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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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Chan SY, Low XZ, Ngoh ZM, Ong ZY, Kee MZL, Huang P, Kumar S, Rifkin-Graboi A, Chong YS, Chen H, Tan KH, Chan JKY, Fortier MV, Gluckman PD, Zhou JH, Meaney MJ, Tan AP. Neonatal Nucleus Accumbens Microstructure Modulates Individual Susceptibility to Preconception Maternal Stress in Relation to Externalizing Behaviors. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:S0890-8567(24)00071-6. [PMID: 38423282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.12.011] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal stress influences in utero brain development and is a modifiable risk factor for offspring psychopathologies. Reward circuitry dysfunction underlies various internalizing and externalizing psychopathologies. This study examined (1) the association between maternal stress and microstructural characteristics of the neonatal nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a major node of the reward circuitry, and (2) whether neonatal NAcc microstructure modulates individual susceptibility to maternal stress in relation to childhood behavioral problems. METHOD K-means longitudinal cluster analysis was performed to determine trajectories of maternal stress measures (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS], hair cortisol) from preconception to the third trimester. Neonatal NAcc microstructural measures (orientation density index [ODI] and intracellular volume fraction [ICVF]) were compared across trajectories. We then examined the interaction between maternal stress and neonatal NAcc microstructure on child internalizing and externalizing behaviors, assessed between ages 3 and 4 years. RESULTS Two trajectories of maternal stress magnitude ("low"/"high") were identified for both PSS (n = 287) and hair cortisol (n = 336). Right neonatal NAcc ODI (rNAcc-ODI) was significantly lower in "low" relative to "high" PSS trajectories (n = 77, p = .04). PSS at preconception had the strongest association with rNAcc-ODI (r = 0.293, p = .029). No differences in NAcc microstructure were found between hair cortisol trajectories. A significant interaction between preconception PSS and rNAcc-ODI on externalizing behavior was observed (n = 47, p = .047). CONCLUSION Our study showed that the preconception period contributes to in utero NAcc development, and that NAcc microstructure modulates individual susceptibility to preconception maternal stress in relation to externalizing problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Yu Chan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xi Zhen Low
- National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhen Ming Ngoh
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zi Yan Ong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michelle Z L Kee
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pei Huang
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Anne Rifkin-Graboi
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yap-Seng Chong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore; National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore; National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Helen Chen
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kok Hian Tan
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jerry K Y Chan
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Marielle V Fortier
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peter D Gluckman
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Michael J Meaney
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore; National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ai Peng Tan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore; National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore; National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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DiPiero M, Cordash H, Prigge MB, King CK, Morgan J, Guerrero-Gonzalez J, Adluru N, King JB, Lange N, Bigler ED, Zielinski BA, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE, Dean DC. Tract- and gray matter- based spatial statistics show white matter and gray matter microstructural differences in autistic males. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1231719. [PMID: 37829720 PMCID: PMC10565827 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1231719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition commonly studied in the context of early childhood. As ASD is a life-long condition, understanding the characteristics of brain microstructure from adolescence into adulthood and associations to clinical features is critical for improving outcomes across the lifespan. In the current work, we utilized Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and Gray Matter Based Spatial Statistics (GBSS) to examine the white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) microstructure in neurotypical (NT) and autistic males. Methods Multi-shell diffusion MRI was acquired from 78 autistic and 81 NT males (12-to-46-years) and fit to the DTI and NODDI diffusion models. TBSS and GBSS were performed to analyze WM and GM microstructure, respectively. General linear models were used to investigate group and age-related group differences. Within the ASD group, relationships between WM and GM microstructure and measures of autistic symptoms were investigated. Results All dMRI measures were significantly associated with age across WM and GM. Significant group differences were observed across WM and GM. No significant age-by-group interactions were detected. Within the ASD group, positive relationships with WM microstructure were observed with ADOS-2 Calibrated Severity Scores. Conclusion Using TBSS and GBSS our findings provide new insights into group differences of WM and GM microstructure in autistic males from adolescence into adulthood. Detection of microstructural differences across the lifespan as well as their relationship to the level of autistic symptoms will deepen to our understanding of brain-behavior relationships of ASD and may aid in the improvement of intervention options for autistic adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa DiPiero
