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Degré-Pelletier J, Danis É, Thérien VD, Bernhardt B, Barbeau EB, Soulières I. Differential neural correlates underlying visuospatial versus semantic reasoning in autistic children. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:19-29. [PMID: 38696600 PMCID: PMC11065103 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae093] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
While fronto-posterior underconnectivity has often been reported in autism, it was shown that different contexts may modulate between-group differences in functional connectivity. Here, we assessed how different task paradigms modulate functional connectivity differences in a young autistic sample relative to typically developing children. Twenty-three autistic and 23 typically developing children aged 6 to 15 years underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning while completing a reasoning task with visuospatial versus semantic content. We observed distinct connectivity patterns in autistic versus typical children as a function of task type (visuospatial vs. semantic) and problem complexity (visual matching vs. reasoning), despite similar performance. For semantic reasoning problems, there was no significant between-group differences in connectivity. However, during visuospatial reasoning problems, we observed occipital-occipital, occipital-temporal, and occipital-frontal over-connectivity in autistic children relative to typical children. Also, increasing the complexity of visuospatial problems resulted in increased functional connectivity between occipital, posterior (temporal), and anterior (frontal) brain regions in autistic participants, more so than in typical children. Our results add to several studies now demonstrating that the connectivity alterations in autistic relative to neurotypical individuals are much more complex than previously thought and depend on both task type and task complexity and their respective underlying cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janie Degré-Pelletier
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal, Quebec H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Éliane Danis
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal, Quebec H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Véronique D Thérien
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal, Quebec H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Boris Bernhardt
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, 3801, University street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Elise B Barbeau
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Isabelle Soulières
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal, Quebec H1E 1A4, Canada
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2
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Pauwels L, Gooijers J. The Role of the Corpus Callosum (Micro)Structure in Bimanual Coordination: A Literature Review Update. J Mot Behav 2023; 55:525-537. [PMID: 37336516 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2023.2221985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
The characterization of callosal white matter is crucial for understanding the relationship between brain structure and bimanual motor function. An earlier literature review established this. With advancements in neuroimaging and data modeling, we aim to provide an update on the existing literature. Firstly, we highlight new CC parcellation approaches, such as functional MRI- and atlas-informed tractography and in vivo histology. Secondly, we elaborate on recent insights into the CC's role in bimanual coordination, drawing evidence from studies on healthy young and older adults, patients and training-related callosal plasticity. We also reflect on progress in the field and propose future perspectives to inspire research on the underlying mechanisms of structural-functional interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Pauwels
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Movement Sciences, Movement control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Gooijers
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Movement Sciences, Movement control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Leuven, Belgium
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3
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Li M, Wu J, Jiang P, Yang S, Guo R, Yang Y, Cao Y, Wang S. Corpus Callosum Diffusion Anisotropy and Hemispheric Lateralization of Language in Patients with Brain Arteriovenous Malformations. Brain Connect 2021; 11:447-456. [PMID: 33356845 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The corpus callosum (CC) plays a key role in mediating interhemispheric connectivity and developing functional hemispheric asymmetries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in CC microstructure accompanying interhemispheric language reorganization in patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Methods: Forty-one patients with an unruptured AVM located in anatomically defined language areas underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging. Hemispheric dominance in Broca's area (BA) and Wernicke's area (WA) was assessed separately. Right-sided or bilateral language dominance was classified as atypical lateralization. The CC was segmented into five subregions, and the mean fractional anisotropy (FA) was extracted. The relationship between callosal FA and language lateralization patterns was statistically analyzed. Results: We observed atypical language lateralization in 16 (39.0%) patients. Patients with atypical lateralization exhibited significantly higher mean FA values in the total CC (p = 0.002) and the anterior (p = 0.047), midanterior (p = 0.001), and midposterior (p = 0.043) subregions. Significant interaction effects of BA and WA lateralization were found for FA values in the total CC (p = 0.005) and the midanterior subregion (p = 0.004). Conclusions: These results indicate that AVM patients with atypical language lateralization exhibit higher callosal FA values, reflecting greater interhemispheric connectivity. Our