Abstract
The thalamus is a key sensorimotor relay area that is implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unknown how the thalamus and white-matter structures that contain thalamo-cortical fiber connections (e.g., the internal capsule) develop from childhood into adulthood and whether this microstructure relates to basic motor challenges in ASD. We used diffusion weighted imaging in a cohort-sequential design to assess longitudinal development of the thalamus, and posterior- and anterior-limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC and ALIC, respectively) in 89 males with ASD and 56 males with typical development (3–41 years; all verbal). Our results showed that the group with ASD exhibited different developmental trajectories of microstructure in all regions, demonstrating childhood group differences that appeared to approach and, in some cases, surpass the typically developing group in adolescence and adulthood. The PLIC (but not ALIC nor thalamus) mediated the relation between age and finger-tapping speed in both groups. Yet, the gap in finger-tapping speed appeared to widen at the same time that the between-group gap in the PLIC appeared to narrow. Overall, these results suggest that childhood group differences in microstructure of the thalamus and PLIC become less robust in adolescence and adulthood. Further, finger-tapping speed appears to be mediated by the PLIC in both groups, but group differences in motor speed that widen during adolescence and adulthood suggest that factors beyond the microstructure of the thalamus and internal capsule may contribute to atypical motor profiles in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 450–462.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 450-462 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Autism Research |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder
- diffusion magnetic resonance imaging
- internal capsule
- thalamus
- white matter
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
- Clinical Neurology
- Genetics(clinical)
Cite this
Longitudinal development of thalamic and internal capsule microstructure in autism spectrum disorder. / McLaughlin, Kristine; Travers, Brittany G.; Dadalko, Olga I.; Dean, Douglas C.; Tromp, Do; Adluru, Nagesh; Destiche, Daniel; Freeman, Abigail; Prigge, Molly D.; Froehlich, Alyson; Duffield, Tyler; Zielinski, Brandon A.; Bigler, Erin D.; Lange, Nicholas; Anderson, Jeff S.; Alexander, Andrew L.; Lainhart, Janet E.
In: Autism Research, Vol. 11, No. 3, 01.03.2018, p. 450-462.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Longitudinal development of thalamic and internal capsule microstructure in autism spectrum disorder
AU - McLaughlin, Kristine
AU - Travers, Brittany G.
AU - Dadalko, Olga I.
AU - Dean, Douglas C.
AU - Tromp, Do
AU - Adluru, Nagesh
AU - Destiche, Daniel
AU - Freeman, Abigail
AU - Prigge, Molly D.
AU - Froehlich, Alyson
AU - Duffield, Tyler
AU - Zielinski, Brandon A.
AU - Bigler, Erin D.
AU - Lange, Nicholas
AU - Anderson, Jeff S.
AU - Alexander, Andrew L.
AU - Lainhart, Janet E.
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - The thalamus is a key sensorimotor relay area that is implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unknown how the thalamus and white-matter structures that contain thalamo-cortical fiber connections (e.g., the internal capsule) develop from childhood into adulthood and whether this microstructure relates to basic motor challenges in ASD. We used diffusion weighted imaging in a cohort-sequential design to assess longitudinal development of the thalamus, and posterior- and anterior-limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC and ALIC, respectively) in 89 males with ASD and 56 males with typical development (3–41 years; all verbal). Our results showed that the group with ASD exhibited different developmental trajectories of microstructure in all regions, demonstrating childhood group differences that appeared to approach and, in some cases, surpass the typically developing group in adolescence and adulthood. The PLIC (but not ALIC nor thalamus) mediated the relation between age and finger-tapping speed in both groups. Yet, the gap in finger-tapping speed appeared to widen at the same time that the between-group gap in the PLIC appeared to narrow. Overall, these results suggest that childhood group differences in microstructure of the thalamus and PLIC become less robust in adolescence and adulthood. Further, finger-tapping speed appears to be mediated by the PLIC in both groups, but group differences in motor speed that widen during adolescence and adulthood suggest that factors beyond the microstructure of the thalamus and internal capsule may contribute to atypical motor profiles in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 450–462.
AB - The thalamus is a key sensorimotor relay area that is implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is unknown how the thalamus and white-matter structures that contain thalamo-cortical fiber connections (e.g., the internal capsule) develop from childhood into adulthood and whether this microstructure relates to basic motor challenges in ASD. We used diffusion weighted imaging in a cohort-sequential design to assess longitudinal development of the thalamus, and posterior- and anterior-limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC and ALIC, respectively) in 89 males with ASD and 56 males with typical development (3–41 years; all verbal). Our results showed that the group with ASD exhibited different developmental trajectories of microstructure in all regions, demonstrating childhood group differences that appeared to approach and, in some cases, surpass the typically developing group in adolescence and adulthood. The PLIC (but not ALIC nor thalamus) mediated the relation between age and finger-tapping speed in both groups. Yet, the gap in finger-tapping speed appeared to widen at the same time that the between-group gap in the PLIC appeared to narrow. Overall, these results suggest that childhood group differences in microstructure of the thalamus and PLIC become less robust in adolescence and adulthood. Further, finger-tapping speed appears to be mediated by the PLIC in both groups, but group differences in motor speed that widen during adolescence and adulthood suggest that factors beyond the microstructure of the thalamus and internal capsule may contribute to atypical motor profiles in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 450–462.
KW - autism spectrum disorder
KW - diffusion magnetic resonance imaging
KW - internal capsule
KW - thalamus
KW - white matter
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85038110997&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85038110997&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/aur.1909
DO - 10.1002/aur.1909
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - 450
EP - 462
JO - Autism Research
JF - Autism Research
SN - 1939-3806
IS - 3
ER -