Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism
Abstract Background The corpus callosum is implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, specific structural deficits and underlying mechanisms are yet to be well defined. Methods We employed diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics to characterize white matter prop...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Molecular Autism |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13229-018-0245-1 |
| _version_ | 1818952513696563200 |
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| author | Yu Veronica Sui Jeffrey Donaldson Laura Miles James S. Babb Francisco Xavier Castellanos Mariana Lazar |
| author_facet | Yu Veronica Sui Jeffrey Donaldson Laura Miles James S. Babb Francisco Xavier Castellanos Mariana Lazar |
| author_sort | Yu Veronica Sui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The corpus callosum is implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, specific structural deficits and underlying mechanisms are yet to be well defined. Methods We employed diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics to characterize white matter properties within five discrete segments of the corpus callosum in 17 typically developing (TD) adults and 16 age-matched participants with ASD without co-occurring intellectual disability (ID). The DKI metrics included axonal water fraction (f axon) and intra-axonal diffusivity (D axon), which reflect axonal density and caliber, and extra-axonal radial (RDextra) and axial (ADextra) diffusivities, which reflect myelination and microstructural organization of the extracellular space. The relationships between DKI metrics and processing speed, a cognitive feature known to be impaired in ASD, were also examined. Results ASD group had significantly decreased callosal f axon and D axon (p = .01 and p = .045), particularly in the midbody, isthmus, and splenium. Regression analysis showed that variation in DKI metrics, primarily in the mid and posterior callosal regions explained up to 70.7% of the variance in processing speed scores for TD (p = .001) but not for ASD (p > .05). Conclusion Decreased DKI metrics suggested that ASD may be associated with axonal deficits such as reduced axonal caliber and density in the corpus callosum, especially in the mid and posterior callosal areas. These data suggest that impaired interhemispheric connectivity may contribute to decreased processing speed in ASD participants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:51:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06fd420e974148aca469653a2d9025da |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2040-2392 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:51:35Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Autism |
| spelling | doaj.art-06fd420e974148aca469653a2d9025da2022-12-21T19:44:35ZengBMCMolecular Autism2040-23922018-12-019111210.1186/s13229-018-0245-1Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autismYu Veronica Sui0Jeffrey Donaldson1Laura Miles2James S. Babb3Francisco Xavier Castellanos4Mariana Lazar5Department of Radiology, New York University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology, New York University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology, New York University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology, New York University School of MedicineDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU LangoneDepartment of Radiology, New York University School of MedicineAbstract Background The corpus callosum is implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, specific structural deficits and underlying mechanisms are yet to be well defined. Methods We employed diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics to characterize white matter properties within five discrete segments of the corpus callosum in 17 typically developing (TD) adults and 16 age-matched participants with ASD without co-occurring intellectual disability (ID). The DKI metrics included axonal water fraction (f axon) and intra-axonal diffusivity (D axon), which reflect axonal density and caliber, and extra-axonal radial (RDextra) and axial (ADextra) diffusivities, which reflect myelination and microstructural organization of the extracellular space. The relationships between DKI metrics and processing speed, a cognitive feature known to be impaired in ASD, were also examined. Results ASD group had significantly decreased callosal f axon and D axon (p = .01 and p = .045), particularly in the midbody, isthmus, and splenium. Regression analysis showed that variation in DKI metrics, primarily in the mid and posterior callosal regions explained up to 70.7% of the variance in processing speed scores for TD (p = .001) but not for ASD (p > .05). Conclusion Decreased DKI metrics suggested that ASD may be associated with axonal deficits such as reduced axonal caliber and density in the corpus callosum, especially in the mid and posterior callosal areas. These data suggest that impaired interhemispheric connectivity may contribute to decreased processing speed in ASD participants.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13229-018-0245-1AutismCorpus callosumDiffusional kurtosis imagingProcessing speedInterhemispheric connectivity |
| spellingShingle | Yu Veronica Sui Jeffrey Donaldson Laura Miles James S. Babb Francisco Xavier Castellanos Mariana Lazar Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism Molecular Autism Autism Corpus callosum Diffusional kurtosis imaging Processing speed Interhemispheric connectivity |
| title | Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism |
| title_full | Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism |
| title_fullStr | Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism |
| title_short | Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism |
| title_sort | diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism |
| topic | Autism Corpus callosum Diffusional kurtosis imaging Processing speed Interhemispheric connectivity |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13229-018-0245-1 |
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