findings contribute additional insights into the understanding of functional and structural plasticity of the human brain under pathological states. Impact statement Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital lesions that frequently lead to interhemispheric language reorganization. In this study, by combining diffusion tensor imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the relationship between callosal fractional anisotropy (FA) and language reorganization in patients with AVMs. We found that callosal FA was significantly higher in patients with atypical language lateralization, especially in those with crossed lateralization of Broca's and Wernicke's areas. This study demonstrated the remodeling of the corpus callosum microstructure accompanying language reorganization in AVM patients, providing insights into the structural and functional plasticity of the human brain associated with congenital cerebrovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maogui Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Pengjun Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Shuzhe Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Center of Stroke, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
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4
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Lopatina OL, Komleva YK, Malinovskaya NA, Panina YA, Morgun AV, Salmina AB. CD157 and Brain Immune System in (Patho)physiological Conditions: Focus on Brain Plasticity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:585294. [PMID: 33304350 PMCID: PMC7693531 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.585294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ectoenzyme and receptor BST-1/CD157 has been considered as a key molecule involved in the regulation of functional activity of cells in various tissues and organs. It is commonly accepted that CD157 catalyzes NAD+ hydrolysis and acts as a component of integrin adhesion receptor complex. Such properties are important for the regulatory role of CD157 in neuronal and glial cells: in addition to recently discovered role in the regulation of emotions, motor functions, and social behavior, CD157 might serve as an important component of innate immune reactions in the central nervous system. Activation of innate immune system in the brain occurs in response to infectious agents as well as in brain injury and neurodegeneration. As an example, in microglial cells, association of CD157 with CD11b/CD18 complex drives reactive gliosis and neuroinflammation evident in brain ischemia, chronic neurodegeneration, and aging. There are various non-substrate ligands of CD157 belonging to the family of extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, collagen I, finbrinogen, and laminin) whose activity is required for controlling cell adhesion and migration. Therefore, CD157 could control structural and functional integrity of the blood-brain barrier and barriergenesis. On the other hand, contribution of CD157 to the regulation of brain development is rather possible since in the embryonic brain, CD157 expression is very high, whereas in the adult brain, CD157 is expressed on neural stem cells and, presumably, is involved in the neurogenesis. Besides, CD157 could mediate astrocytes' action on neural stem and progenitor cells within neurogenic niches. In this review we will summarize how CD157 may affect brain plasticity acting as a molecule at the crossroad of neurogenesis, cerebral angiogenesis, and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga L. Lopatina
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Laboratory for Social Brain Studies, Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Department of Biophysics, Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Yulia K. Komleva
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Natalia A. Malinovskaya
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Yulia A. Panina
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Andrey V. Morgun
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Alla B. Salmina
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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5
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Barbeau EB, Klein D, Soulières I, Petrides M, Bernhardt B, Mottron L. Age of Speech Onset in Autism Relates to Structural Connectivity in the Language Network. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa077. [PMID: 34296136 PMCID: PMC8152885 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Speech onset delays (SOD) and language atypicalities are central aspects of the autism spectrum (AS), despite not being included in the categorical diagnosis of AS. Previous studies separating participants according to speech onset history have shown distinct patterns of brain organization and activation in perceptual tasks. One major white matter tract, the arcuate fasciculus (AF), connects the posterior temporal and left frontal language regions. Here, we used anatomical brain imaging to investigate the properties of the AF in adolescent and adult autistic individuals with typical levels of intelligence who differed by age of speech onset. The left AF of the AS group showed a significantly smaller volume than that of the nonautistic group. Such a reduction in volume was only present in the younger group. This result was driven by the autistic group without SOD (SOD−), despite their typical age of speech onset. The autistic group with SOD (SOD+) showed a more typical AF as adults relative to matched controls. This suggests that, along with multiple studies in AS-SOD+ individuals, atypical brain reorganization is observable in the 2 major AS subgroups and that such reorganization applies mostly to the language regions in SOD− and perceptual regions in SOD+ individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise B Barbeau
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Denise Klein
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Isabelle Soulières
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 3P2, Canada
| | - Michael Petrides
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Boris Bernhardt