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Hassan Cordash
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Molly B. Prigge
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Carolyn K. King
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jubel Morgan
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | | | - Nagesh Adluru
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jace B. King
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Nicholas Lange
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Erin D. Bigler
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brandon A. Zielinski
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Andrew L. Alexander
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Janet E. Lainhart
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Douglas C. Dean
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Kitamura S, Matsuoka K, Takahashi M, Yoshikawa H, Minami A, Ohnishi H, Ishida R, Miyasaka T, Tai Y, Ochi T, Tanaka T, Makinodan M. Association of adverse childhood experiences and cortical neurite density alterations with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1215429. [PMID: 37743992 PMCID: PMC10515392 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1215429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a source of significant social and daily distress in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Compared to typically developed (TD) individuals, people with ASD are at an increased risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can result in abnormal neuronal development. However, whether or how ACEs influence abnormal neural development and PTSD symptoms in ASD has not been fully elucidated. Methods Thirty-nine TD individuals and 41 individuals with ASD underwent T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), with axonal and dendritic densities assessed in terms of the orientation dispersion index and neurite density index (NDI), respectively. Voxel-based analyses were performed to explore the brain regions associated with PTSD symptoms, and the relationships between the severity of ACEs and PTSD symptoms and NODDI parameters in the extracted brain regions were examined. Results There was a significant positive association between PTSD symptom severity and NDI in the bilateral supplementary motor area; right superior frontal, left supramarginal, and right superior temporal gyrus; and right precuneus in the ASD group, but not in the TD group. ACE severity was significantly associated with NDI in the right superior frontal and left supramarginal gyrus and right precuneus in the ASD group. Moreover, NDI in the right precuneus mainly predicted the severity of PTSD symptoms in the ASD group, but not the TD group. Conclusion These results suggest that ACE-associated higher neurite density is of clinical importance in the pathophysiology of PTSD symptoms in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soichiro Kitamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging Research, National Institute Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiwamu Matsuoka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging Research, National Institute Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masato Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Yoshikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Akihiro Minami
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ohnishi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Rio Ishida
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Toshiteru Miyasaka
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Yumi Tai
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ochi
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Tanaka
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Manabu Makinodan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
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Chen N, Guo M, Li Y, Hu X, Yao Z, Hu B. Estimation of Discriminative Multimodal Brain Network Connectivity Using Message-Passing-Based Nonlinear Network Fusion. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 20:2398-2406. [PMID: 34941518 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2021.3137498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Effective estimation of brain network connectivity enables better unraveling of the extraordinary complexity interactions of brain regions and helps in auxiliary diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. Considering different modalities can provide comprehensive characterizations of brain connectivity, we propose the message-passing-based nonlinear network fusion (MP-NNF) algorithm to estimate multimodal brain network connectivity. In the proposed method, the initial functional and structural networks were computed from fMRI and DTI separately. Then, we update every unimodal network iteratively, making it more similar to the others in every iteration, and finally converge to one unified network. The estimated brain connectivities integrate complementary information from multiple modalities while preserving their original structure, by adding the strong connectivities present in unimodal brain networks and eliminating the weak connectivities. The effectiveness of the method was evaluated by applying the learned brain connectivity for the classification of major depressive disorder (MDD). Specifically, 82.18% classification accuracy was achieved even with the simple feature selection and classification pipeline, which significantly outperforms the competing methods. Exploration of brain connectivity contributed to MDD identification suggests that the proposed method not only improves the classification performance but also was sensitive to critical disease-related neuroimaging biomarkers.
