Local structural connectivity is associated with social cognition in autism spectrum disorder.
Brain. 2018-11-13; 141(12): 3472-3481
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy275
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https://www.bordeaux-neurocampus.fr/12499
1. Brain. 2018 Dec 1;141(12):3472-3481. doi: 10.1093/brain/awy275.
Local structural connectivity is associated with social cognition in autism
spectrum disorder.
d’Albis MA(1)(2)(3)(4), Guevara P(5), Guevara M(5)(6), Laidi C(1)(2)(3)(4),
Boisgontier J(1)(2)(3), Sarrazin S(1)(2)(3)(4), Duclap D(6), Delorme R(3)(7)(8),
Bolognani F(9), Czech C(9), Bouquet C(9), Ly-Le Moal M(10), Holiga S(9), Amestoy
A(11), Scheid I(2)(3)(4), Gaman A(2)(3)(4), Leboyer M(2)(3)(4)(12), Poupon C(6),
Mangin JF(6), Houenou J(1)(2)(3)(4)(12).
Author information:
(1)UNIACT, Psychiatry Team, Neurospin, Atomic Energy Commission, Gif-Sur-Yvette,
France.
(2)INSERM, U955, Translational Psychiatry Team, Créteil, France.
(3)Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France.
(4)Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Department of Psychiatry,
Mondor University Hospital, DHU PePsy, Créteil, France.
(5)Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
(6)Neurospin, CEA, Paris Saclay University, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
(7)Service de psychiatrie de l’enfant et de l’adolescent, Assistance
Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France.
(8)Institut Pasteur, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Paris, France.
(9)Neuroscience, Ophtalmology, and Rare Disease (NORD), Roche Pharma Research
and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F.Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.
Basel, Switzerland.
(10)Institut Roche, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
(11)Charles Perrens Hospital, Autism Expert Center, Bordeaux, France.
(12)Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est Créteil, Créteil, France.
Comment in
Brain. 2018 Dec 1;141(12):3287-3289. doi: 10.1093/brain/awy293.
The current theory implying local, short-range overconnectivity in autism
spectrum disorder, contrasting with long-range underconnectivity, is based on
heterogeneous results, on limited data involving functional connectivity
studies, on heterogeneous paediatric populations and non-specific methodologies.
In this work, we studied short-distance structural connectivity in a homogeneous
population of males with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and used a
novel methodology specifically suited for assessing U-shaped short-distance
tracts, including a recently developed tractography-based atlas of the
superficial white matter fibres. We acquired diffusion-weighted MRI for 58 males
(27 subjects with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and 31 control
subjects) and extracted the mean generalized fractional anisotropy of 63
short-distance tracts. Neuropsychological evaluation included Wechsler Adult
Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS-IV), Communication Checklist-Adult, Empathy
Quotient, Social Responsiveness Scale and Behaviour Rating Inventory of
Executive Function-Adult (BRIEF-A). In contradiction with the models of
short-range over-connectivity in autism spectrum disorder, we found that
patients with autism spectrum disorder had a significantly decreased anatomical
connectivity in a component comprising 13 short tracts compared to controls.
Specific short-tract atypicalities in temporal lobe and insula were
significantly associated with clinical manifestations of autism spectrum
disorder such as social awareness, language structure, pragmatic skills and
empathy, emphasizing their importance in social dysfunction. Short-range
decreased anatomical connectivity may thus be an important substrate of social
deficits in autism spectrum disorder, in contrast with current models.
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy275
PMID: 30423029 [Indexed for MEDLINE]