered to date by the heterogeneity in the neuroanatomical abnormalities detected in this condition. To handle the complexity of neuroimaging data and to convert brain images in informative biomarkers of pathology, multivariate analysis techniques based on Support Vector Machines (SVM) have been widely used in several disease conditions. They are usually trained to distinguish patients from healthy control subjects by making a binary classification. Here, we propose the use of the One-Class Classification (OCC) or Data Description method that, in contrast to two-class classification, is based on a description of one class of objects only. This approach, by defining a multivariate normative rule on one class of subjects, allows recognizing examples from a different category as outliers. We applied the OCC to 314 regional features extracted from brain structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of young children with ASD (21 males and 20 females) and control subjects (20 males and 20 females), matched on age [range: 22-72 months of age; mean = 49 months] and non-verbal intelligence quotient (NVIQ) [range: 31-123; mean = 73]. We demonstrated that a common pattern of features characterize the ASD population. The OCC SVM trained on the group of ASD subjects showed the following performances in the ASD vs. controls separation: the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.74 for the male and 0.68 for the female population, respectively. Notably, the ASD vs. controls discrimination results were maximized when evaluated on the subsamples of subjects with NVIQ ≥ 70, leading to AUC = 0.81 for the male and AUC = 0.72 for the female populations, respectively. Language regions and regions from the default mode network-posterior cingulate cortex, pars opercularis and pars triangularis of the inferior frontal gyrus, and transverse temporal gyrus-contributed most to distinguishing individuals with ASD from controls, arguing for the crucial role of these areas in the ASD pathophysiology. The observed brain patterns associate preschoolers with ASD independently of their age, gender and NVIQ and therefore they are expected to constitute part of the ASD brain endophenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilaria Gori
- Pisa Division, National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsPisa, Italy
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of SassariSassari, Italy
| | - Alessia Giuliano
- Pisa Division, National Institute for Nuclear PhysicsPisa, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of PisaPisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris FoundationPisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaPisa, Italy
| | - Sara Calderoni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris FoundationPisa, Italy
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Moseley RL, Correia MM, Baron-Cohen S, Shtyrov Y, Pulvermüller F, Mohr B. Reduced Volume of the Arcuate Fasciculus in Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Conditions. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:214. [PMID: 27242478 PMCID: PMC4867673 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical language is a fundamental feature of autism spectrum conditions (ASC), but few studies have examined the structural integrity of the arcuate fasciculus, the major white matter tract connecting frontal and temporal language regions, which is usually implicated as the main transfer route used in processing linguistic information by the brain. Abnormalities in the arcuate have been reported in young children with ASC, mostly in low-functioning or non-verbal individuals, but little is known regarding the structural properties of the arcuate in adults with ASC or, in particular, in individuals with ASC who have intact language, such as those with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome. We used probabilistic tractography of diffusion-weighted imaging to isolate and scrutinize the arcuate in a mixed-gender sample of 18 high-functioning adults with ASC (17 Asperger syndrome) and 14 age- and IQ-matched typically developing controls. Arcuate volume was significantly reduced bilaterally with clearest differences in the right hemisphere. This finding remained significant in an analysis of all male participants alone. Volumetric reduction in the arcuate was significantly correlated with the severity of autistic symptoms as measured by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. These data reveal that structural differences are present even in high-functioning adults with ASC, who presented with no clinically manifest language deficits and had no reported developmental language delay. Arcuate structural integrity may be useful as an index of ASC severity and thus as a predictor and biomarker for ASC. Implications for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Moseley
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth UniversityDorset, UK; Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitCambridge, UK; Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK; Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK
| | - Marta M Correia
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK; Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough National Health Service Foundation TrustCambridge, UK
| | - Yury Shtyrov
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitCambridge, UK; Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus UniversityAarhus, Denmark; Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, National Research University Higher School of EconomicsMoscow, Russia
| | - Friedemann Pulvermüller
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitCambridge, UK; Brain Language Laboratory, Freie Universität BerlinBerlin, Germany
| | - Bettina Mohr
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
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40