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Yue X, Shen Y, Li Y, Zhang G, Li X, Wei W, Bai Y, Shang Y, Xie J, Luo Z, Wang X, Zhang X, Wang M. Regional Dynamic Neuroimaging Changes of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroscience 2023:S0306-4522(23)00182-3. [PMID: 37270101 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.04.016] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Most neuroimaging studies investigating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have focused on static brain function, but ignored the dynamic features of spontaneous brain activities in the temporal dimension. Research of dynamic brain regional activities might help to fully investigate the mechanisms of ASD patients. This study aimed to examine potential changes in the dynamic characteristics of regional neural activities in adult ASD patients and to detect whether the changes were associated with Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores. Resting-state functional MRI was obtained on 77 adult ASD patients and 76 healthy controls. The dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo) and dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (dALFF) were compared between the two groups. Correlation analyses were also performed between dReHo and dALFF in areas showing group differences and ADOS scores. In ASD group, significant differences in dReHo were observed in the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG.L). Besides, we found increased dALFF in the left middle occipital gyrus (MOG.L), left superior parietal gyrus (SPG.L), left precuneus (PCUN.L), left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.L), and right inferior frontal gyrus, orbital part (ORBinf.R). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between dALFF in the PCUN.L and the ADOS_TOTAL scores, ADOS_SOCIAL scores; the dALFF in the ITG.L, SPG.L was positively associated with ADOS_SOCIAL scores. In conclusion, adults with ASD have a wide area of dynamic regional brain function abnormalities. These suggested that dynamic regional indexes might be used as a powerful measure to help us obtain a more comprehensive understanding of neural activity in adult ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xipeng Yue
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China; Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Shen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China; Xinxiang Medical University & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou & Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaochen Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yan Bai
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yue Shang
- UCLA Health, State of California, USA
| | - Jiapei Xie
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China; Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhi Luo
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China; Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinhui Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | | | - Meiyun Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital & Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China; Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Like Intelligence Technology, Institute for Integrated Medical Science and Engineering, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
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Kitamura S, Matsuoka K, Takahashi M, Hiroaki Y, Ishida R, Kishimoto N, Yasuno F, Yasuda Y, Hashimoto R, Miyasaka T, Kichikawa K, Kishimoto T, Makinodan M. Association of adverse childhood experience-related increase in neurite density with sensory over-responsivity in autism spectrum disorder: A neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging study. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 161:316-323. [PMID: 36996724 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.03.029] [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: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) causes social and daily distress in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Compared to typically developed (TD) individuals, ASD individuals are at higher risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which induce abnormal neuronal development. However, whether or how ACEs are associated with abnormal neural development and SOR in ASD remains to be determined. Forty-five individuals with ASD and 43 TD individuals underwent T1-weighted and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging; the axonal and dendritic densities were defined as the neurite density index (NDI). Voxel-based analyses were performed to explore the brain regions associated with SOR. The relationships between severity of ACEs and SOR, and NDI in the brain regions were examined. ASD individuals showed a significantly positive association between SOR severity and NDI in the right superior temporal gyrus (STG), which was not found in TD individuals. Severity of ACEs correlated significantly with that of SOR and NDI in the right STG in ASD; ASD individuals having severe SOR showed significantly higher NDI in the right STG than those with mild SOR and TD individuals. In individuals with ASD, NDI in the right STG, but not ACEs, could predict the severity of SOR, which was not shown in TD subjects. Our findings suggest that severe ACEs are involved in excessive neurite density in the right STG in ASD. ACE-associated excessive neurite density in the right STG is critical for SOR in ASD, which may be a therapeutic target in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soichiro Kitamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan; Department of Functional Brain Imaging Research, National Institute Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiwamu Matsuoka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan; Department of Functional Brain Imaging Research, National Institute Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masato Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Yoshikawa Hiroaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Rio Ishida
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Naoko Kishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Yasuno
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Yuka Yasuda
- Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka, University, Osaka, Japan; Medical Corporation Foster, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryota Hashimoto
- Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | - Toshifumi Kishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Manabu Makinodan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan.
