Altered Cortical Thickness and Tract Integrity of the Mirror Neuron System and Associated Social Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder / Hsiang-Yun CHIEN in Autism Research, 8-6 (December 2015)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 8-6 (December 2015) . - p.694-708 Titre : Altered Cortical Thickness and Tract Integrity of the Mirror Neuron System and Associated Social Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Hsiang-Yun CHIEN, Auteur ; Susan Shur-Fen GAU, Auteur ; Yung-Chin HSU, Auteur ; Yu-Jen CHEN, Auteur ; Yu-Chun LO, Auteur ; Yao-Chia SHIH, Auteur ; Wen-Yih Isaac TSENG, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.694-708 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism spectrum disorder  mirror neuron system  diffusion spectrum imaging  cortical thickness  white matter integrity  tractography  social communication Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Previous studies using neural activity recording and neuroimaging techniques have reported functional deficits in the mirror neuron system (MNS) for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, a few studies focusing on gray and white matter structures of the MNS have yielded inconsistent results. The current study recruited adolescents and young adults with ASD (aged 15–26 years) and age-matched typically developing (TD) controls (aged 14–25 years). The cortical thickness (CT) and microstructural integrity of the tracts connecting the regions forming the classical MNS were investigated. High-resolution T1-weighted imaging and diffusion spectrum imaging were performed to quantify the CT and tract integrity, respectively. The structural covariance of the CT of the MNS regions revealed a weaker coordination of the MNS network in ASD. A strong correlation was found between the integrity of the right frontoparietal tracts and the social communication subscores measured by the Chinese version of the Social Communication Questionnaire. The results showed that there were no significant mean differences in the CTs and tract integrity between the ASD and TD groups, but revealed a moderate or even reverse age effect on the frontal MNS structures in ASD. In conclusion, aberrant structural coordination may be an underlying factor affecting the function of the MNS in ASD patients. The association between the right frontoparietal tracts and social communication performance implies a neural correlate of communication processing in the autistic brain. This study provides evidence of abnormal MNS structures and their influence on social communication in individuals with ASD. Autism Res 2015, 8: 694–708. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.1484 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=278 [article] Altered Cortical Thickness and Tract Integrity of the Mirror Neuron System and Associated Social Communication in Autism Spectrum Disorder [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Hsiang-Yun CHIEN, Auteur ; Susan Shur-Fen GAU, Auteur ; Yung-Chin HSU, Auteur ; Yu-Jen CHEN, Auteur ; Yu-Chun LO, Auteur ; Yao-Chia SHIH, Auteur ; Wen-Yih Isaac TSENG, Auteur . - p.694-708. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 8-6 (December 2015) . - p.694-708 Mots-clés : autism spectrum disorder  mirror neuron system  diffusion spectrum imaging  cortical thickness  white matter integrity  tractography  social communication Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Previous studies using neural activity recording and neuroimaging techniques have reported functional deficits in the mirror neuron system (MNS) for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, a few studies focusing on gray and white matter structures of the MNS have yielded inconsistent results. The current study recruited adolescents and young adults with ASD (aged 15–26 years) and age-matched typically developing (TD) controls (aged 14–25 years). The cortical thickness (CT) and microstructural integrity of the tracts connecting the regions forming the classical MNS were investigated. High-resolution T1-weighted imaging and diffusion spectrum imaging were performed to quantify the CT and tract integrity, respectively. The structural covariance of the CT of the MNS regions revealed a weaker coordination of the MNS network in ASD. A strong correlation was found between the integrity of the right frontoparietal tracts and the social communication subscores measured by the Chinese version of the Social Communication Questionnaire. The results showed that there were no significant mean differences in the CTs and tract integrity between the ASD and TD groups, but revealed a moderate or even reverse age effect on the frontal MNS structures in ASD. In conclusion, aberrant structural coordination may be an underlying factor affecting the function of the MNS in ASD patients. The association between the right frontoparietal tracts and social communication performance implies a neural correlate of communication processing in the autistic brain. This study provides evidence of abnormal MNS structures and their influence on social communication in individuals with ASD. Autism Res 2015, 8: 694–708. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.1484 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=278

Differences in white matter segments in autistic males, non-autistic siblings, and non-autistic participants: An intermediate phenotype approach / Yi-Ling CHIEN in Autism, 27-4 (May 2023)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 27-4 (May 2023) . - p.1036-1052 Titre : Differences in white matter segments in autistic males, non-autistic siblings, and non-autistic participants: An intermediate phenotype approach Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Yi-Ling CHIEN, Auteur ; Yu-Jen CHEN, Auteur ; Wan-Ling TSENG, Auteur ; Yung-Chin HSU, Auteur ; Chi-Shin WU, Auteur ; Wen-Yih Isaac TSENG, Auteur ; Susan Shur-Fen GAU, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.1036-1052 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism spectrum disorder,diffusion spectrum imaging,intermediate phenotype,unaffected siblings,white matter properties Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Whether altered white matter microstructural property of autistic people also exists in non-autistic siblings is uncertain. The microstructures of a neural tract may not be consistent throughout the whole track. We assessed 38 cognitive-able autistic males (aged 15.8?