Superior temporal sulcus anatomical abnormalities in childhood autism: a voxel-based morphometry MRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Autism Research

Background:

• The neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not fully understood.
• Previous functional imaging studies indicated temporal hypoperfusion in children with autism.
• Limited neocortical brain MRI abnormalities have been reported in ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate anatomical brain abnormalities in children with autism.
• To find convergent evidence supporting functional imaging findings in autism.
• To explore structural differences in the brains of autistic children using MRI.

Main Methods:

• Utilized optimized whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) on high-resolution 3-D T1-weighted MRI data.
• Acquired MRI datasets from 21 children diagnosed with primary autism and 12 healthy controls.
• Performed statistical analysis comparing grey and white matter concentrations between groups.

Main Results:

• Found significant bilateral grey matter reductions in the superior temporal sulcus (STS) in autistic children compared to controls.
• Observed decreased white matter concentration in the right temporal pole and cerebellum in children with autism.
• Results showed bilateral anatomical abnormalities in the STS, consistent with functional hypoperfusion.

Conclusions:

• Autism is associated with bilateral anatomical abnormalities in the STS.
• These structural findings align with previously reported functional temporal deficits in autism.
• The STS, a key area of the 'social brain,' plays a role in social perception, which is impaired in autism.