Altered development in auditory white matter and cortical response latency in youth with neurofibromatosis type I

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder that affects brain development and increases the risk for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder. Given similar behavioral phenotypes and potential shared neurobiological processes in NF1 and autism spectrum disorder, this study evaluates two markers of brain maturation in youth with NF1 and typically developing youth, including auditory white matter and cortical response latency.

Participants, aged 8-12 years, completed a multimodal neuroimaging protocol that included MRI with diffusion tensor imaging of the auditory radiation and magnetoencephalography. Analyses included group comparisons on fractional anisotropy measures of white matter and M50 latency responses from magnetoencephalography and the coupling between fractional anisotropy and M50.

Compared to typically developing youth, youth with NF1 did not show maturation in fractional anisotropy or M50 with age and demonstrated shorter M50 auditory response latency. The association between auditory radiation fractional anisotropy and M50 was different in youth with NF1 compared to typically developing youth with youth with NF1 not showing a significant association between fractional anisotropy and M50.

Maturation of auditory white matter and auditory cortical response latency is disrupted in NF1 and there is a lack of coupling between structure and function. Longitudinal imaging research is needed to further evaluate neurodevelopment and associations between these immaturities and behavior.