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Updated: Apr 3, 2026
12:21
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
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Autism and Cortical Thickness Deviation From Neurotypical Controls: Evidence for a Spatial Association With Serotonin
Livio Tarchi1, Arne Doose2,3, Julius Hennig2
1Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Summary
Autistic individuals show altered cortical thickness linked to serotonin receptors, impacting social and communication skills. This suggests the serotonergic system influences brain structure differences in autism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Cortical thickness (CT) differences are observed in autistic individuals (AI) compared to neurotypical controls.
- The neurochemical underpinnings of these CT variations in autism remain unclear.
- Neurotransmitter receptor distributions may inform the structural brain differences observed in autism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cortical thickness deviations and neurotransmitter receptor density in autistic individuals.
- To explore the potential role of the serotonergic system in shaping cortical structure in autism.
- To correlate individual CT deviations with social and communication difficulties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 1035 structural MRIs from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset.
- Computed group-level CT differences and individual deviations from age-predicted patterns.
- Correlated spatial CT patterns with cortical density maps of key neurotransmitter receptors (D1, D2, 5HT1a, 5HT2a, 5HT4, 5HT6, mGluR5).
Main Results:
- Widespread vertex-wise CT deviations were found in autistic individuals compared to controls.
- Group-level CT differences spatially aligned with serotonin receptor (5HT1a, 5HT4) densities.
- Individual CT deviations correlated with social and communication impairments when mapped onto receptor gradients.
Conclusions:
- Serotonin receptors are implicated in the cortical structural brain differences observed in autism.
- The serotonergic system's spatial distribution may influence cortical organization in autistic individuals.
- Findings suggest potential for targeted interventions focusing on serotonergic pathways for individuals with autism.
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