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Laurent Mottron
- Département de Psychiatrie et d'addictologie, de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
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6
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Decreased interhemispheric functional connectivity rather than corpus callosum volume as a potential biomarker for autism spectrum disorder. Cortex 2019; 119:258-266. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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7
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Jao Keehn RJ, Nair S, Pueschel EB, Linke AC, Fishman I, Müller RA. Atypical Local and Distal Patterns of Occipito-frontal Functional Connectivity are Related to Symptom Severity in Autism. Cereb Cortex 2019; 29:3319-3330. [PMID: 30137241 PMCID: PMC7342606 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by sociocommunicative impairments. Growing consensus indicates that neurobehavioral abnormalities require explanation in terms of interconnected networks. Despite theoretical speculations about increased local and reduced distal connectivity, links between local and distal functional connectivity have not been systematically investigated in ASDs. Specifically, it remains open whether hypothesized local overconnectivity may reflect isolated versus overly integrative processing. Resting state functional MRI data from 57 children and adolescents with ASDs and 51 typically developing (TD) participants were included. In regional homogeneity (ReHo) analyses, pericalcarine visual cortex was found be locally overconnected (ASD > TD). Using this region as seed in whole-brain analyses, we observed overconnectivity in distal regions, specifically middle frontal gyri, for an ASD subgroup identified through k-means clustering. While in this subgroup local occipital to distal frontal overconnectivity was associated with greater symptom severity, a second subgroup showed the opposite pattern of connectivity and symptom severity correlations. Our findings suggest that increased local connectivity in ASDs is region-specific and may be partially associated with more integrative long-distance connectivity. Results also highlight the need to test for subtypes, as differential patterns of brain-behavior links were observed in two distinct subgroups of our ASD cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Joanne Jao Keehn
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sangeeta Nair
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ellyn B Pueschel
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Annika C Linke
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Inna Fishman
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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8
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Levman J, MacDonald P, Rowley S, Stewart N, Lim A, Ewenson B, Galaburda A, Takahashi E. Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Demonstrates Abnormal Regionally-Differential Cortical Thickness Variability in Autism: From Newborns to Adults. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:75. [PMID: 30930758 PMCID: PMC6428060 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and restricted/repetitive behavior. We performed a large-scale retrospective analysis of 1,996 clinical neurological structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of 781 autistic and 988 control subjects (aged 0–32 years), and extracted regionally distributed cortical thickness measurements, including average measurements as well as standard deviations which supports the assessment of intra-regional cortical thickness variability. The youngest autistic participants (<2.5 years) were diagnosed after imaging and were identified retrospectively. The largest effect sizes and the most common findings not previously published in the scientific literature involve abnormal intra-regional variability in cortical thickness affecting many (but not all) regions of the autistic brain, suggesting irregular gray matter development in autism that can be detected with MRI. Atypical developmental patterns have been detected as early as 0 years old in individuals who would later be diagnosed with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Levman
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, United States.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Charlestown, MA, United States.,Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Patrick MacDonald
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sean Rowley
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Natalie Stewart
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ashley Lim
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bryan Ewenson
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Albert Galaburda
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, United States
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, United States.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Charlestown, MA, United States
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9
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Vaisvaser S. Moving Along and Beyond the Spectrum: Creative Group Therapy for Children With Autism. Front Psychol 2019; 10:417. [PMID: 30914987 PMCID: PMC6423063 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Group therapy for autism confronts the core of the syndrome. Non-directed dynamic approaches, in which moment-to-moment spontaneous expressions drive the content of group sessions, are even more intricate. The implementation of nonverbal creative techniques holds the key to self-expression and self-other exploration, promoting communication and play. This manuscript offers an integrative conceptual model and a case report regarding such mind-body therapeutic perspective. The creative arts intervention is presented via a small group of young minimally verbal children with autism, deprived of communicative language, offering an interdisciplinary perspective to delineate group challenges and rationale, process, and outcomes. Vignettes are provided to illustrate the group development. A thorough discussion follows, addressing three intertwining axes: firstly, the implications of nonverbal creative means are considered; secondly, the psychophysiological processes set in motion through sensory-motor experiences are deliberated; and thirdly, the emergence of "moments of meeting" and spontaneously generated playful group activities are enlightened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Vaisvaser
