White matter differentiates HFA from Asperger's

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" HFA involved mainly left hemisphere white-matter systems; ASP affected

predominantly right hemisphere white-matter systems. The impact of HFA

on basal ganglia white matter was greater than ASP. This implies that

aetiological factors and management options for autism spectrum

disorders may be distinct. History of language acquisition is a

potentially valuable marker to refine our search for causes and

treatments in autism spectrum. "

Differential effects on white-matter systems in high-functioning autism

and Asperger's syndrome

McAlonan GM, Cheung C, Cheung V, Wong N, Suckling J, Chua SE.

Psychol Med. 2009 Apr 9:1-9. [temporary link]

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?iid=195388

BACKGROUND: Whether autism spectrum maps onto a spectrum of brain

abnormalities and whether Asperger's syndrome (ASP) is distinct from

high-functioning autism (HFA) are debated. White-matter maldevelopment

is associated with autism and disconnectivity theories of autism are

compelling. However, it is unknown whether children with ASP and HFA

have distinct white-matter abnormalities.MethodVoxel-based morphometry

mapped white-matter volumes across the whole brain in 91 children.

Thirty-six had autism spectrum disorder. A history of delay in phrase

speech defined half with HFA; those without delay formed the ASP group.

The rest were typically developing children, balanced for age, IQ,

gender, maternal language and ethnicity. White-matter volumes in HFA and

ASP were compared and each contrasted with controls. RESULTS:

White-matter volumes around the basal ganglia were higher in the HFA

group than ASP and higher in both autism groups than controls. Compared

with controls, children with HFA had less frontal and corpus callosal

white matter in the left hemisphere; those with ASP had less frontal and

corpus callosal white matter in the right hemisphere with more white

matter in the left parietal lobe. CONCLUSIONS: HFA involved mainly left

hemisphere white-matter systems; ASP affected predominantly right

hemisphere white-matter systems. The impact of HFA on basal ganglia

white matter was greater than ASP. This implies that aetiological

factors and management options for autism spectrum disorders may be

distinct. History of language acquisition is a potentially valuable

marker to refine our search for causes and treatments in autism spectrum.

PMID: 19356262

Differential effects on white-matter systems in high-functioning

autism and Asperger's syndrome

G. M. McAlonan, C. Cheung, V. Cheung, N. Wong, J. Suckling and

S. E. Chua

Psychological Medicine

<http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PSM>,

First View article

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=y#loc-1>

doi:10.1017/S0033291709005728

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