Atypical Neurodevelopment in Auditory and Language Cortex and the Corpus Callosum in Autism
Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Abnormalities in language and communication, auditory sensitivity, and complexinformation processing are associated with autism, yet the neural underpinnings areunknown. The studies in this dissertation examine neurodevelopment of several brainregions implicated in these abnormalities. We first examine age-related changes inmidsagittal corpus callosum area in a large cross-sectional cohort from early childhood toadulthood. Increased variability in total corpus callosum area and atypical regionaldevelopment in the rostrum and isthmus are found in autism compared with typicalcontrols. In autism, larger areas are associated with reduced severity of autism behaviors,higher intelligence, and faster speed of processing, providing support to theories ofunderconnectivity in the autism brain. Longitudinal maturation of Heschl’s gyrus graymatter and white matter and planum temporale during childhood and adolescence inautism and a typically developing sample are then described. Despite previous crosssectionalstudies reporting typical Heschl’s gyrus structure in autism, reduceddevelopmental trajectories in the right gray matter and atypical white matter maturationare identified. Our longitudinal findings also expand on previous reports of reducedplanum temporale asymmetry in autism by showing that the reduced asymmetry developsduring later childhood and adolescence. In addition to the case-control comparisons,different developmental trajectories in those individuals with autism with delayed versusearly language onset in Heschl’s gyrus white matter and planum temporale asymmetryivare apparent. Finally, individuals with autism exhibit associations between smallerHeschl’s gyrus volumes and reduced auditory sensitivity and higher language function,and smaller planum temporale volumes associated with increased vocabulary aptitude.Our findings highlight the importance of longitudinal studies of brain development andexamining behavioral profiles of individuals to identify functional and maladaptivepathological neurodevelopment.
Source: J. Willard Marriott Library
Author: Prigge, Molly Beth DuBray
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2522865044