Cited by 178Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

White matter fractional anisotrophy differences and correlates of diagnostic symptoms in autism

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Cheung, C., Chua, S.E., Cheung, V., Khong, P.L., Tai, K.S., Wong, T.K.W., Ho, T.P., McAlonan, G.M.·2009·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Abstract

Background: Individuals with autism have impairments in 3 domains: communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviours. Our previous work suggested early structural and connectivity abnormalities in prefrontal‐striato‐temporal‐cerebellar networks but it is not clear how these are linked to diagnostic indices. Method: Children with autism (IQ > 70) aged 6 to 14 years old and matched typically developing controls were studied using diffusion tensor imaging. Voxel‐based methods were used to compare fractional anisotrophy (FA) measures in each group and to correlate FA measures in the autism group with the diagnostic phenotype described by the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI‐R) algorithm for ICD‐10. Results: After controlling for the effects of age and white matter volume, we found that FA in the autism group was significantly lower than controls in bilateral prefrontal and temporal regions, especially in the right ventral temporal lobe adjacent to the fusiform gyrus. FA was greater in autism in the right inferior frontal gyrus and left occipital lobe. We observed a tight correlation between lower FA and higher ADI‐R diagnostic algorithm scores across white matter tracts extending from these focal regions of group difference. Communication and social reciprocity impairments correlated with lower FA throughout fronto‐striato‐temporal pathways. Repetitive behaviours correlated with white matter indices in more posterior brain pathways, including splenium of the corpus callosum and cerebellum. Conclusions: Our data support the position that diagnostic symptoms of autism are associated with a core disruption of white matter development.

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  • In children aged 6 to 14 years, abnormalities in cerebellar white matter are associated with repetitive behaviors.

    “In children aged 6–14 years, cerebellar white matter abnormalities were associated with repetitive behaviors [270];”

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  1. Styner, M., Charles, H.C., Park, J., Lieberman, J., & Gerig, G. (2002). Multi-site validation of image anal- ysis methods -assessing intra and inter-site variabil- ity. Proceedings SPIE-MI, 4684, 278-286.

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Authors
Cheung, C., Chua, S. E., Cheung, V., Khong, P. L., Tai, K. S., Wong, T. K. W., Ho, T. P., & McAlonan, G. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Hong Kong (HK)
  • Hospital Authority (HK)
Corresponding author
  • Cheung, C.
  • Cheung, V.
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-08-24
Volume
50
Issue
9
Pages
1102-1112
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
OpenAlex
W2141186539
Cited by
178
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 26
FWCI
9.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of Hong Kong
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, fractional anisotropy, white matter development, diffusion tensor imaging, fusiform gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, occipital lobe, communication disorders, social reciprocity, repetitive behavior, ADI-R, corpus callosum, cerebellum, children
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Autistic Disorder, Basal Ganglia, Brain, Child, Corpus Callosum, Female, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Male, Parietal Lobe, Stereotyped Behavior, Temporal Lobe, Anisotropy, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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