- The Academic College of Society and the Arts (ASA), Netanya, Israel
- The Autism Research and Treatment Center, The Association for Children at Risk, Giv’at Shmuel, Israel
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10
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Duret P, Samson F, Pinsard B, Barbeau EB, Boré A, Soulières I, Mottron L. Gyrification changes are related to cognitive strengths in autism. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:415-423. [PMID: 30128280 PMCID: PMC6095946 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Behavioral, cognitive and functional particularities in autism differ according to autism subgroups and might be associated with domain-specific cognitive strengths. It is unknown whether structural changes support this specialization. We investigated the link between cortical folding, its maturation and cognitive strengths in autism subgroups presenting verbal or visuo-spatial peaks of abilities. Methods We measured gyrification, a structural index related to function, in 55 autistic participants with (AS-SOD, N = 27) or without (AS-NoSOD, N = 28) a speech onset delay (SOD) with similar symptom severity but respectively perceptual and verbal cognitive strengths, and 37 typical adolescents and young adults matched for intelligence and age. We calculated the local Gyrification Index (lGI) throughout an occipito-temporal region of interest and independently modeled age and peak of ability effects for each group. Results Unique gyrification features in both autistic groups were detected in localized clusters. When comparing the three groups, gyrification was found lower in AS-SOD in a fusiform visual area, whereas it was higher in AS-NoSOD in a temporal language-related region. These particular areas presented age-related gyrification differences reflecting contrasting local maturation pathways in AS. As expected, peaks of ability were found in a verbal subtest for the AS-NoSOD group and in the Block Design IQ subtest for the AS-SOD group. Conclusions Irrespective of their direction, regional gyrification differences in visual and language processing areas respectively reflect AS-SOD perceptual and AS-NoSOD language-oriented peaks. Unique regional maturation trajectories in the autistic brain may underline specific cognitive strengths, which are key variables for understanding heterogeneity in autism. Subgrouping the autism spectrum (AS) partly accounts for its heterogeneity. AS individuals with a speech onset delay (SOD) show perceptual cognitive strengths. AS individuals without a SOD show language-related cognitive strengths. AS subgroups show unique gyrification patterns in areas related to their strengths. Cortical structural maturation may be related to domain-specific strengths in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Duret
- Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal, (CETEDUM), Montréal, Canada; Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada; École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France; Brain Dynamics and Cognition, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Lyon, France & University Lyon 1, F-69000 Lyon, France
| | - F Samson
- Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal, (CETEDUM), Montréal, Canada
| | - B Pinsard
- Unité de Neuroimagerie Fonctionnelle, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Canada; Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 7371, INSERM UMR_S 1146, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - E B Barbeau
- Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal, (CETEDUM), Montréal, Canada
| | - A Boré
- Unité de Neuroimagerie Fonctionnelle, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - I Soulières
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - L Mottron
- Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal, (CETEDUM), Montréal, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
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Structural imaging of mild traumatic brain injury may not be enough: overview of functional and metabolic imaging of mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Imaging Behav 2018; 11:591-610. [PMID: 28194558 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-017-9684-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A majority of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) present as mild injury with no findings on conventional clinical imaging methods. Due to this difficulty of imaging assessment on mild TBI patients, there has been much emphasis on the development of diffusion imaging modalities such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). However, basic science research in TBI shows that many of the functional and metabolic abnormalities in TBI may be present even in the absence of structural damage. Moreover, structural damage may be present at a microscopic and molecular level that is not detectable by structural imaging modality. The use of functional and metabolic imaging modalities can provide information on pathological changes in mild TBI patients that may not be detected by structural imaging. Although there are various differences in protocols of positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetoencephalography (MEG) methods, these may be important modalities to be used in conjunction with structural imaging in the future in order to detect and understand the pathophysiology of mild TBI. In this review, studies of mild TBI patients using these modalities that detect functional and metabolic state of the brain are discussed. Each modality's advantages and disadvantages are compared, and potential future applications of using combined modalities are explored.
