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Updated: Sep 13, 2025
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Associations between sleep problems, cortical morphometry, and structural brain network organization in preschool
Miaoshui Bai1,2, Jinming Xiao3, Tong Zhao1,2
1Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Insights
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sleep problems show altered brain network connectivity in sensory and social-cognitive regions. Addressing sleep issues may be crucial for neurodevelopmental assessments in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Sleep problems are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), potentially impacting behavior and brain development.
- Structural covariance networks (SCNs) are indicators of coordinated brain development, and are often altered in ASD.
- Understanding the neuroanatomical links between sleep and ASD in early childhood is crucial but underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sleep problems and brain structure (cortical volume) in preschool children with ASD.
- To examine how sleep problems affect structural covariance networks (SCNs) and their topological properties in young children with ASD.
- To explore potential correlations between brain morphology, network properties, and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD and sleep issues.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 183 preschool children with ASD, categorized by sleep problem status using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
- Structural MRI data analyzed using FreeSurfer for cortical volume measurements.
- Graph theory applied to construct and analyze structural covariance networks (SCNs) for topological properties.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in total cortical or subcortical volumes between children with and without sleep problems.
- Network analyses revealed significantly reduced local connectivity and altered small-world topology in children with sleep problems.
- Exploratory correlations suggested potential links between regional volumes and repetitive behaviors or withdrawn symptoms, though not statistically significant after correction.
Conclusions:
- Preschool children with ASD and sleep problems exhibit disrupted local brain network properties, particularly in sensory and social-cognitive areas.
- Observed regional volume associations with behavior require cautious interpretation due to their exploratory nature and lack of statistical significance.
- Findings underscore the importance of integrating sleep assessments into neurodevelopmental evaluations for children with ASD and suggest the need for longitudinal research with objective sleep measures.
Abstract:
Sleep problems are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may contribute to behavioral challenges and atypical brain development. However, the neuroanatomical mechanisms linking sleep problems and ASD during early childhood remain underexplored. This retrospective observational study included 183 preschool children with ASD, grouped by sleep problem status using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Structural MRI data were processed with FreeSurfer to obtain cortical volume measures across 68 regions. Structural covariance networks were constructed to assess topological properties using graph theory. Group comparisons and exploratory correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate associations with behavioral measures. No significant group differences were found in total cortical or subcortical volumes. Exploratory analyses revealed uncorrected focal differences in the peri-calcarine cortex and right pars orbitalis, but these did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. Network analyses showed significantly reduced local connectivity (clustering coefficient, local efficiency) and altered small-world topology (Gamma, Sigma) in children with sleep problems, with preserved global efficiency. Exploratory correlations suggested that regional volumes may be linked to repetitive behaviors and withdrawn symptoms, although these did not remain significant after correction.
Conclusion:
Preschool children with ASD and sleep problems show disrupted local brain network properties, particularly in sensory and social-cognitive regions. While some regional associations with behavior were observed, they should be interpreted cautiously due to their exploratory nature. These findings support the importance of considering sleep in neurodevelopmental assessments and highlight the need for longitudinal studies with objective sleep measures.
What Is Known:
• Sleep problems are highly prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are linked to adverse behavioral outcomes. • Structural covariance networks (SCNs) reflect coordinated brain development and are altered in ASD.
What Is New:
• This study explores associations between sleep problems and both cortical morphology and SCNs in preschoolers with ASD. • Exploratory analyses reveal regional volume trends and altered network topology in children with sleep problems, suggesting potential early neural correlates.
