Advanced Quantitative Microstructure Imaging in Autism: A Review of Methodology, Group Differences, and Associations With Developmental Outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Emerging evidence highlights widespread alterations in white matter microstructure in autism. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have enabled more precise examinations of these microstructural changes, leading to increased use of quantitative MRI techniques in autism research. This review summarizes the current landscape of these techniques, focusing on methodology, group differences, developmental associations, and regional variations. Following PRISMA guidelines, 34 studies published between 2006 and 2024 that employed advanced MRI techniques were reviewed. These included diffusion MRI signal representations (diffusion kurtosis imaging [DKI] and constrained spherical deconvolution [CSD]) and biophysical models (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging [NODDI] and whit

SUBMITTER: Yoon CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12661291 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature