Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities have emerged as powerful means that facilitate non-invasive clinical diagnostics of various diseases and abnormalities since their inception in the 1980s. Multiple MRI modalities, such as different types of the sMRI and DTI, have been employed to investigate facets of ASD in order to better understand this complex syndrome. This paper reviews recent applications of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to study autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Main reported findings are sometimes contradictory due to different age ranges, hardware protocols, population types, numbers of participants, and image analysis parameters. The primary anatomical structures, such as amygdalae, cerebrum, and cerebellum, associated with clinical-pathological correlates of ASD are highlighted through successive life stages, from infancy to adulthood. This survey demonstrates the absence of consistent pathology in the brains of autistic children and lack of research investigations in patients under 2 years of age in the literature. The known publications also emphasize advances in data acquisition and analysis, as well as significance of multimodal approaches that combine resting-state, task-evoked, and sMRI measures. Initial results obtained with the sMRI and DTI show good promise toward the early and non-invasive ASD diagnostics.
Highlights
The term “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD) refers to a collection of neuro-developmental disorders that affect linguistic, behavioral, and social skills
The cerebrum changes of an autistic brain at such an early age include the age-proportional enlargements of the lobes and increases of the cortical white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM)
The posterior fossa structures are significantly affected with the ASD from an early age of 2 years and during all the subsequent life stages
Summary
The term “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD) refers to a collection of neuro-developmental disorders that affect linguistic, behavioral, and social skills. Most prominently, social impairment and repetitive behaviors. The most severe form of the ASDs is autistic disorder (AD), while milder forms include Asperger syndrome (ASP), childhood disintegrative disorder, and not-otherwise-specified pervasive developmental disorder (NPDD). The ASD affects 1 out of 68 eight years of age, with males being four times more likely to develop it than females. About 30% of children with ASD have epilepsy at later stages NIMH (2015). What causes autism is yet unknown; MRI-Based Autism Survey it is mainly believed that genetic and environmental factors in complex combinations are responsible NIMH (2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