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8
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Martinelli D, Catesini G, Greco B, Guarnera A, Parrillo C, Maines E, Longo D, Napolitano A, De Nictolis F, Cairoli S, Liccardo D, Caviglia S, Sidorina A, Olivieri G, Siri B, Bianchi R, Spagnoletti G, Dello Strologo L, Spada M, Dionisi-Vici C. Neurologic outcome following liver transplantation for methylmalonic aciduria. J Inherit Metab Dis 2023; 46:450-465. [PMID: 36861405 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12599] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Liver and liver/kidney transplantation are increasingly used in methylmalonic aciduria, but little is known on their impact on CNS. The effect of transplantation on neurological outcome was prospectively assessed in six patients pre- and post-transplant by clinical evaluation and by measuring disease biomarkers in plasma and CSF, in combination with psychometric tests and brain MRI studies. Primary (methylmalonic- and methylcitric acid) and secondary biomarkers (glycine and glutamine) significantly improved in plasma, while they remained unchanged in CSF. Differently, biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction (lactate, alanine, and related ratios) significantly decreased in CSF. Neurocognitive evaluation documented significant higher post-transplant developmental/cognitive scores and maturation of executive functions corresponding to improvement of brain atrophy, cortical thickness, and white matter maturation indexes at MRI. Three patients presented post-transplantation reversible neurological events, which were differentiated, by means of biochemical and neuroradiological evaluations, into calcineurin inhibitor-induced neurotoxicity and metabolic stroke-like episode. Our study shows that transplantation has a beneficial impact on neurological outcome in methylmalonic aciduria. Early transplantation is recommended due to the high risk of long-term complications, high disease burden, and low quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Martinelli
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Catesini
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Benedetta Greco
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Guarnera
- Neuroradiology Unit, Imaging Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Parrillo
- Medical Physics Unit, Risk Management Enterprise, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Maines
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Pediatric Department, S.Chiara Hospital of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Daniela Longo
- Neuroradiology Unit, Imaging Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Napolitano
- Medical Physics Unit, Risk Management Enterprise, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De Nictolis
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Cairoli
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Liccardo
- Division of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Caviglia
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Sidorina
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Olivieri
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Siri
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bianchi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gionata Spagnoletti
- Unit of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Dello Strologo
- Renal Transplant Unit, Bambino Gesù, Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Spada
- Unit of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Dionisi-Vici
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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9
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DiPiero M, Rodrigues PG, Gromala A, Dean DC. Applications of advanced diffusion MRI in early brain development: a comprehensive review. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:367-392. [PMID: 36585970 PMCID: PMC9974794 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Brain development follows a protracted developmental timeline with foundational processes of neurodevelopment occurring from the third trimester of gestation into the first decade of life. Defining structural maturational patterns of early brain development is a critical step in detecting divergent developmental trajectories associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders that arise later in life. While considerable advancements have already been made in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) for pediatric research over the past three decades, the field of neurodevelopment is still in its infancy with remarkable scientific and clinical potential. This comprehensive review evaluates the application, findings, and limitations of advanced dMRI methods beyond diffusion tensor imaging, including diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD), neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and composite hindered and restricted model of diffusion (CHARMED) to quantify the rapid and dynamic changes supporting the underlying microstructural architectural foundations of the brain in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa DiPiero
- Department of Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | | | - Alyssa Gromala
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Douglas C Dean
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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10
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Singh AP, Jain VS, Yu JPJ. Diffusion radiomics for subtyping and clustering in autism spectrum disorder: A preclinical study. Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 96:116-125. [PMID: 36496097 PMCID: PMC9815912 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2022.12.003] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly prevalent, heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorder. Neuroimaging methods such as functional, structural, and diffusion MRI have been used to identify candidate imaging biomarkers for ASD, but current findings remain non-specific and likely arise from the heterogeneity present in ASD. To account for this, efforts to subtype ASD have emerged as a potential strategy for both the study of ASD and advancement of tailored behavioral therapies and therapeutics. Towards these ends, to improve upon current neuroimaging methods, we propose combining biologically sensitive neurite orientation dispersion and density index (NODDI) diffusion MR imaging with radiomics image processing to create a new methodological approach that, we hypothesize, can sensitively and specifically capture neurobiology. We demonstrate this method can sensitively distinguish differences between four genetically distinct rat models of ASD (Fmr1, Pten, Nrxn1, Disc1). Further, we demonstrate diffusion radiomic analyses hold promise for subtyping in ASD as we show unsupervised clustering of NODDI radiomic data generates clusters specific to the underlying genetic differences between the animal models. Taken together, our findings suggest the unique application of radiomic analysis on NODDI diffusion MRI may have the capacity to sensitively and specifically disambiguate the neurobiological heterogeneity present in the ASD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay P. Singh
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Vansh S. Jain
- Department of Radiology, 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.,Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Neuroscience Training Program, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Corresponding Author: John-Paul J. Yu, MD, PhD, Departments of Radiology, Psychiatry, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792,
