Subjects with Asperger's Disorder have deficits in social cognition, which may be due to abnormal brain connectivity (Belmonte, et al. 2004; Welchew, et al. 2005). Using a battery of advanced MRI techniques, we propose a study to examine anatomical and structural connectivity in a group of 40 subjects with Asperger's Disorder and 40 matched controls, focusing on limbic/paralimbic areas associated with social cognition (including the anterior and posterior cingulate, amygdala, and hippocampus). This line of research is motivated by our preliminary work showing alterations in resting-state functional connectivity networks between subjects with Asperger's Disorder and healthy controls.
Our specific aims are: 1) to use functional connectivity to examine resting-state network differences; 2) to use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter integrity; and 3) to examine developmental effects between age groups and cohorts. This study will give us a clearer picture of the neurobiology of Asperger's Disorder, and can form the basis for extensions to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The unique capabilities and resources available to the primary investigators allow for an excellent opportunity to carry out this innovative work.

Public Health Relevance

This project will investigate the social deficits in Asperger's Disorder using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine measures of brain connectivity. The results will further knowledge about the biological consequences of this condition, and possibly help to develop new diagnostic or therapeutic techniques. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21MH079871-01A2
Application #
7530053
Study Section
Developmental Brain Disorders Study Section (DBD)
Program Officer
Gilotty, Lisa
Project Start
2008-08-01
Project End
2010-07-31
Budget Start
2008-08-01
Budget End
2009-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$186,327
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Dickie, Erin W; Ameis, Stephanie H; Shahab, Saba et al. (2018) Personalized Intrinsic Network Topography Mapping and Functional Connectivity Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 84:278-286
Nebel, Mary Beth; Eloyan, Ani; Nettles, Carrie A et al. (2016) Intrinsic Visual-Motor Synchrony Correlates With Social Deficits in Autism. Biol Psychiatry 79:633-41
Vinette, Sarah A; Bray, Signe (2015) Variation in functional connectivity along anterior-to-posterior intraparietal sulcus, and relationship with age across late childhood and adolescence. Dev Cogn Neurosci 13:32-42
Di Martino, A; Yan, C-G; Li, Q et al. (2014) The autism brain imaging data exchange: towards a large-scale evaluation of the intrinsic brain architecture in autism. Mol Psychiatry 19:659-67
Alaerts, Kaat; Woolley, Daniel G; Steyaert, Jean et al. (2014) Underconnectivity of the superior temporal sulcus predicts emotion recognition deficits in autism. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 9:1589-600
Wiggins, Jillian Lee; Peltier, Scott J; Bedoyan, Jirair K et al. (2012) The impact of serotonin transporter genotype on default network connectivity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Neuroimage Clin 2:17-24
Wiggins, Jillian Lee; Bedoyan, Jirair K; Peltier, Scott J et al. (2012) The impact of serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) genotype on the development of resting-state functional connectivity in children and adolescents: a preliminary report. Neuroimage 59:2760-70
Wiggins, Jillian Lee; Peltier, Scott J; Ashinoff, Samantha et al. (2011) Using a self-organizing map algorithm to detect age-related changes in functional connectivity during rest in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Res 1380:187-97