Diffusion tensor imaging reveals no white matter impairments among adults with autism spectrum disorder

Melissa Kirkovski; Peter G Enticott; Jerome J Maller; Susan L Rossell; Paul B Fitzgerald

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.05.003

Diffusion tensor imaging reveals no white matter impairments among adults with autism spectrum disorder

Psychiatry Res. 2015 Jul 30;233(1):64-72. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 May 14.

Authors

Melissa Kirkovski¹, Peter G Enticott², Jerome J Maller³, Susan L Rossell⁴, Paul B Fitzgerald³

Affiliations

¹ Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: melissa.kirkovski@deakin.edu.au.
² Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Brain and Psychological Science Research Centre, Faculty Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 26032898
DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.05.003

Abstract

Abnormalities within white matter (WM) have been identified in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although there is some support for greater neurobiological deficits among females with ASD, there is little research investigating sex differences in WM in ASD. We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate WM aberration in 25 adults with high-functioning ASD and 24 age-, sex- and IQ-matched controls. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to explore differences in WM in major tract bundles. The effects of biological sex were also investigated. TBSS revealed no differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), or axial diffusivity (AD) between groups. There were no effects of biological sex. We consider whether methodological differences between past studies have contributed to the highly heterogeneous findings in the literature. Finally, we suggest that, among a high-functioning sample of adults with ASD, differences in WM microstructure may not be related to clinical impairment.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Diffusion tensor imaging; Gender; Magnetic resonance imaging; Tract-based spatial statistics.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anisotropy
Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology*
Brain / physiopathology*
Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
White Matter / physiopathology*
Young Adult