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12
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Picci G, Gotts SJ, Scherf KS. A theoretical rut: revisiting and critically evaluating the generalized under/over-connectivity hypothesis of autism. Dev Sci 2018; 19:524-49. [PMID: 27412228 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In 2004, two papers proposed that pervasive functional under-connectivity (Just et al., ) or a trade-off between excessive local connectivity at the cost of distal under-connectivity (Belmonte et al., ) characterizes atypical brain organization in autism. Here, we take stock of the most recent and rigorous functional and structural connectivity findings with a careful eye toward evaluating the extent to which they support these original hypotheses. Indeed, the empirical data do not support them. From rsfMRI studies in adolescents and adults, there is an emerging consensus regarding long-range functional connections indicating cortico-cortical under-connectivity, specifically involving the temporal lobes, combined with subcortical-cortical over-connectivity. In contrast, there is little to no consensus regarding local functional connectivity or findings from task-based functional connectivity studies. The structural connectivity data suggest that white matter tracts are pervasively weak, particularly in the temporal lobe. Together, these findings are revealing how deeply complex the story is regarding atypical neural network organization in autism. In other words, distance and strength of connectivity as individual factors or as interacting factors do not consistently explain the patterns of atypical neural connectivity in autism. Therefore, we make several methodological recommendations and highlight developmental considerations that will help researchers in the field cultivate new hypotheses about the nature and mechanisms of potentially aberrant functional and structural connectivity in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Picci
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, USA
| | - Stephen J Gotts
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, USA
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13
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Linke AC, Jao Keehn RJ, Pueschel EB, Fishman I, Müller RA. Children with ASD show links between aberrant sound processing, social symptoms, and atypical auditory interhemispheric and thalamocortical functional connectivity. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2018; 29:117-126. [PMID: 28223033 PMCID: PMC5664206 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communicative deficits, as well as repetitive behaviors and atypical sensitivity to sensory stimulation. Alterations in network connectivity are widely recognized, but their interplay with social and sensory symptoms remains largely unclear. Here, functional magnetic resonance imaging and diagnostic and behavioral assessments were used in a cohort of children and adolescents with ASD (n=40) and matched typically developing (TD, n=38) controls to examine the relation between auditory processing, interhemispheric and thalamocortical network connectivity, and social-behavioral symptom severity. We found that atypical processing of sounds was related to social, cognitive, and communicative impairments. Additionally, severity of sensory processing deficits and lower verbal IQ were related to reduced interhemispheric connectivity of auditory cortices in ASD. Increased connectivity between the thalamus and auditory cortex in ASD, however, was associated with reduced cognitive and behavioral symptomatology, suggesting that thalamocortical overconnectivity might reflect a compensatory mechanism in ASD. These findings provide novel evidence for links between auditory sensory deficits and impairments in social interaction and communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika C Linke
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado CT, Suite #200, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
| | - R Joanne Jao Keehn
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado CT, Suite #200, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.
