Repository logo
 

Atypically rightward cerebral asymmetry in male adults with autism stratifies individuals with and without language delay.


Change log

Authors

Floris, Dorothea L 
Lai, Meng-Chuan 
Auer, Tibor 
Lombardo, Michael V 
Ecker, Christine 

Abstract

In humans, both language and fine motor skills are associated with left-hemisphere specialization, whereas visuospatial skills are associated with right-hemisphere specialization. Individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) show a profile of deficits and strengths that involves these lateralized cognitive functions. Here we test the hypothesis that regions implicated in these functions are atypically rightward lateralized in individuals with ASC and, that such atypicality is associated with functional performance. Participants included 67 male, right-handed adults with ASC and 69 age- and IQ-matched neurotypical males. We assessed group differences in structural asymmetries in cortical regions of interest with voxel-based analysis of grey matter volumes, followed by correlational analyses with measures of language, motor and visuospatial skills. We found stronger rightward lateralization within the inferior parietal lobule and reduced leftward lateralization extending along the auditory cortex comprising the planum temporale, Heschl's gyrus, posterior supramarginal gyrus, and parietal operculum, which was more pronounced in ASC individuals with delayed language onset compared to those without. Planned correlational analyses showed that for individuals with ASC, reduced leftward asymmetry in the auditory region was associated with more childhood social reciprocity difficulties. We conclude that atypical cerebral structural asymmetry is a potential candidate neurophenotype of ASC.

Description

Keywords

autism, cortical asymmetry, language delay, lateralization, volumetric MRI, Acoustic Stimulation, Adolescent, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Cognition Disorders, Functional Laterality, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Language Development Disorders, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Photic Stimulation, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Space Perception, Statistics as Topic, Young Adult

Journal Title

Human Brain Mapping

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1065-9471
1097-0193

Volume Title

37

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G1000183)
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (via Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) (unknown)
Wellcome Trust (093875/Z/10/Z)
Funding: - UK Medical Research Council. Grant Number: GO 400061 - EU‐AIMS (Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint). Grant Number: 115300 - European Union's Seventh Framework Programme. Grant Number: FP7/2007‐2013 - Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge - William Binks Autism Neuroscience Fellowship - EU‐AIMS - Wolfson College, Cambridge - Shirley Foundation - Wellcome Trust - British Academy - Jesus College, Cambridge - NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre - Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge