A study of altered neural mechanisms in high-functioning autism using network analysis

• Project/Area Number: 25870738
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Experimental psychology; Perceptual information processing
• Research Institution: Showa University
• Principal Investigator: ITAHASHI Takashi 昭和大学, 大学共同利用機関等の部局等, 講師 (70636943)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: 自閉症スペクトラム障害 / 安静時脳機能結合 / ネットワーク解析 / マルチモーダル画像解析 / 安静時脳機能ネットワーク / マルチモダリティ神経画像 / 脳機能画像 / 安静時機能的磁気共鳴画像法 / ネットワーク / グラフ理論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), I conducted a series of analyses on resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and structural MRI (sMRI), to identify neural mechanisms that underlie social and communicative deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For rsfMRI analyses, the ASD group showed loss of hubness in several brain regions that are critical for social functions. Furthermore, their functional brain networks tended to show a randomized organization. For analyses of DTI and sMRI, the ASD group showed decreased gray matter (GM) volumes in multiple regions, including the bilateral fusiform gyri and bilateral orbitofrontal cortices. These GM changes were linked with a pattern of decreased fractional anisotropy in several tracts, such as the bilateral inferior longitudinal fasciculi and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi. These findings help to identify abnormal neural mechanism, which may be characterized social and communicative deficits in ASD.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Linked alterations in gray and white matter morphology in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: A multimodal brain imaging study (2015)
  • Author(s): Takashi Itahashi, Takashi Yamada, Motoaki Nakamura, Hiromi Watanabe, Bun Yamagata, Daiki Jimbo, Seiji Shioda, Miho Kuroda, Kazuo Toriizuka, Nobumasa Kato, Ryuichiro Hashimoto
  • Journal Title: NeuroImage: Clinical Volume: 7 Pages: 155-169
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.11.019
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Altered network topologies and hub organization in adults with autism: A resting-state fMRI study (2014)
  • Author(s): Itahashi, T., Yamada, T., Watanabe, H., Nakamura, M., Jimbo, D., Shioda, S., Toriizuka, K., Kato, N., & Hashimoto, R
  • Journal Title: PLoS ONE Volume: 9(4) Issue: 4 Pages: e94115-e94115
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094115
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 成人自閉症スペクトラム障害の安静時脳機能ネットワークにおける重複コミュニティを用いた検討 (2015)
  • Author(s): 板橋貴史, 山田貴志, 渡部洋実, 中村元昭, 太田晴久, 金井智恵子, 加藤進昌, 橋本龍一郎
  • Organizer: 第 38 回神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 神戸
  • Year and Date: 2015-07-28 – 2015-07-31
• [Presentation] 成人高機能自閉症の脳活動異常と局所的機能結合異常:安静時fMRIを用いた検討 (2014)
  • Author(s): 板橋貴史, 山田貴志, 渡部洋実, 中村元昭, 金井智恵子, 加藤進昌, 橋本龍一郎
  • Organizer: 第 37 回神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 横浜
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-11 – 2014-09-13
• [Presentation] Altered functional brain networks in adults with autism spectrum disorder (2013)
  • Author(s): Itahashi, T., et al.
  • Organizer: 第36回日本神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 国立京都国際会館