Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders
Previous studies have confirmed the sex difference of gray matter asymmetry in typically developing controls and the abnormal gray matter asymmetry in autism spectrum disorders. However, whether and how sex differences of gray matter asymmetry exist in autism spectrum disorders remains studied. T...
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| Format: | Article |
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IMR Press
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://jin.imrpress.com/fileup/1757-448X/PDF/1625014730257-1187136306.pdf |
| _version_ | 1817984654729281536 |
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| author | Cuicui Li Mingmin Ning Pinyan Fang Haibo Xu |
| author_facet | Cuicui Li Mingmin Ning Pinyan Fang Haibo Xu |
| author_sort | Cuicui Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous studies have confirmed the sex difference of gray matter asymmetry in
typically developing controls and the abnormal gray matter asymmetry in autism
spectrum disorders. However, whether and how sex differences of gray matter
asymmetry exist in autism spectrum disorders remains studied. This paper analyzes
the above issues and explores correlations between gray matter asymmetry and
autistic symptoms. Data from 72 children (36 males and 36 females) with autism
spectrum disorders and 72 typically developing-controls (36 males and 36 females)
between 8 and 14 years were included and obtained from the autism brain imaging
data exchange repository (autism brain imaging data exchange I and autism brain
imaging data exchange II). The voxel-based morphometry approach was used to
assess gray matter asymmetry in T1-weighted brain data, and gray matter asymmetry
was quantified as asymmetry index. A 2 × 2 analysis of covariance was
used to identify asymmetry index differences among the four groups. Pearson correlation
analysis was performed for asymmetry index values extracted from the clusters
with significant differences between the four groups and autistic symptoms
(social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive
behaviors) measured by the revised autism diagnostic interview scale. Results
showed that specific brain regions showed significant main effects for
diagnosis in which autism spectrum disorders
patients had more leftward asymmetry than typically developing-controls for the
parahippocampal gyrus and the postcentral gyrus; specific brain regions showed
significant main effects for sex in which females showed more rightward asymmetry
for the middle temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, angular gyrus, and
postcentral gyrus and minor rightward asymmetry for the superior frontal gyrus
than males; significant diagnosis × sex interaction
effects were identified in the angular gyrus and middle occipital gyrus. Pearson
correlation analysis showed that males with autism spectrum disorders had a
positive association between the asymmetry index value in the middle occipital
gyrus and more significant verbal impairment measured by the revised autism
diagnostic interview (r = 0.387, p = 0.026). The asymmetry
index value in the parahippocampal gyrus was positively associated with more
severe social impairment in females with autism spectrum disorders (r =
0.422, p = 0.020). We identified that the sex difference of gray matter
asymmetry in children with autism spectrum disorders is qualitative rather than
quantitative, which is relatively novel. Our findings provide the theoretical
basis for conducting separate studies and using sex-specific diagnostic methods
and treatments for males and females children with autism spectrum disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:47:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ccee4b4b115547859e27c97a01028f0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1757-448X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:47:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | IMR Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-ccee4b4b115547859e27c97a01028f0b2022-12-22T02:24:15ZengIMR PressJournal of Integrative Neuroscience1757-448X2021-06-0120233134010.31083/j.jin20020321625014730257-1187136306Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disordersCuicui Li0Mingmin Ning1Pinyan Fang2Haibo Xu3Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430000 Wuhan, Hubei Province, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430000 Wuhan, Hubei Province, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430000 Wuhan, Hubei Province, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430000 Wuhan, Hubei Province, ChinaPrevious studies have confirmed the sex difference of gray matter asymmetry in typically developing controls and the abnormal gray matter asymmetry in autism spectrum disorders. However, whether and how sex differences of gray matter asymmetry exist in autism spectrum disorders remains studied. This paper analyzes the above issues and explores correlations between gray matter asymmetry and autistic symptoms. Data from 72 children (36 males and 36 females) with autism spectrum disorders and 72 typically developing-controls (36 males and 36 females) between 8 and 14 years were included and obtained from the autism brain imaging data exchange repository (autism brain imaging data exchange I and autism brain imaging data exchange II). The voxel-based morphometry approach was used to assess gray matter asymmetry in T1-weighted brain data, and gray matter asymmetry was quantified as asymmetry index. A 2 × 2 analysis of covariance was used to identify asymmetry index differences among the four groups. Pearson correlation analysis was performed for asymmetry index values extracted from the clusters with significant differences between the four groups and autistic symptoms (social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive behaviors) measured by the revised autism diagnostic interview scale. Results showed that specific brain regions showed significant main effects for diagnosis in which autism spectrum disorders patients had more leftward asymmetry than typically developing-controls for the parahippocampal gyrus and the postcentral gyrus; specific brain regions showed significant main effects for sex in which females showed more rightward asymmetry for the middle temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, angular gyrus, and postcentral gyrus and minor rightward asymmetry for the superior frontal gyrus than males; significant diagnosis × sex interaction effects were identified in the angular gyrus and middle occipital gyrus. Pearson correlation analysis showed that males with autism spectrum disorders had a positive association between the asymmetry index value in the middle occipital gyrus and more significant verbal impairment measured by the revised autism diagnostic interview (r = 0.387, p = 0.026). The asymmetry index value in the parahippocampal gyrus was positively associated with more severe social impairment in females with autism spectrum disorders (r = 0.422, p = 0.020). We identified that the sex difference of gray matter asymmetry in children with autism spectrum disorders is qualitative rather than quantitative, which is relatively novel. Our findings provide the theoretical basis for conducting separate studies and using sex-specific diagnostic methods and treatments for males and females children with autism spectrum disorders.https://jin.imrpress.com/fileup/1757-448X/PDF/1625014730257-1187136306.pdfautism spectrum disordersgray matter asymmetryasymmetry indexsex factorsbrain imaging |
| spellingShingle | Cuicui Li Mingmin Ning Pinyan Fang Haibo Xu Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders Journal of Integrative Neuroscience autism spectrum disorders gray matter asymmetry asymmetry index sex factors brain imaging |
| title | Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders |
| title_full | Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders |
| title_fullStr | Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders |
| title_short | Sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders |
| title_sort | sex differences in structural brain asymmetry of children with autism spectrum disorders |
| topic | autism spectrum disorders gray matter asymmetry asymmetry index sex factors brain imaging |
| url | https://jin.imrpress.com/fileup/1757-448X/PDF/1625014730257-1187136306.pdf |
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