Core-Symptom-Defined Cortical Gyrification Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.
• While structural brain imaging reveals cortical folding abnormalities in ASD, the relationship between core symptoms and neuroanatomy remains underexplored.
• Understanding these neuroanatomical differences is crucial for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gyrification alterations in individuals with ASD, specifically anchoring these changes to core symptom dimensions.
• To examine the developmental trajectories of gyrification in ASD.
• To identify brain regions associated with core symptom-specific gyrification patterns through meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

• Cortical vertex-wise gyrification index (GI) was measured in a large cohort (321 ASD, 350 typically developing) from the ABIDE I repository.
• A longitudinal sample from ABIDE II was analyzed to track developmental trajectories.
• ASD participants were subgrouped based on Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) subscores for social interaction, communication, and behavior.

Main Results:

• Individuals with ASD exhibited a mixed pattern of gyrification (hypo- and hyper-gyrification) and distinct developmental trajectories compared to controls.
• Core-symptom subgroups (social interaction, communication, behavior) showed specific, atypical gyrification patterns and developmental trajectories.
• Meta-analysis identified core-symptom-anchored brain regions associated with these gyrification alterations.

Conclusions:

• ASD is associated with abnormal cortical folding patterns, with specific alterations linked to core symptom dimensions.
• Core-symptom-based classification reveals more subtle changes in gyrification, enhancing our understanding of ASD's neuroanatomical basis.
• These findings suggest that cortical folding patterns encode symptom variations, potentially aiding in clinical utility for ASD.