Subcortical Brain Morphometry Differences between Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ) share social-cognitive impairments.
• Subcortical structures are crucial for cognitive and social-emotional behaviors, with abnormalities linked to neuropsychiatric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare subcortical volumes in adults with ASD, SZ, and neurotypicals (NT).
• To investigate associations between subcortical volumes and behavioral measures in these groups.
• To explore potential shared and distinct neurological mechanisms underlying ASD and SZ.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ABIDE II/COBRE MRI and phenotypic datasets.
• Compared subcortical volumes in adults with ASD (n=29), SZ (n=51), and matched NT controls.
• Examined correlations between subcortical volumes and behavioral measures (e.g., SRS, FIQ).

Main Results:

• ASD showed specific volume differences (left pallidum, thalamus, accumbens, right amygdala) versus NT.
• Left hippocampus and amygdala volumes were implicated in both ASD and SZ.
• Disorder groups exhibited different correlation patterns between subcortical volumes and behavior compared to NT groups.

Conclusions:

• Overlapping subcortical volumes in ASD and SZ suggest common neurological mechanisms.
• Distinct correlation patterns between behavior and subcortical volumes may indicate disorder-specific dysfunctional connectivity.
• Intelligence quotient (IQ) may play a role in mediating brain-behavior relationships in these disorders.