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Ismail MMT, Keynton RS, Mostapha MMMO, ElTanboly AH, Casanova MF, Gimel'farb GL, El-Baz A. Studying Autism Spectrum Disorder with Structural and Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Survey. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:211. [PMID: 27242476 PMCID: PMC4862981 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities have emerged as powerful means that facilitate non-invasive clinical diagnostics of various diseases and abnormalities since their inception in the 1980s. Multiple MRI modalities, such as different types of the sMRI and DTI, have been employed to investigate facets of ASD in order to better understand this complex syndrome. This paper reviews recent applications of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to study autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Main reported findings are sometimes contradictory due to different age ranges, hardware protocols, population types, numbers of participants, and image analysis parameters. The primary anatomical structures, such as amygdalae, cerebrum, and cerebellum, associated with clinical-pathological correlates of ASD are highlighted through successive life stages, from infancy to adulthood. This survey demonstrates the absence of consistent pathology in the brains of autistic children and lack of research investigations in patients under 2 years of age in the literature. The known publications also emphasize advances in data acquisition and analysis, as well as significance of multimodal approaches that combine resting-state, task-evoked, and sMRI measures. Initial results obtained with the sMRI and DTI show good promise toward the early and non-invasive ASD diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M. T. Ismail
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
| | - Robert S. Keynton
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
| | | | - Ahmed H. ElTanboly
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
| | - Manuel F. Casanova
- Departments of Pediatrics and Biomedical Sciences, University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC, USA
| | | | - Ayman El-Baz
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
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41
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A small number of abnormal brain connections predicts adult autism spectrum disorder. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11254. [PMID: 27075704 PMCID: PMC4834637 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious lifelong condition, its underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. Recently, neuroimaging-based classifiers for ASD and typically developed (TD) individuals were developed to identify the abnormality of functional connections (FCs). Due to over-fitting and interferential effects of varying measurement conditions and demographic distributions, no classifiers have been strictly validated for independent cohorts. Here we overcome these difficulties by developing a novel machine-learning algorithm that identifies a small number of FCs that separates ASD versus TD. The classifier achieves high accuracy for a Japanese discovery cohort and demonstrates a remarkable degree of generalization for two independent validation cohorts in the USA and Japan. The developed ASD classifier does not distinguish individuals with major depressive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder from their controls but moderately distinguishes patients with schizophrenia from their controls. The results leave open the viable possibility of exploring neuroimaging-based dimensions quantifying the multiple-disorder spectrum. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is manifested by subtle but significant changes in the brain. Here, Yahata and colleagues devise a novel machine learning algorithm and develop a reliable ASD classifier based on brain functional connectivity, with which they quantitatively measure neuroimaging dimensions between ASD and other mental disorders.
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42
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Retico A, Giuliano A, Tancredi R, Cosenza A, Apicella F, Narzisi A, Biagi L, Tosetti M, Muratori F, Calderoni S. The effect of gender on the neuroanatomy of children with autism spectrum disorders: a support vector machine case-control study. Mol Autism 2016; 7:5. [PMID: 26788282 PMCID: PMC4717545 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-015-0067-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors contribute since infancy to sexual dimorphism in regional brain structures of subjects with typical development. However, the neuroanatomical differences between male and female children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are an intriguing and still poorly investigated issue. This study aims to evaluate whether the brain of young children with ASD exhibits sex-related structural differences and if a correlation exists between clinical ASD features and neuroanatomical underpinnings. Methods A total of 152 structural MRI scans were analysed. Specifically, 76 young children with ASD (38 males and 38 females; 2–7 years of age; mean = 53 months, standard deviation = 17 months) were evaluated employing a support vector machine (SVM)-based analysis of the grey matter (GM). Group comparisons consisted of 76 age-, gender- and non-verbal-intelligence quotient-matched children with typical development or idiopathic developmental delay without autism. Results For both genders combined, SVM showed a significantly increased GM volume in young children with ASD with respect to control subjects, predominantly in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus (Brodmann area –BA– 10), bilateral precuneus (BA 31), bilateral superior temporal gyrus (BA 20/22), whereas less GM in patients with ASD was found in right inferior temporal gyrus (BA 37). For the within gender comparisons (i.e., females with ASD vs. controls and males with ASD vs. controls), two overlapping regions in bilateral precuneus (BA 31) and left superior frontal gyrus (BA 9/10) were detected. Sex-by-group analyses revealed in males with ASD compared to matched controls two male-specific regions of increased GM volume (left middle occipital gyrus—BA 19—and right superior temporal gyrus—BA 22). Comparisons in females with and without ASD demonstrated increased GM volumes predominantly in the bilateral frontal regions. Additional regions of significantly increased GM volume in the right anterior cingulate cortex (BA 32) and right cerebellum were typical only of females with ASD. Conclusions Despite the specific behavioural correlates of sex-dimorphism in ASD, brain morphology as yet remains unclear and requires future dedicated investigations. This study provides evidence of structural brain gender differences in young children with ASD that possibly contribute to the different phenotypic disease manifestations in males and females. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-015-0067-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Retico
