Convergent Findings of Altered Functional and Structural Brain Connectivity in Individuals with High Functioning Autism: A Multimodal MRI Study

Article Article scientifique Article Convergent Findings of Altered Functional and Structural Brain Connectivity in Individuals with High Functioning Autism: A Multimodal MRI Study eng 2013 author Mueller Sophia 686674 author Keeser Daniel author Samson Andrea Christiane 834953 author Kirsch Valerie author Blautzik Janusch author Grothe Michel author Erat Okan author Hegenloh Michael author Coates Ute author Reiser Maximilian F. author Hennig-Fast Kristina author Meindl Thomas e67329 10.1371/journal.pone.0067329 1932-6203 Brain tissue changes in autism spectrum disorders seem to be rather subtle and widespread than anatomically distinct. Therefore a multimodal, whole brain imaging technique appears to be an appropriate approach to investigate whether alterations in white and gray matter integrity relate to consistent changes in functional resting state connectivity in individuals with high functioning autism (HFA). We applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) to assess differences in brain structure and function between 12 individuals with HFA (mean age 35.5, SD 11.4, 9 male) and 12 healthy controls (mean age 33.3, SD 9.0, 8 male). Psychological measures of empathy and emotionality were obtained and correlated with the most significant DTI, VBM and fcMRI findings. We found three regions of convergent structural and functional differences between HFA participants and controls. The right temporo-parietal junction area and the left frontal lobe showed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) values along with decreased functional connectivity and a trend towards decreased gray matter volume. The bilateral superior temporal gyrus displayed significantly decreased functional connectivity that was accompanied by the strongest trend of gray matter volume decrease in the temporal lobe of HFA individuals. FA decrease in the right temporo-parietal region was correlated with psychological measurements of decreased emotionality. In conclusion, our results indicate common sites of structural and functional alterations in higher order association cortex areas and may therefore provide multimodal imaging support to the long-standing hypothesis of autism as a disorder of impaired higher-order multisensory integration. Dewey 128.37 15 Centre interfacultaire en sciences affectives 0D8 false 1241 Affective sciences PLOS ONE 8 6 639a9bb6-c7df-4139-8544-60c5833c63e7 Article (Published version) Public journal.pone.0067329.PDF 523893 application/pdf CC BY openAccess Centres et instituts / Centre interfacultaire en sciences affectives

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Convergent Findings of Altered Functional and Structural Brain Connectivity in Individuals with High Functioning Autism: A Multimodal MRI Study	PLOS ONE			2013	472	336

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Mueller, Sophia