Cited by 187Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersSchizophrenia research and treatment

Morphological alterations in the thalamus, striatum, and pallidum in autism spectrum disorder

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Schuetze, Manuela, Park, Min Tae M, Cho, Ivy YK, MacMaster, Frank P, Chakravarty, M Mallar, Bray, Signe L·2016·Neuropsychopharmacology

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with cognitive, motor, and emotional symptoms. The thalamus and basal ganglia form circuits with the cortex supporting all three of these behavioral domains. Abnormalities in the structure of subcortical regions may suggest atypical development of these networks, with implications for understanding the neural basis of ASD symptoms. Findings from previous volumetric studies have been inconsistent. Here, using advanced surface-based methodology, we investigated localized differences in shape and surface area in the basal ganglia and thalamus in ASD, using T1-weighted anatomical images from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (373 male participants aged 7-35 years with ASD and 384 typically developing). We modeled effects of diagnosis, age, and their interaction on volume, shape, and surface area. In participants with ASD, we found expanded surface area in the right posterior thalamus corresponding to the pulvinar nucleus, and a more concave shape in the left mediodorsal nucleus. The shape of both caudal putamen and pallidum showed a relatively steeper increase in concavity with age in ASD. Within ASD participants, restricted, repetitive behaviors were positively associated with surface area in bilateral globus pallidus. We found no differences in overall volume, suggesting that surface-based approaches have greater sensitivity to detect localized differences in subcortical structure. This work adds to a growing body of literature implicating corticobasal ganglia-thalamic circuits in the pathophysiology of ASD. These circuits subserve a range of cognitive, emotional, and motor functions, and may have a broad role in the complex symptom profile in ASD.

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  1. Lord C, Rutter M, DiLavore P, Risi S Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-WPS Edition. Western Psychological Services: Los Angeles, CA; (1999).

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Authors
Schuetze, M., Park, M. T. M., Cho, I. Y., MacMaster, F. P., Chakravarty, M. M., & Bray, S. L.
Affiliations
  • University of Calgary (CA)
  • Western University (CA)
  • Alberta Health Services (CA)
  • Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA)
Corresponding author
Schuetze, Manuela
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2016-04-29
Volume
41
Issue
11
Pages
2627-2637
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
OpenAlex
W2343875542
Cited by
186
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 4
FWCI
9.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
  • Fondation Brain Canada
  • Children's Hospital Foundation
  • Sinneave Family Foundation
  • Weston Brain Institute
  • Alzheimer's Society
  • Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation
  • Hospital for Sick Children
  • Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health
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 › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, thalamus, basal ganglia, globus pallidus, pulvinar, mediodorsal nucleus, caudate-putamen, surface area, brain shape, restricted and repetitive behaviors, neurodevelopmental disorders
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Corpus Striatum, Female, Globus Pallidus, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Functional Laterality, Male, Middle Aged, Thalamus, Young Adult, Neuroimaging

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