Cited by 58Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersChild Nutrition and Feeding Issues

Brainstem volumetric alterations in children with autism

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Jou, R. J., Minshew, N. J., Melhem, N. M., Keshavan, M. S., Hardan, A. Y.·2009·Psychological Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have examined brainstem volume in autism, results have been mixed and no investigation has specifically measured gray- and white-matter structures. The aim of this investigation was to assess gray- and white-matter volumes in children with autism. METHOD: Subjects included 22 right-handed, non-mentally retarded boys with autism and 22 gender- and age-matched controls. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained using a 1.5-T scanner and volumetric measurements were performed using the BRAINS2 software package. Gray- and white-matter volumes were measured using a semi-automated segmentation process. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age and total brain volume (TBV) between the two groups but full-scale IQ was higher in controls. A decrease in brainstem gray-matter volume was observed in the autism group before and after controlling for TBV. No significant differences were observed in white-matter volume. A significant relationship was observed between brainstem gray-matter volume and oral sensory sensitivity as measured by the Sensory Profile Questionnaire (SPQ). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study are suggestive of brainstem abnormalities in autism involving gray-matter structures with evidence supporting the existence of a relationship between these alterations and sensory deficits. These results are consistent with previous investigations and support the existence of disturbances in brainstem circuitry thought to be implicated in the sensory dysfunction observed in autism.

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  • Evidence from neuropathology and electrophysiology implicates the brainstem in ASD.

    “Evidence from neuropathology (96) and electrophysiology (97) also implicate the brainstem in ASD; morphometric studies of individuals with ASD have revealed reduced grey and white matter in the pons, and brainstem more broadly (90;e.g., 98).”

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  1. Talairach J Tournoux P 1988 Co-Planar Stereotaxic Atlas of the Human Brain: Three- Dimensional Proportional System Thieme Medical New York

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Authors
Jou, R. J., Minshew, N. J., Melhem, N. M., Keshavan, M. S., & Hardan, A. Y.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Hardan, A. Y.
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Published
2008-09-24
Volume
39
Issue
8
Pages
1347-1354
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
OpenAlex
W2163402963
Cited by
58
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 7
FWCI
2.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH064027, MH-64027)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P50HD055748)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, brainstem, gray matter volume, white matter volume, sensory sensitivity, children
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Brain Stem, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Dominance, Cerebral, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Nerve Net, Organ Size, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reference Values, Software, Statistics as Topic, Wechsler Scales

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