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Updated: May 31, 2026
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Sharp curvature of frontal lobe white matter pathways in children with autism spectrum disorders: tract-based
J-W Jeong1, A K Kumar, S K Sundaram
1Carman and Ann Adams Departments of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, MI, USA. jeongwon@pet.wayne.edu
Background And Purpose:
Because we had previously observed geometric changes of frontal lobe association pathways in children with ASD, in the present study we analyzed the curvature of these white matter pathways by using an objective TBM analysis.
Materials And Methods:
Diffusion tensor imaging was performed in 32 children with ASD and 14 children with typical development. Curvature, FA, AD, and RD of bilateral AF, UF, and gCC were investigated by using the TBM group analysis assessed by P(FDR) for multiple comparisons.
Results:
Significantly higher curvatures were found in children with ASD, especially at the parietotemporal junction for AF (left, P(FDR) < .001; right, P(FDR) < .01), at the frontotemporal junction for UF (left, P(FDR) < .005; right, P(FDR) < .03), and at the midline of the gCC (P(FDR) < .0001). RD was significantly higher in children with ASD at the same bending regions of AF (left, P(FDR) < .03, right, P(FDR) < .02), UF (left, P(FDR) < .04), and gCC (P(FDR) < .01).
Conclusions:
Higher curvature and curvature-dependent RD changes in children with ASD may be the result of higher attenuation of thinner axons in these frontal lobe tracts.
