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Updated: May 13, 2026
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Autism-associated brain differences can be observed in utero using MRI
Alpen Ortug1,2,3, Yurui Guo1, Henry A Feldman1
1Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
Insights
Autism spectrum disorder biomarkers may appear in the fetal period. Increased insular cortex volume in fetuses may predict future autism spectrum disorder development, aiding early identification.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research
- Fetal neuroimaging
Background:
- Prenatal developmental changes are linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
- Early identification of anatomical predictors can advance understanding of ASD neurobiology.
- This may lead to earlier and more effective ASD interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the earliest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based regional volumetric biomarkers for ASD.
- To investigate fetal brain development in relation to later ASD diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical brain MRI data from fetuses.
- Identification of prospective autism spectrum disorder cases based on later diagnosis.
Main Results:
- MRI-based ASD biomarkers are detectable in the fetal period.
- Increased insular cortex volume in fetuses shows promise as an early biomarker for ASD.
- Other regional volume changes and hemispheric asymmetries may also be relevant.
Conclusions:
- Fetal MRI can reveal biomarkers associated with future ASD development.
- The insular cortex volume is a potential key prenatal indicator for ASD.
- These findings support earlier identification and intervention strategies for autism spectrum disorders.
Abstract:
Developmental changes that occur before birth are thought to be associated with the development of autism spectrum disorders. Identifying anatomical predictors of early brain development may contribute to our understanding of the neurobiology of autism spectrum disorders and allow for earlier and more effective identification and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. In this study, we used retrospective clinical brain magnetic resonance imaging data from fetuses who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders later in life (prospective autism spectrum disorders) in order to identify the earliest magnetic resonance imaging-based regional volumetric biomarkers. Our results showed that magnetic resonance imaging-based autism spectrum disorder biomarkers can be found as early as in the fetal period and suggested that the increased volume of the insular cortex may be the most promising magnetic resonance imaging-based fetal biomarker for the future emergence of autism spectrum disorders, along with some additional, potentially useful changes in regional volumes and hemispheric asymmetries.