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11
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Kraguljac NV, Guerreri M, Strickland MJ, Zhang H. Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review and a Technical Note. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:10-21. [PMID: 36712566 PMCID: PMC9874146 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
While major psychiatric disorders lack signature diagnostic neuropathologies akin to dementias, classic postmortem studies have established microstructural involvement, i.e., cellular changes in neurons and glia, as a key pathophysiological finding. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques allow mapping of cellular tissue architecture and microstructural abnormalities in vivo, which holds promise for advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying psychiatric disorders. Here, we performed a systematic review of case-control studies using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) to assess brain microstructure in psychiatric disorders and a selective review of technical considerations in NODDI. Of the 584 potentially relevant articles, 18 studies met the criteria to be included in this systematic review. We found a general theme of abnormal gray and white matter microstructure across the diagnostic spectrum. We also noted significant variability in patterns of neurite density and fiber orientation within and across diagnostic groups, as well as associations between brain microstructure and phenotypical variables. NODDI has been successfully used to detect subtle microstructure abnormalities in patients with psychiatric disorders. Given that NODDI indices may provide a more direct link to pathophysiological processes, this method may not only contribute to advancing our mechanistic understanding of disease processes, it may also be well positioned for next-generation biomarker development studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Vanessa Kraguljac
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Michele Guerreri
- Centre for Medical Image Computing and Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Molly Jordan Strickland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Hui Zhang
- Centre for Medical Image Computing and Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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12
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DiPiero MA, Surgent OJ, Travers BG, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE, Dean Iii DC. Gray matter microstructure differences in autistic males: A gray matter based spatial statistics study. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 37:103306. [PMID: 36587584 PMCID: PMC9817031 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition. Understanding the brain's microstructure and its relationship to clinical characteristics is important to advance our understanding of the neural supports underlying ASD. In the current work, we implemented Gray-Matter Based Spatial Statistics (GBSS) to examine and characterize cortical microstructure and assess differences between typically developing (TD) and autistic males. METHODS A multi-shell diffusion MRI (dMRI) protocol was acquired from 83 TD and 70 autistic males (5-to-21-years) and fit to the DTI and NODDI models. GBSS was performed for voxelwise analysis of cortical gray matter (GM). General linear models were used to investigate group differences, while age-by-group interactions assessed age-related differences between groups. Within the ASD group, relationships between cortical microstructure and measures of autistic symptoms were investigated. RESULTS All dMRI measures were significantly associated with age across the GM skeleton. Group differences and age-by-group interactions are reported. Group-wise increases in neurite density in autistic individuals were observed across frontal, temporal, and occipital regions of the right hemisphere. Significant age-by-group interactions of neurite density were observed within the middle frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, and frontal pole. Negative relationships between neurite dispersion and the ADOS-2 Calibrated Severity Scores (CSS) were observed within the ASD group. DISCUSSION Findings demonstrate group and age-related differences between groups in neurite density in ASD across right-hemisphere brain regions supporting cognitive processes. Results provide evidence of altered neurodevelopmental processes affecting GM microstructure in autistic males with implications for the role of cortical microstructure in the level of autistic symptoms. CONCLUSION Using dMRI and GBSS, our findings provide new insights into group and age-related differences of the GM microstructure in autistic males. Defining where and when these cortical GM differences arise will contribute to our understanding of brain-behavior relationships of ASD and may aid in the development and monitoring of targeted and individualized interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa A DiPiero
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Olivia J Surgent
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Brittany G Travers
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andrew L Alexander
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Janet E Lainhart
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Douglas C Dean Iii
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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13
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Relationship of neurite architecture to brain activity during task-based fMRI. Neuroimage 2022; 262:119575. [PMID: 35987489 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional MRI (fMRI) has been widely used to examine changes in neuronal activity during cognitive tasks. Commonly used measures of gray matter macrostructure (e.g., cortical thickness, surface area, volume) do not consistently appear to serve as structural correlates of brain function. In contrast, gray matter microstructure, measured using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), enables the estimation of indices of neurite density (neurite density index; NDI) and organization (orientation dispersion index; ODI) in gray matter. Our study explored the relationship among neurite architecture, BOLD (blood-oxygen-level-dependent) fMRI, and cognition, using a large sample (n = 750) of young adults of the human connectome project (HCP) and two tasks that index more cortical (working memory) and more subcortical (emotion processing) targeting of brain functions. Using NODDI, fMRI, structural MRI and task performance data, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that higher working memory- and emotion processing-evoked BOLD activity was related to lower ODI in the right DLPFC, and lower ODI and NDI values in the right and left amygdala, respectively. Common measures of brain macrostructure (i.e., DLPFC thickness/surface area and amygdala volume) did not explain any additional variance (beyond neurite architecture) in BOLD activity. A moderating effect of neurite architecture on the relationship between emotion processing task-evoked BOLD response and performance was observed. Our findings provide evidence that neuro-/social-affective cognition-related BOLD activity is partially driven by the local neurite organization and density with direct impact on emotion processing. In vivo gray matter microstructure represents a new target of investigation providing strong potential for clinical translation.
