Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study
Background: The functional mechanism behind autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not clear, but it is related to a brain connectivity disorder. Previous studies have found that functional brain connectivity of ASD is linked to both increased connections and weakened connections, and the inconsistencies...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-06-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00278/full |
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author | Bin Qin Longlun Wang Yun Zhang Jinhua Cai Jie Chen Tingyu Li |
author_facet | Bin Qin Longlun Wang Yun Zhang Jinhua Cai Jie Chen Tingyu Li |
author_sort | Bin Qin |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Background: The functional mechanism behind autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not clear, but it is related to a brain connectivity disorder. Previous studies have found that functional brain connectivity of ASD is linked to both increased connections and weakened connections, and the inconsistencies in functional brain connectivity may be related to age. The functional connectivity in adolescents and adults with ASD is generally less than in age-matched controls; functional connectivity in younger children with the disorder appears to be higher. As the basis of the functional network, the structural network is less studied. This study intends to further study the pathogenesis of ASD by analyzing the white matter network of ASD preschool children.Materials and Methods: In this study, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was used to scan preschool children (aged 2–6 years, 39 children with ASD, 19 children as controls), and graph theory was used for analysis.Result: Enhanced topological network efficiency was found in the preschool children with ASD. A higher nodal efficiency was found in the left precuneus, thalamus, and bilateral superior parietal cortex, and the nodal efficiency of the left precuneus was positively associated with the severity of ASD.Conclusion: Our research shows the white matter network efficiency of preschoolers with ASD. It supports the theory of excessive early brain growth in ASD, and it shows left brain lateralization. It opens the way for new research perspectives of children with ASD. |
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issn | 1664-0640 |
language | English |
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publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
spelling | doaj.art-95cea7089a584aaf83baf4b43af4caf72022-12-21T18:53:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402018-06-01910.3389/fpsyt.2018.00278365939Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging StudyBin Qin0Longlun Wang1Yun Zhang2Jinhua Cai3Jie Chen4Tingyu Li5Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaBackground: The functional mechanism behind autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not clear, but it is related to a brain connectivity disorder. Previous studies have found that functional brain connectivity of ASD is linked to both increased connections and weakened connections, and the inconsistencies in functional brain connectivity may be related to age. The functional connectivity in adolescents and adults with ASD is generally less than in age-matched controls; functional connectivity in younger children with the disorder appears to be higher. As the basis of the functional network, the structural network is less studied. This study intends to further study the pathogenesis of ASD by analyzing the white matter network of ASD preschool children.Materials and Methods: In this study, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was used to scan preschool children (aged 2–6 years, 39 children with ASD, 19 children as controls), and graph theory was used for analysis.Result: Enhanced topological network efficiency was found in the preschool children with ASD. A higher nodal efficiency was found in the left precuneus, thalamus, and bilateral superior parietal cortex, and the nodal efficiency of the left precuneus was positively associated with the severity of ASD.Conclusion: Our research shows the white matter network efficiency of preschoolers with ASD. It supports the theory of excessive early brain growth in ASD, and it shows left brain lateralization. It opens the way for new research perspectives of children with ASD.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00278/fullautism spectrum disorder (ASD)DTIgraph theorynetwork efficiencypreschool children |
spellingShingle | Bin Qin Longlun Wang Yun Zhang Jinhua Cai Jie Chen Tingyu Li Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study Frontiers in Psychiatry autism spectrum disorder (ASD) DTI graph theory network efficiency preschool children |
title | Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study |
title_full | Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study |
title_fullStr | Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study |
title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study |
title_short | Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study |
title_sort | enhanced topological network efficiency in preschool autism spectrum disorder a diffusion tensor imaging study |
topic | autism spectrum disorder (ASD) DTI graph theory network efficiency preschool children |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00278/full |
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