Cited by 36Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchFunctional Brain Connectivity StudiesGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Abnormalities in fronto-striatal connectivity within language networks relate to differences in grey-matter heterogeneity in Asperger syndrome

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Radulescu, Eugenia, Minati, Ludovico, Ganeshan, Balaji, Harrison, Neil A., Gray, Marcus A., Beacher, Felix D.C.C., Chatwin, Chris, Young, Rupert C.D. +1 more·2013·NeuroImage: Clinical

Abstract

Asperger syndrome (AS) is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characterised by qualitative impairment in the development of emotional and social skills with relative preservation of general intellectual abilities, including verbal language. People with AS may nevertheless show atypical language, including rate and frequency of speech production. We previously observed that abnormalities in grey matter homogeneity (measured with texture analysis of structural MR images) in AS individuals when compared with controls are also correlated with the volume of caudate nucleus. Here, we tested a prediction that these distributed abnormalities in grey matter compromise the functional integrity of brain networks supporting verbal communication skills. We therefore measured the functional connectivity between caudate nucleus and cortex during a functional neuroimaging study of language generation (verbal fluency), applying psycho-physiological interaction (PPI) methods to test specifically for differences attributable to grey matter heterogeneity in AS participants. Furthermore, we used dynamic causal modelling (DCM) to characterise the causal directionality of these differences in interregional connectivity during word production. Our results revealed a diagnosis-dependent influence of grey matter heterogeneity on the functional connectivity of the caudate nuclei with right insula/inferior frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate, respectively with the left superior frontal gyrus and right precuneus. Moreover, causal modelling of interactions between inferior frontal gyri, caudate and precuneus, revealed a reliance on bottom-up (stimulus-driven) connections in AS participants that contrasted with a dominance of top-down (cognitive control) connections from prefrontal cortex observed in control participants. These results provide detailed support for previously hypothesised central disconnectivity in ASD and specify discrete brain network targets for diagnosis and therapy in ASD.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.nicl.2013.05.010

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  • In adults with ASD during a verbal fluency task, DCM found stronger reliance on bottom-up connections compared to dominance of top-down connections in the control group.

    “Radulescu et al. (135) examined connectivity during a verbal fluency task and found that adults with ASD relied more strongly on bottom-up connections, compared to dominance of top-down connections in the control group.”

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Authors
Radulescu, E., Minati, L., Ganeshan, B., Harrison, N. A., Gray, M. A., Beacher, F. D. C. C., Chatwin, C., Young, R. C. D., & Critchley, H. D.
Affiliations
  • Brighton and Sussex Medical School (GB)
  • University of Sussex (GB)
Corresponding author
Radulescu, Eugenia
Venue
NeuroImage: Clinical
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013
Volume
2
Pages
716-726
ISSN
2213-1582 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1977880792
Cited by
36
References
87
Citations by year
2024: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1
FWCI
1.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • NeuroImage Clinical (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Sussex Research Online (University of Sussex) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (07433)
  • Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
Asperger syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, texture analysis, caudate nucleus, frontostriatal connectivity, language network, verbal fluency, inferior frontal gyrus, precuneus, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, top-down cognitive control, dynamic causal modeling

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