| | - Ellyn B Pueschel
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado CT, Suite #200, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA
| | - Inna Fishman
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado CT, Suite #200, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado CT, Suite #200, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA
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14
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Cho NS, Jenabi M, Arevalo-Perez J, Brennan N, Young RJ, Karimi S, Holodny AI, Peck KK. Diffusion Tensor Imaging Shows Corpus Callosum Differences between High-Grade Gliomas and Metastases. J Neuroimaging 2017; 28:199-205. [PMID: 29064137 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The corpus callosum (CC) has an important role in regulating interhemispheric transfer and is thought to be instrumental in contralateral brain reorganization in patients with brain tumors, as suggested by a previous study reporting callosal differences between language dominance groups through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) characteristics. The purpose of this study was to explore the structural differences in the CC between high-grade gliomas (HGGs) and metastatic tumors (METs) using the DTI characteristics of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and axial diffusivity (AD). METHODS HGG (n = 30) and MET (n = 20) subjects with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans including DTI were retrospectively studied. The tumor and CC were segmented using the 3-dimensional T1-weighted scans to determine their volumes. The region of interest (ROI; mean volume of the ROI = 3,090 ± 464 mm3 ) of the body of the CC was overlaid onto the DTI parametric maps to obtain the averaged FA, MD, and AD values. RESULTS There were significant differences in the distributions of FA and MD values between the two patient groups (mean FA for HGG/MET = .691/.646, P < .05; mean MD for HGG/MET = .894×10-3 mm 2/ second /.992×10-3 mm2 /second, P < .01), while there was no correlation between the DTI parameters and the anatomical volumes. CONCLUSION These results suggest that there is more contralateral brain reorganization in HGG patients than MET patients and that neither the tumor nor callosal volume impact the degree of contralateral brain reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S Cho
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Mehrnaz Jenabi
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Julio Arevalo-Perez
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Nicole Brennan
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Robert J Young
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Sasan Karimi
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Andrei I Holodny
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Kyung K Peck
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
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15
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Chiodo L, Majerus S, Mottron L. Typical versus delayed speech onset influences verbal reporting of autistic interests. Mol Autism 2017; 8:35. [PMID: 28736607 PMCID: PMC5520365 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0155-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The distinction between autism and Asperger syndrome has been abandoned in the DSM-5. However, this clinical categorization largely overlaps with the presence or absence of a speech onset delay which is associated with clinical, cognitive, and neural differences. It is unknown whether these different speech development pathways and associated cognitive differences are involved in the heterogeneity of the restricted interests that characterize autistic adults. METHOD This study tested the hypothesis that speech onset delay, or conversely, early mastery of speech, orients the nature and verbal reporting of adult autistic interests. The occurrence of a priori defined descriptors for perceptual and thematic dimensions were determined, as well as the perceived function and benefits, in the response of autistic people to a semi-structured interview on their intense interests. The number of words, grammatical categories, and proportion of perceptual/thematic descriptors were computed and compared between groups by variance analyses. The participants comprised 40 autistic adults grouped according to the presence (N = 20) or absence (N = 20) of speech onset delay, as well as 20 non-autistic adults, also with intense interests, matched for non-verbal intelligence using Raven's Progressive Matrices. RESULTS The overall nature, function, and benefit of intense interests were similar across autistic subgroups, and between autistic and non-autistic groups. However, autistic participants with a history of speech onset delay used more perceptual than thematic descriptors when talking about their interests, whereas the opposite was true for autistic individuals without speech onset delay. This finding remained significant after controlling for linguistic differences observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Verbal reporting, but not the nature or positive function, of intense interests differed between adult autistic individuals depending on their speech acquisition history: oral reporting of intense interests was characterized by perceptual dominance for autistic individuals with delayed speech onset and thematic dominance for those without. This may contribute to the heterogeneous presentation observed among autistic adults of normal intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane Chiodo
- Psychology & Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, PsyNCog University of Liège, Place des Orateurs, 1, Bâtiment 33, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Steve Majerus
- Psychology & Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, PsyNCog University of Liège, Place des Orateurs, 1, Bâtiment 33, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Laurent Mottron
- Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, 7070 Blvd Perras, Montréal, Québec H1E 1A4 Canada
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16
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Moradi E, Khundrakpam B, Lewis JD, Evans AC, Tohka J. Predicting symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder based on cortical thickness measures in agglomerative data. Neuroimage 2016; 144:128-141. [PMID: 27664827 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.09.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Machine learning approaches have been widely used for the identification of neuropathology from neuroimaging data. However, these approaches require large samples and suffer from the challenges associated with multi-site, multi-protocol data. We propose a novel approach to address these challenges, and demonstrate its usefulness with the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) database. We predict symptom severity based on cortical thickness measurements from 156 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from four different sites. The proposed approach consists of two main stages: a domain adaptation stage using partial least squares regression to maximize the consistency of imaging data across sites; and a learning stage combining support vector regression for regional prediction of severity with elastic-net penalized linear regression for integrating regional predictions into a whole-brain severity prediction. The proposed method performed markedly better than simpler alternatives, better with multi-site than single-site data, and resulted in a considerably higher cross-validated correlation score than has previously been reported in the literature for multi-site data. This demonstration of the utility of the proposed approach for detecting structural brain abnormalities in ASD from the multi-site, multi-protocol ABIDE dataset indicates the potential of designing machine learning methods to meet the challenges of agglomerative data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Moradi
