Neural correlates of impaired self-regulation in male youths with autism spectrum disorder: A voxel-based morphometry study

Publication date: 2 March 2018 Source:Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, Volume 82 Author(s): Hsing-Chang Ni, Hsiang-Yuan Lin, Wen-Yih Isaac Tseng, Yen-Nan Chiu, Yu-Yu Wu, Wen-Che Tsai, Susan Shur-Fen Gau Although recent studies revealed impaired self-regulation (dysregulation) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), neural correlates of dysregulation and its impacts on autistic neuroanatomy remain unclear. Voxel-based morphometry was applied on structural MRI images in 81 ASD and 61 typically developing (TD) boys aged 7–17years. Dysregulation was defined by the sum of T-scores of Attention, Aggression, and Anxiety/Depression subscales in the Child Behavior Checklist>180. There were 53 and 28 boys in the ASD+Dysregulation and ASD-Dysregulation groups, respectively. First, we compared regional gray matter (GM) volume for ASD and TD. Second, we investigated regional GM volumetric differences among the ASD+Dysregulation, ASD-Dysregulation and TD groups. Lastly, shared and distinct neurostructural correlates of dysregulation were investigated in the ASD and TD groups. The ASD-TD difference on neuroanatomy no longer existed after controlling the dysregulation severity. ASD+Dysregulation had larger regional GM volumes in the right fusiform gyrus, and smaller GM volumes in the anterior prefrontal cortex than ASD-Dysregulation and TD, respectively. ASD+Dysregulation had smaller GM volumes in the left lateral occipital/superior parietal cortex...

Source: Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry - February 6, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research