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14
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Koirala N, Perdue MV, Su X, Grigorenko EL, Landi N. Neurite density and arborization is associated with reading skill and phonological processing in children. Neuroimage 2021; 241:118426. [PMID: 34303796 PMCID: PMC8539928 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Studies exploring neuroanatomic correlates of reading have associated white matter tissue properties with reading disability and related componential skills (e.g., phonological and single-word reading skills). Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) are widely used surrogate measures of tissue microstructure with high sensitivity; however, they lack specificity for individual microstructural features. Here we investigated neurite features with higher specificity in order to explore the underlying microstructural architecture. Methods: Diffusion weighted images (DWI) and a battery of behavioral and neuropsychological assessments were obtained from 412 children (6 – 16 years of age). Neurite indices influenced by orientation and density were attained from 23 major white matter tracts. Partial correlations were calculated between neurite indices and indicators of phonological processing and single-word reading skills using age, sex, and image quality metrics as covariates. In addition, mediation analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the indirect effect of phonological processing on reading skills. Results: We observed that orientation dispersion index (ODI) and neurite density index (NDI) were negatively correlated with single-word reading and phonological processing skills in several tracts previously shown to have structural correlates with reading efficiency. We also observed a significant and substantial effect in which phonological processing mediated the relationship between neurite indices and reading skills in most tracts. Conclusions: In sum, we established that better reading and phonological processing skills are associated with greater tract coherence (lower ODI) and lower neurite density (lower NDI). We interpret these findings as evidence that reading is associated with neural architecture and its efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabin Koirala
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
| | - Meaghan V Perdue
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, United States
| | - Xing Su
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Elena L Grigorenko
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Nicole Landi
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, United States
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15
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Liloia D, Mancuso L, Uddin LQ, Costa T, Nani A, Keller R, Manuello J, Duca S, Cauda F. Gray matter abnormalities follow non-random patterns of co-alteration in autism: Meta-connectomic evidence. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 30:102583. [PMID: 33618237 PMCID: PMC7903137 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by atypical brain anatomy and connectivity. Graph-theoretical methods have mainly been applied to detect altered patterns of white matter tracts and functional brain activation in individuals with ASD. The network topology of gray matter (GM) abnormalities in ASD remains relatively unexplored. METHODS An innovative meta-connectomic analysis on voxel-based morphometry data (45 experiments, 1,786 subjects with ASD) was performed in order to investigate whether GM variations can develop in a distinct pattern of co-alteration across the brain. This pattern was then compared with normative profiles of structural and genetic co-expression maps. Graph measures of centrality and clustering were also applied to identify brain areas with the highest topological hierarchy and core sub-graph components within the co-alteration network observed in ASD. RESULTS Individuals with ASD exhibit a distinctive and topologically defined pattern of GM co-alteration that moderately follows the structural connectivity constraints. This was not observed with respect to the pattern of genetic co-expression. Hub regions of the co-alteration network were mainly left-lateralized, encompassing the precuneus, ventral anterior cingulate, and middle occipital gyrus. Regions of the default mode network appear to be central in the topology of co-alterations. CONCLUSION These findings shed new light on the pathobiology of ASD, suggesting a network-level dysfunction among spatially distributed GM regions. At the same time, this study supports pathoconnectomics as an insightful approach to better understand neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donato Liloia
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Functional Neuroimaging and Complex Neural Systems (FOCUS) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Mancuso
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Functional Neuroimaging and Complex Neural Systems (FOCUS) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Tommaso Costa
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Functional Neuroimaging and Complex Neural Systems (FOCUS) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Turin (NIT), Turin, Italy.
| | - Andrea Nani
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Functional Neuroimaging and Complex Neural Systems (FOCUS) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Roberto Keller
- Adult Autism Center, DSM Local Health Unit, ASL TO, Turin, Italy.
| | - Jordi Manuello
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Functional Neuroimaging and Complex Neural Systems (FOCUS) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Sergio Duca
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Functional Neuroimaging and Complex Neural Systems (FOCUS) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Franco Cauda
- GCS-fMRI, Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Functional Neuroimaging and Complex Neural Systems (FOCUS) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuroscience Institute of Turin (NIT), Turin, Italy.
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