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Pisa Division, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessia Giuliano
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Pisa Division, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy ; University of Pisa, Department of Physics, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Angela Cosenza
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56018 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Apicella
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56018 Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Narzisi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56018 Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Biagi
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56018 Pisa, Italy
| | - Michela Tosetti
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56018 Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Muratori
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56018 Pisa, Italy ; University of Pisa, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Calderoni
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56018 Pisa, Italy
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Use of Machine Learning to Identify Children with Autism and Their Motor Abnormalities. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 45:2146-56. [PMID: 25652603 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2379-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the present work, we have undertaken a proof-of-concept study to determine whether a simple upper-limb movement could be useful to accurately classify low-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 2-4. To answer this question, we developed a supervised machine-learning method to correctly discriminate 15 preschool children with ASD from 15 typically developing children by means of kinematic analysis of a simple reach-to-drop task. Our method reached a maximum classification accuracy of 96.7% with seven features related to the goal-oriented part of the movement. These preliminary findings offer insight into a possible motor signature of ASD that may be potentially useful in identifying a well-defined subset of patients, reducing the clinical heterogeneity within the broad behavioral phenotype.
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Eavani H, Hsieh MK, An Y, Erus G, Beason-Held L, Resnick S, Davatzikos C. Capturing heterogeneous group differences using mixture-of-experts: Application to a study of aging. Neuroimage 2016; 125:498-514. [PMID: 26525656 PMCID: PMC5460911 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In MRI studies, linear multi-variate methods are often employed to identify regions or connections that are affected due to disease or normal aging. Such linear models inherently assume that there is a single, homogeneous abnormality pattern that is present in all affected individuals. While kernel-based methods can implicitly model a non-linear effect, and therefore the heterogeneity in the affected group, extracting and interpreting information about affected regions is difficult. In this paper, we present a method that explicitly models and captures heterogeneous patterns of change in the affected group relative to a reference group of controls. For this purpose, we use the Mixture-of-Experts (MOE) framework, which combines unsupervised modeling of mixtures of distributions with supervised learning of classifiers. MOE approximates the non-linear boundary between the two groups with a piece-wise linear boundary, thus allowing discovery of multiple patterns of group differences. In the case of patient/control comparisons, each such pattern aims to capture a different dimension of a disease, and hence to identify patient subgroups. We validated our model using multiple simulation scenarios and performance measures. We applied this method to resting state functional MRI data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, to investigate heterogeneous effects of aging on brain function in cognitively normal older adults (>85years) relative to a reference group of normal young to middle-aged adults (<60years). We found strong evidence for the presence of two subgroups of older adults, with similar age distributions in each subgroup, but different connectivity patterns associated with aging. While both older subgroups showed reduced functional connectivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN), increases in functional connectivity within the pre-frontal cortex as well as the bilateral insula were observed only for one of the two subgroups. Interestingly, the subgroup showing this increased connectivity (unlike the other subgroup) was, cognitively similar at baseline to the young and middle-aged subjects in two of seven cognitive domains, and had a faster rate of cognitive decline in one of seven domains. These results suggest that older individuals whose baseline cognitive performance is comparable to that of younger individuals recruit their "cognitive reserve" later in life, to compensate for reduced connectivity in other brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harini Eavani
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Meng Kang Hsieh
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yang An
- National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, USA
| | - Guray Erus
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Christos Davatzikos
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, USA
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45
