Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
09:13

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: April 22, 2015

16.7K

Cortical myelination in toddlers and preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder

Bosi Chen1,2, Annika Linke1, Lindsay Olson1,2

  • 1Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.

Developmental Neurobiology
|March 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood myelination in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shows atypical age-related changes. This suggests disrupted brain development in young children with ASD, impacting neural connectivity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Intracortical myelin is crucial for neural circuit development and functional network connectivity.
  • Atypical network connectivity is observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Little is known about intracortical myelin development in early childhood ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the development of intracortical myelin in young children with ASD during a critical neurodevelopmental period.
  • To assess the feasibility of using the T1w/T2w ratio from MRI as a proxy for in vivo intracortical myelin estimation.
  • To compare intracortical myelin development between children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized T1-weighted (T1w) and T2w structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Estimated in vivo intracortical myelin using the T1w/T2w ratio as a proxy.
  • Analyzed data from 21 young children with ASD and 16 TD children (ages 1.5-5.5 years).

Main Results:

  • The T1w/T2w ratio successfully estimated intracortical myelin, comparable to previous studies.
  • No significant group differences in T1w/T2w ratio were found between children with ASD and TD children.
  • Differential age-related associations with T1w/T2w were observed in early myelinated regions.
  • TD children showed an age-related increase in myelin, which was not detected in children with ASD.

Conclusions:

  • Atypical age-related effects in intracortical myelin suggest disrupted myelination in early childhood ASD.
  • These findings may explain aberrant brain network connectivity observed in young children with ASD.
  • The T1w/T2w ratio is a feasible method for assessing intracortical myelin development in vivo.

Keywords:
autism spectrum disorderbrain maturationearly childhoodintracortical myelinneurodevelopmentneuroimaging

More Related Videos

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism06:15

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism

Published on: October 3, 2018

7.8K
A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research08:42

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Published on: July 31, 2017

8.4K

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
459
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
164
Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
3.3K
Learning Disabilities01:25

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
293