+?4.4?years), 39 non-autistic siblings (16.5?+?5.7?years), and 78 age- and sex-matched non-autistic comparison people (14.4?+?5.3?years) using tract-based automatic analysis of diffusion spectrum imaging and threshold-free cluster-weighted method. First, we identified segments within the right frontal aslant tract, frontostriatal tract, and thalamic radiation to precentral areas in both autistic people and non-autistic siblings that differed from those in non-autistic comparison people. Second, segments within bilateral cingulate gyri and callosal fibers connecting superior temporal lobes differed between autistic people and non-autistic comparison people but not between siblings and non-autistic comparison people. Third, segments within the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus and callosal fibers connecting precuneus showed increased generalized fractional anisotropy in non-autistic siblings. Our findings suggest microstructural properties of some potential neural segments that were similar between autistic people and their non-autistic siblings may serve as intermediate phenotypes of autism, facilitating further etiological searching for autism. Meanwhile, increased microstructural properties in unaffected siblings alone might indicate compensatory processes in the light of genetic predisposition for autism.Lay abstractWhite matter is the neural pathway that connects neurons in different brain regions. Although research has shown white matter differences between autistic and non-autistic people, little is known about the properties of white matter in non-autistic siblings. In addition, past studies often focused on the whole neural tracts; it is unclear where differences exist in specific segments of the tracts. This study identified neural segments that differed between autistic people, their non-autistic siblings, and the age- and non-autistic people. We found altered segments within the tracts connected to anterior brain regions corresponding to several higher cognitive functions (e.g. executive functions) in autistic people and non-autistic siblings. Segments connecting to regions for social cognition and Theory of Mind were altered only in autistic people, explaining a large portion of autistic traits and may serve as neuroimaging markers. Segments within the tracts associated with fewer autistic traits or connecting brain regions for diverse highly integrated functions showed compensatory increases in the microstructural properties in non-autistic siblings. Our findings suggest that differential white matter segments that are shared between autistic people and non-autistic siblings may serve as potential ''intermediate phenotypes''-biological or neuropsychological characteristics in the causal link between genetics and symptoms-of autism. These findings shed light on a promising neuroimaging model to refine the intermediate phenotype of autism which may facilitate further identification of the genetic and biological bases of autism. Future research exploring links between compensatory segments and neurocognitive strengths in non-autistic siblings may help understand brain adaptation to autism. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221125620 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=499 [article] Differences in white matter segments in autistic males, non-autistic siblings, and non-autistic participants: An intermediate phenotype approach [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Yi-Ling CHIEN, Auteur ; Yu-Jen CHEN, Auteur ; Wan-Ling TSENG, Auteur ; Yung-Chin HSU, Auteur ; Chi-Shin WU, Auteur ; Wen-Yih Isaac TSENG, Auteur ; Susan Shur-Fen GAU, Auteur . - p.1036-1052. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 27-4 (May 2023) . - p.1036-1052 Mots-clés : autism spectrum disorder,diffusion spectrum imaging,intermediate phenotype,unaffected siblings,white matter properties Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Whether altered white matter microstructural property of autistic people also exists in non-autistic siblings is uncertain. The microstructures of a neural tract may not be consistent throughout the whole track. We assessed 38 cognitive-able autistic males (aged 15.8?+?4.4?years), 39 non-autistic siblings (16.5?+?5.7?years), and 78 age- and sex-matched non-autistic comparison people (14.4?+?5.3?years) using tract-based automatic analysis of diffusion spectrum imaging and threshold-free cluster-weighted method. First, we identified segments within the right frontal aslant tract, frontostriatal tract, and thalamic radiation to precentral areas in both autistic people and non-autistic siblings that differed from those in non-autistic comparison people. Second, segments within bilateral cingulate gyri and callosal fibers connecting superior temporal lobes differed between autistic people and non-autistic comparison people but not between siblings and non-autistic comparison people. Third, segments within the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus and callosal fibers connecting precuneus showed increased generalized fractional anisotropy in non-autistic siblings. Our findings suggest microstructural properties of some potential neural segments that were similar between autistic people and their non-autistic siblings may serve as intermediate phenotypes of autism, facilitating further etiological searching for autism. Meanwhile, increased microstructural properties in unaffected siblings alone might indicate compensatory processes in the light of genetic predisposition for autism.Lay abstractWhite matter is the neural pathway that connects neurons in different brain regions. Although research has shown white matter differences between autistic and non-autistic people, little is known about the properties of white matter in non-autistic siblings. In addition, past studies often focused on the whole neural tracts; it is unclear where differences exist in specific segments of the tracts. This study identified neural segments that differed between autistic people, their non-autistic siblings, and the age- and non-autistic people. We found altered