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Levman J, Takahashi E. Multivariate analyses applied to fetal, neonatal and pediatric MRI of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuroimage Clin 2015; 9:532-44. [PMID: 26640765 PMCID: PMC4625213 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Multivariate analysis (MVA) is a class of statistical and pattern recognition methods that involve the processing of data that contains multiple measurements per sample. MVA can be used to address a wide variety of medical neuroimaging-related challenges including identifying variables associated with a measure of clinical importance (i.e. patient outcome), creating diagnostic tests, assisting in characterizing developmental disorders, understanding disease etiology, development and progression, assisting in treatment monitoring and much more. Compared to adults, imaging of developing immature brains has attracted less attention from MVA researchers. However, remarkable MVA research growth has occurred in recent years. This paper presents the results of a systematic review of the literature focusing on MVA technologies applied to neurodevelopmental disorders in fetal, neonatal and pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. The goal of this manuscript is to provide a concise review of the state of the scientific literature on studies employing brain MRI and MVA in a pre-adult population. Neurological developmental disorders addressed in the MVA research contained in this review include autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, schizophrenia and more. While the results of this review demonstrate considerable interest from the scientific community in applications of MVA technologies in pediatric/neonatal/fetal brain MRI, the field is still young and considerable research growth remains ahead of us.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Levman
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1 Autumn Street #456, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1 Autumn Street #456, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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46
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Identification of Infants at Risk for Autism Using Multi-parameter Hierarchical White Matter Connectomes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [PMID: 26900607 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-24888-2_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a variety of developmental disorders that cause life-long communication and social deficits. However, ASD could only be diagnosed at children as early as 2 years of age, while early signs may emerge within the first year. White matter (WM) connectivity abnormalities have been documented in the first year of lives of ASD subjects. We introduce a novel multi-kernel support vector machine (SVM) framework to identify infants at high-risk for ASD at 6 months old, by utilizing the diffusion parameters derived from a hierarchical set of WM connectomes. Experiments show that the proposed method achieves an accuracy of 76%, in comparison to 70% with the best single connectome. The complementary information extracted from hierarchical networks enhances the classification performance, with the top discriminative connections consistent with other studies. Our framework provides essential imaging connectomic markers and contributes to the evaluation of ASD risks as early as 6 months.
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47
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Lavagnino L, Amianto F, Mwangi B, D'Agata F, Spalatro A, Zunta-Soares GB, Abbate Daga G, Mortara P, Fassino S, Soares JC. Identifying neuroanatomical signatures of anorexia nervosa: a multivariate machine learning approach. Psychol Med 2015; 45:2805-2812. [PMID: 25990697 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291715000768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are currently no neuroanatomical biomarkers of anorexia nervosa (AN) available to make clinical inferences at an individual subject level. We present results of a multivariate machine learning (ML) approach utilizing structural neuroanatomical scan data to differentiate AN patients from matched healthy controls at an individual subject level. METHOD Structural neuroimaging scans were acquired from 15 female patients with AN (age = 20, s.d. = 4 years) and 15 demographically matched female controls (age = 22, s.d. = 3 years). Neuroanatomical volumes were extracted using the FreeSurfer software and input into the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) multivariate ML algorithm. LASSO was 'trained' to identify 'novel' individual subjects as either AN patients or healthy controls. Furthermore, the model estimated the probability that an individual subject belonged to the AN group based on an individual scan. RESULTS The model correctly predicted 25 out of 30 subjects, translating into 83.3% accuracy (sensitivity 86.7%, specificity 80.0%) (p < 0.001; χ 2 test). Six neuroanatomical regions (cerebellum white matter, choroid plexus, putamen, accumbens, the diencephalon and the third ventricle) were found to be relevant in distinguishing individual AN patients from healthy controls. The predicted probabilities showed a linear relationship with drive for thinness clinical scores (r = 0.52, p < 0.005) and with body mass index (BMI) (r = -0.45, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The model achieved a good predictive accuracy and drive for thinness showed a strong neuroanatomical signature. These results indicate that neuroimaging scans coupled with ML techniques have the potential to provide information at an individual subject level that might be relevant to clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Lavagnino
- UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,UT Houston Medical School,Houston,TX,USA
| | - F Amianto
- Department of Neuroscience,AOU San Giovanni Battista,Turin,Italy
| | - B Mwangi
- UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,UT Houston Medical School,Houston,TX,USA
| | - F D'Agata
- Department of Neuroscience,AOU San Giovanni Battista,Turin,Italy
| | - A Spalatro
- Department of Neuroscience,AOU San Giovanni Battista,Turin,Italy
| | - G B Zunta-Soares
- UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,UT Houston Medical School,Houston,TX,USA
| | - G Abbate Daga
- Department of Neuroscience,AOU San Giovanni Battista,Turin,Italy
| | - P Mortara
