Cited by 267Advanced MRI Techniques and ApplicationsAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

GABA estimation in the brains of children on the autism spectrum: measurement precision and regional cortical variation

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Gaetz, W., Bloy, L., Wang, D.J., Port, R.G., Blaskey, L., Levy, S.E., Roberts, T.P.L.·2014·NeuroImage

Abstract

(1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) and spectral editing methods, such as MEGA-PRESS, allow researchers to investigate metabolite and neurotransmitter concentrations in-vivo. Here we address the utilization of (1)H MRS for the investigation of GABA concentrations in the ASD brain, in three locations; motor, visual and auditory areas. An initial repeatability study (5 subjects, 5 repeated measures separated by ~5days on average) indicated no significant effect of reference metabolite choice on GABA quantitation (p>0.6). Coefficients of variation for GABA+/NAA, GABA+/Cr and GABA+/Glx were all of the order of 9-11%. Based on these findings, we investigated creatine-normalized GABA+ ratios (GABA+/Cr) in a group of (N=17) children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and (N=17) typically developing children (TD) for Motor, Auditory and Visual regions of interest (ROIs). Linear regression analysis of gray matter (GM) volume changes (known to occur with development) revealed a significant decrease of GM volume with Age for Motor (F(1,30)=17.92; p<0.001) and Visual F(1,16)=14.41; p<0.005 but not the Auditory ROI (p=0.55). Inspection of GABA+/Cr changes with Age revealed a marginally significant change for the Motor ROI only (F(1,30)=4.11; p=0.054). Subsequent analyses were thus conducted for each ROI separately using Age and GM volume as covariates. No group differences in GABA+/Cr were observed for the Visual ROI between TD vs. ASD children. However, the Motor and Auditory ROI showed significantly reduced GABA+/Cr in ASD (Motor p<0.05; Auditory p<0.01). The mean deficiency in GABA+/Cr from the Motor ROI was approximately 11% and Auditory ROI was approximately 22%. Our novel findings support the model of regional differences in GABA+/Cr in the ASD brain, primarily in Auditory and to a lesser extent Motor but not Visual areas.

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Authors
Gaetz, W., Bloy, L., Wang, D. J., Port, R. G., Blaskey, L., Levy, S. E., & Roberts, T. P. L.
Affiliations
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
Corresponding author
Gaetz, W.
Venue
NeuroImage
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-02
Volume
86
Pages
1-9
ISSN
1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1973419361
Cited by
267
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 2
FWCI
3.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • NeuroImage (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • NIH (R01DC008871, P30HD026979)
  • Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation (NLMFF)
  • Pennsylvania Department of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
GABA, autism spectrum disorder, children, motor cortex, auditory cortex, visual cortex, gray matter volume, age-related development, measurement precision, MEGA-PRESS, 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy
MeSH terms
Adult, Cerebral Cortex, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Female, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Sensitivity and Specificity, Tissue Distribution, Reproducibility of Results, Neurotransmitter Agents

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