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Basal ganglia morphometry and repetitive behavior in young children with autism spectrum disorder

Annette Estes1, Dennis W W Shaw, Bobbi F Sparks

  • 1University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA estesa@u.washington.edu

Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research
|April 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors (RSB) are common in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These behaviors correlate with smaller volumes in the basal ganglia and thalamus, suggesting a link between brain structure and behavior in ASD.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors (RSB) are a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of RSB in early childhood is crucial for early intervention.
  • Previous research suggests potential alterations in brain structure associated with RSB in ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between repetitive and stereotyped behavior (RSB) and morphometric measures of the basal ganglia and thalami in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay without autism (DD).
  • To compare brain structure differences between children with ASD, DD, and typical development (TD).

Main Methods:

  • Children aged 3-4 years with ASD (n=77) and DD (n=34) were assessed for RSB using clinical evaluation and parent report scales (ADOS, ADI, ABC).
  • A subset of children with ASD (n=45), DD (n=14), and TD (n=25) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure basal ganglia and thalamic volumes.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to compare RSB levels and brain volumes between groups, controlling for cerebral volume where appropriate.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASD exhibited significantly higher RSB compared to children with DD.
  • Children with ASD showed enlarged left and right striatum (putamen) and left caudate compared to TD, but these differences were not significant after controlling for cerebral volume.
  • The DD group had smaller thalami and basal ganglia regions compared to the ASD group, even after controlling for cerebral volume, with exceptions in specific left and right striatal/putamen regions.
  • In the ASD group, elevated RSB was associated with decreased volumes in the left thalamus, right globus pallidus, left and right putamen, and right striatum.

Conclusions:

  • Repetitive and stereotyped behavior is prevalent in the early stages of autism spectrum disorder.
  • Decreased volumes in specific basal ganglia and thalamic regions are associated with repetitive and stereotyped behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder.
  • These findings highlight a potential link between basal ganglia and thalamic morphology and the manifestation of RSB in early childhood ASD.

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