- Department of Neuroscience,AOU San Giovanni Battista,Turin,Italy
| | - S Fassino
- Department of Neuroscience,AOU San Giovanni Battista,Turin,Italy
| | - J C Soares
- UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,UT Houston Medical School,Houston,TX,USA
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48
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Jin Y, Wee CY, Shi F, Thung KH, Ni D, Yap PT, Shen D. Identification of infants at high-risk for autism spectrum disorder using multiparameter multiscale white matter connectivity networks. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 36:4880-96. [PMID: 26368659 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a wide range of disabilities that cause life-long cognitive impairment and social, communication, and behavioral challenges. Early diagnosis and medical intervention are important for improving the life quality of autistic patients. However, in the current practice, diagnosis often has to be delayed until the behavioral symptoms become evident during childhood. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of using machine learning techniques for identifying high-risk ASD infants at as early as six months after birth. This is based on the observation that ASD-induced abnormalities in white matter (WM) tracts and whole-brain connectivity have already started to appear within 24 months after birth. In particular, we propose a novel multikernel support vector machine classification framework by using the connectivity features gathered from WM connectivity networks, which are generated via multiscale regions of interest (ROIs) and multiple diffusion statistics such as fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and average fiber length. Our proposed framework achieves an accuracy of 76% and an area of 0.80 under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), in comparison to the accuracy of 70% and the AUC of 70% provided by the best single-parameter single-scale network. The improvement in accuracy is mainly due to the complementary information provided by multiparameter multiscale networks. In addition, our framework also provides the potential imaging connectomic markers and an objective means for early ASD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jin
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Chong-Yaw Wee
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Feng Shi
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kim-Han Thung
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Dong Ni
- The Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University, China
| | - Pew-Thian Yap
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Dinggang Shen
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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49
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Wolfers T, Buitelaar JK, Beckmann CF, Franke B, Marquand AF. From estimating activation locality to predicting disorder: A review of pattern recognition for neuroimaging-based psychiatric diagnostics. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 57:328-49. [PMID: 26254595 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are increasingly being recognised as having a biological basis, but their diagnosis is made exclusively behaviourally. A promising approach for 'biomarker' discovery has been based on pattern recognition methods applied to neuroimaging data, which could yield clinical utility in future. In this review we survey the literature on pattern recognition for making diagnostic predictions in psychiatric disorders, and evaluate progress made in translating such findings towards clinical application. We evaluate studies on many criteria, including data modalities used, the types of features extracted and algorithm applied. We identify problems common to many studies, such as a relatively small sample size and a primary focus on estimating generalisability within a single study. Furthermore, we highlight challenges that are not widely acknowledged in the field including the importance of accommodating disease prevalence, the necessity of more extensive validation using large carefully acquired samples, the need for methodological innovations to improve accuracy and to discriminate between multiple disorders simultaneously. Finally, we identify specific clinical contexts in which pattern recognition can add value in the short to medium term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wolfers
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Jan K Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andre F Marquand
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, LondonUnited Kingdom
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50
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Benítez-Burraco A, Boeckx C. Possible functional links among brain- and skull-related genes selected in modern humans. Front Psychol 2015; 6:794. [PMID: 26136701 PMCID: PMC4468360 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequencing of the genomes from extinct hominins has revealed that changes in some brain-related genes have been selected after the split between anatomically-modern humans and Neanderthals/Denisovans. To date, no coherent view of these changes has been provided. Following a line of research we initiated in Boeckx and Benítez-Burraco (2014a), we hypothesize functional links among most of these genes and their products, based on the existing literature for each of the gene discussed. The genes we focus on are found mutated in different cognitive disorders affecting modern populations and their products are involved in skull and brain morphology, and neural connectivity. If our hypothesis turns out to be on the right track, it means that the changes affecting most of these proteins resulted in a more globular brain and ultimately brought about modern cognition, with its characteristic generativity and capacity to form and exploit cross-modular concepts, properties most clearly manifested in language.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cedric Boeckx
- Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies , Barcelona, Spain ; Department of Linguistics, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain
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