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

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• 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
• Keywords: 自閉症スペクトラム障害 / 認知機能 / MRI

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.

Free Research Field

発達障害学