Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Review

Overview

Journal Autism Res

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2012 Jul 13

PMID 22786754

Citations 230

Authors

Brittany G Travers

Nagesh Adluru

Chad Ennis

Do P M Tromp

Dan Destiche

Sam Doran

Erin D Bigler

Nicholas Lange

Janet E Lainhart

Andrew L Alexander

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

White matter tracts of the brain allow neurons and neuronal networks to communicate and function with high efficiency. The aim of this review is to briefly introduce diffusion tensor imaging methods that examine white matter tracts and then to give an overview of the studies that have investigated white matter integrity in the brains of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). From the 48 studies we reviewed, persons with ASD tended to have decreased fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity in white matter tracts spanning many regions of the brain but most consistently in regions such as the corpus callosum, cingulum, and aspects of the temporal lobe. This decrease in fractional anisotropy was often accompanied by increased radial diffusivity. Additionally, the review suggests possible atypical lateralization in some white matter tracts of the brain and a possible atypical developmental trajectory of white matter microstructure in persons with ASD. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.

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