segments within the tracts connected to anterior brain regions corresponding to several higher cognitive functions (e.g. executive functions) in autistic people and non-autistic siblings. Segments connecting to regions for social cognition and Theory of Mind were altered only in autistic people, explaining a large portion of autistic traits and may serve as neuroimaging markers. Segments within the tracts associated with fewer autistic traits or connecting brain regions for diverse highly integrated functions showed compensatory increases in the microstructural properties in non-autistic siblings. Our findings suggest that differential white matter segments that are shared between autistic people and non-autistic siblings may serve as potential ''intermediate phenotypes''-biological or neuropsychological characteristics in the causal link between genetics and symptoms-of autism. These findings shed light on a promising neuroimaging model to refine the intermediate phenotype of autism which may facilitate further identification of the genetic and biological bases of autism. Future research exploring links between compensatory segments and neurocognitive strengths in non-autistic siblings may help understand brain adaptation to autism. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221125620 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=499

Reduced tract integrity of the model for social communication is a neural substrate of social communication deficits in autism spectrum disorder / Yu-Chun LO in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58-5 (May 2017)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 58-5 (May 2017) . - p.576-585 Titre : Reduced tract integrity of the model for social communication is a neural substrate of social communication deficits in autism spectrum disorder Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Yu-Chun LO, Auteur ; Yu-Jen CHEN, Auteur ; Yung-Chin HSU, Auteur ; Wen-Yih Isaac TSENG, Auteur ; Susan Shur-Fen GAU, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.576-585 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Autism spectrum disorders  communication  brain imaging Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with social communication deficits as one of the core symptoms. Recently, a five-level model for the social communication has been proposed in which white matter tracts corresponding to each level of the model are identified. Given that the model for social communication subserves social language functions, we hypothesized that the tract integrity of the model for social communication may be reduced in ASD, and the reduction may be related to social communication deficits. Methods Sixty-two right-handed boys with ASD and 55 typically developing (TD) boys received clinical evaluations, intelligence tests, the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), and MRI scans. Generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) was measured by diffusion spectrum imaging to indicate the microstructural integrity of the tracts for each level of the social communication model. Group difference in the tract integrity and its relationship with the SCQ subscales of social communication and social interaction were investigated. Results We found that the GFA values of the superior longitudinal fasciculus III (SLF III, level 1) and the frontal aslant tracts (FAT, level 2) were decreased in ASD compared to TD. Moreover, the GFA values of the SLF III and the FAT were associated with the social interaction subscale in ASD. Conclusions The tract integrity of the model for social communication is reduced in ASD, and the reduction is associated with impaired social interaction. Our results support that reduced tract integrity of the model for social communication might be a neural substrate of social communication deficits in ASD. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12641 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=306 [article] Reduced tract integrity of the model for social communication is a neural substrate of social communication deficits in autism spectrum disorder [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Yu-Chun LO, Auteur ; Yu-Jen CHEN, Auteur ; Yung-Chin HSU, Auteur ; Wen-Yih Isaac TSENG, Auteur ; Susan Shur-Fen GAU, Auteur . - p.576-585. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 58-5 (May 2017) . - p.576-585 Mots-clés : Autism spectrum disorders  communication  brain imaging Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with social communication deficits as one of the core symptoms. Recently, a five-level model for the social communication has been proposed in which white matter tracts corresponding to each level of the model are identified. Given that the model for social communication subserves social language functions, we hypothesized that the tract integrity of the model for social communication may be reduced in ASD, and the reduction may be related to social communication deficits. Methods Sixty-two right-handed boys with ASD and 55 typically developing (TD) boys received clinical evaluations, intelligence tests, the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), and MRI scans. Generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) was measured by diffusion spectrum imaging to indicate the microstructural integrity of the tracts for each level of the social communication model. Group difference in the tract integrity and its relationship with the SCQ subscales of social communication and social interaction were investigated. Results We found that the GFA values of the superior longitudinal fasciculus III (SLF III, level 1) and the frontal aslant tracts (FAT, level 2) were decreased in ASD compared to TD. Moreover, the GFA values of the SLF III and the FAT were associated with the social interaction subscale in ASD. Conclusions The tract integrity of the model for social communication is reduced in ASD, and the reduction is associated with impaired social interaction. Our results support that reduced tract integrity of the model for social communication might be a neural substrate of social communication deficits in ASD. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12641 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=306

---

1 (1 - 3 / 3)