Fractional anisotropy distributions in 2- to 6-year-old children with autism.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increasing evidence suggests that autism is a disorder of distributed neural networks that may exhibit abnormal developmental trajectories. Characterisation of white matter early in the developmental course of the disorder is critical to understanding these aberrant trajectories.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 2- to 6-year-old children with autism was conducted using diffusion tensor imaging combined with a novel statistical approach employing fractional anisotropy distributions. Fifty-eight children aged 18-79 months were imaged: 33 were diagnosed with autism, 8 with general developmental delay, and 17 were typically developing. Fractional anisotropy values within global white matter, cortical lobes and the cerebellum were measured and transformed to random F

SUBMITTER: Cascio C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3606640 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature