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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Evaluation of Brain Microstructural Alterations in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Voxel-Wise Multimodal MRI
Changhao Wang1,2, Meiying Cheng1,2, Yu Lu1,2
1Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Insights
Preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show prefrontal iron deficiency and sensorimotor myelination changes, correlating with motor deficits and offering high diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) involves early neurodevelopmental changes in preschoolers.
- Comprehensive multimodal quantitative MRI characterization is limited in this age group.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate voxel-wise brain microstructural differences in preschool ASD.
- Utilize integrated analysis of cerebral perfusion, multiparametric relaxometry, and magnetic susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Prospective case-control study of 29 children with ASD (ages 2-6) and 25 healthy controls (HC).
- Employed 3.0T MRI including quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), synthetic MRI (SyMRI), and 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pCASL).
- Voxel-wise whole-brain analysis of QSM, T1/T2/PD, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps, with statistical comparisons using general linear models and correlation analyses.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD exhibited decreased QSM in the left superior/middle frontal gyri (SFG/MFG) and reduced T1 relaxation times in bilateral frontal and sensorimotor regions.
- QSM in left SFG/MFG correlated positively with fine motor scores; T1 values in sensorimotor regions correlated with gross motor scores.
- Quantitative susceptibility mapping and T1 relaxation times demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for ASD, with areas under the curve (AUCs) ranging from 0.858 to 0.908.
Conclusions:
- Preschool ASD is characterized by prefrontal iron deficiency (indicated by reduced QSM) and sensorimotor myelination alterations (indicated by decreased T1).
- These neuroimaging findings correlate with motor deficits in children with ASD.
- The quantitative MRI metrics show significant diagnostic efficacy for identifying ASD in preschoolers.
Background:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents with early neurodevelopmental alterations in preschool children, yet comprehensive characterization using multimodal quantitative MRI remains limited in this age group.
Purpose:
To investigate voxel-wise brain microstructural differences in preschool ASD through integrated analysis of cerebral perfusion, multiparametric relaxometry, and magnetic susceptibility.
Study Type:
Prospective case-control.
Population:
Twenty nine-children with ASD (age 2-6 years; 23 males/6 females) and 25 age-/sex-matched healthy controls (HC).
Field Strength/Sequence:
3.0 T MRI; high-resolution 3D-T1WI, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), synthetic MRI (SyMRI), 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pCASL).
Assessment:
Clinical assessments included the Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Imaging analysis consisted of voxel-wise whole-brain assessment of QSM, T1/T2/PD, and cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps.
Statistical Tests:
General linear models with cluster-based thresholding were applied for group comparison; Spearman's rank correlation with Bonferroni correction was used for clinical associations; and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with Delong's test was performed to compare diagnostic performance based on the areas under the curve (AUCs).
Results:
Compared to HC, children with ASD showed decreased QSM values in the left superior/middle frontal gyri (SFG/MFG; cluster = 212 voxels, peak T = 5.55, p < 0.001). They also had reduced T1 relaxation times in bilateral SFG/MFG/precentral/postcentral gyri (four clusters: 315-750 voxels, peak T = 5.11-5.88, all p < 0.001). QSM values in the left SFG/MFG correlated positively with fine motor scores (r = 0.630, p < 0.001), while T1 values in the bilateral precentral/postcentral gyri correlated with gross motor scores (right: r = 0.548, p = 0.002; left: r = 0.461, p = 0.012). ROC analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy for both QSM (left SFG/MFG AUC = 0.858) and T1 values (left SFG/MFG AUC = 0.905; bilateral precentral/postcentral gyri AUC = 0.892-0.908).
Data Conclusion:
Preschool ASD demonstrates prefrontal iron deficiency (reduced QSM) and sensorimotor myelination alterations (decreased T1), which correlate with motor deficits and show high diagnostic efficacy.
Evidence Level:
2.
Technical Efficacy:
Stage 2.
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