- Department of Signal Processing, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
| | - Budhachandra Khundrakpam
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - John D Lewis
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alan C Evans
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jussi Tohka
- Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avd. de la Universidad, 30, 28911, Leganes, Spain; Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
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17
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Margari L, Palumbi R, Campa MG, Operto FF, Buttiglione M, Craig F, Matricardi S, Verrotti A. Clinical manifestations in children and adolescents with corpus callosum abnormalities. J Neurol 2016; 263:1939-45. [PMID: 27383641 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-016-8225-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Corpus callosum abnormality (CCA) outcomes are quite unpredictable and variable, from asymptomatic forms to mild or severe neurodevelopment disorders. The aim of this study was to examine clinical outcomes in CCA patients. The study included 61 children and adolescents in whom brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed CCA, isolated or associated to other central nervous system lesions. All patients underwent anamnesis, physical and neurological examination, routine laboratory tests, electroencephalogram (EEG), and MRI scans. In all participants, the intelligence quotient (IQ) was determined. We divided the participants into two subgroups: the first subgroup included patients with an isolated CCA, and the second subgroup included patients with CCA associated with extra-callosal brain lesions (complex CCA). We found that CCA were associated with elevated frequency to intellectual disability (ID), other neurodevelopment disorders, epilepsy, and isolated EEG anomalies. Mild ID (p = 0.003) was more frequent in the isolated subgroup, while epilepsy (p = 0.036) and pre-perinatal risk factors (p = 0.023) were more frequent in the complex CCA subgroup. Although the role of the CC in the interhemispheric communication is known, neurological and neurodevelopment outcomes of CCA are extremely variable and unpredictable. The presence of extra-callosal brain anomalies is one of the major prognostic factor, and probably, they have an important impact on the clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Margari
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Italy.
| | - Roberto Palumbi
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Gloria Campa
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Italy
| | - Maura Buttiglione
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Craig
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari, Italy
| | - Sara Matricardi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy
| | - Alberto Verrotti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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18
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Mottron L, Duret P, Mueller S, Moore RD, Forgeot d'Arc B, Jacquemont S, Xiong L. Sex differences in brain plasticity: a new hypothesis for sex ratio bias in autism. Mol Autism 2015; 6:33. [PMID: 26052415 PMCID: PMC4456778 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-015-0024-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Several observations support the hypothesis that differences in synaptic and regional cerebral plasticity between the sexes account for the high ratio of males to females in autism. First, males are more susceptible than females to perturbations in genes involved in synaptic plasticity. Second, sex-related differences in non-autistic brain structure and function are observed in highly variable regions, namely, the heteromodal associative cortices, and overlap with structural particularities and enhanced activity of perceptual associative regions in autistic individuals. Finally, functional cortical reallocations following brain lesions in non-autistic adults (for example, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis) are sex-dependent. Interactions between genetic sex and hormones may therefore result in higher synaptic and consecutively regional plasticity in perceptual brain areas in males than in females. The onset of autism may largely involve mutations altering synaptic plasticity that create a plastic reaction affecting the most variable and sexually dimorphic brain regions. The sex ratio bias in autism may arise because males have a lower threshold than females for the development of this plastic reaction following a genetic or environmental event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Mottron
- Centre d'excellence en Troubles envahissants du dévelopement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), Montréal, Canada.,Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Département de Psychiatrie, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Pauline Duret
- Centre d'excellence en Troubles envahissants du dévelopement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), Montréal, Canada.,Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Département de Psychiatrie, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, CEDEX 07 France
| | - Sophia Mueller
- Institute of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals, Munich, Germany.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA.,Harvard University, Center for Brain Science, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
| | - Robert D Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.,College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - Baudouin Forgeot d'Arc
- Centre d'excellence en Troubles envahissants du dévelopement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), Montréal, Canada.,Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Département de Psychiatrie, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sebastien Jacquemont
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Centre de recherche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine, Montréal, Canada.,Service of Medical Genetics, University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1011 Switzerland
| | - Lan Xiong
- Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal, Québec, Canada
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