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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Impaired white matter integrity in infants and young children with autism spectrum disorder: What evidence does
Reyhane Faraji1, Zohreh Ganji1, Seyed Amir Zamanpour1
1Medical Physics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Background:
Abnormal functional connections are associated with impaired white matter tract integrity in the brain. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a promising method for evaluating white matter integrity in infants and young children. This work aims to shed light on the location and nature of the decrease in white matter integrity.
Methods:
Here, the results of 19 studies have been presented that investigated white matter integrity in infants and young children (6 months to 12 years) with autism using diffusion tensor imaging.
Results:
In most of the reviewed studies, an increase in Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and a decrease in Radial Diffusivity (RD) were reported in Corpus Callosum (CC), Uncinate Fasciculus (UF), Cingulum (Cg), Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus (ILF), and Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLF), and in the Inferior Fronto-Occipital Fasciculus (IFOF) tract, a decrease in FA and an increase in RD were reported.
Conclusion:
In the reviewed articles, except for one study, the diffusion indices were different compared to the control group.
