The application of brain imaging for objective indices in evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Project/Area Number: 15K17418
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Special needs education
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Yokota Susumu 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 助教 (70734797)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 自閉症スペクトラム障害 / 認知機能 / MRI / 磁気共鳴画像法 / 実行機能 / 社会的認知

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive traits and brain structure or function in persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants were 60 children and adults with ASD and 150 typically developing children and adults. All participants have answered questionnaires on their daily life or autistic traits and performed behavioral tests on IQ and executive functions. They were also scanned in magnetic resonance imaging. And I have acquired brain structural and functional images. Using the data from typically developing children, I have revealed that individual cognitive discrepancies between verbal and performance IQ were related with regional gray matter volume in right middle temporal gyrus.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Individual differences in cognitive performance and brain structure in typically developing children (2015)
  • Author(s): Yokota S, Takeuchi H, Hashimoto T, Hashizume H, Asano K, Asano M, Sassa Y, Taki Y, Kawashima R
  • Journal Title: Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Volume: 14 Pages: 1-7
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2015.05.003
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] White matter fiber tract integrity and intelligence in typically developing children (2016)
  • Author(s): Yokota S, Takeuchi H, Asano K, Asano M, Sassa Y, Taki Y, Kawashima R
  • Organizer: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
  • Place of Presentation: ジュネーブ(スイス)
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-26
• [Presentation] White matter fiber tract integrity and intelligence in typically developing children (2016)
  • Author(s): Yokota S, Takeuchi H, Asano K, Asano M, Sassa Y, Taki Y, Kawashima R
  • Organizer: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
  • Place of Presentation: ジュネーヴ (スイス)
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-26
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Individual difference in cognitive performance and brain structure in typically developing children (2015)
  • Author(s): Yokota S, Takeuchi H, Hashimoto T, Hashizume H, Asano K, Asano M, Sassa Y, Taki Y, Kawashima R
  • Organizer: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
  • Place of Presentation: ホノルル (アメリカ)
  • Year and Date: 2015-06-14
  • Int'l Joint Research