Bakhtiari, ReyhanehZürcher, Nicole R.Rogier, OphélieRusso, BrittHippolyte, LoyseGranziera, CristinaAraabi, Babak NadjarNili Ahmadabadi, MajidHadjikhani, Nouchine2014-03-102012Bakhtiari, Reyhaneh, Nicole R. Zürcher, Ophélie Rogier, Britt Russo, Loyse Hippolyte, Cristina Granziera, Babak Nadjar Araabi, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, and Nouchine Hadjikhani. 2012. “Differences in white matter reflect atypical developmental trajectory in autism: A Tract-based Spatial Statistics study☆.” NeuroImage : Clinical 1 (1): 48-56. doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2012.09.001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2012.09.001.2213-1582http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11878928Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which white matter (WM) maturation is affected. We assessed WM integrity in 16 adolescents and 14 adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and in matched neurotypical controls (NT) using diffusion weighted imaging and Tract-based Spatial Statistics. Decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) was observed in adolescents with ASD in tracts involved in emotional face processing, language, and executive functioning, including the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi. Remarkably, no differences in FA were observed between ASD and NT adults. We evaluated the effect of age on WM development across the entire age range. Positive correlations between FA values and age were observed in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, the left superior longitudinal fasciculus, the corpus callosum, and the cortical spinal tract of ASD participants, but not in NT participants. Our data underscore the dynamic nature of brain development in ASD, showing the presence of an atypical process of WM maturation, that appears to normalize over time and could be at the basis of behavioral improvements often observed in high-functioning autism.en-USADOS, Autism Diagnostic Observation ScheduleADI-R, Autism Diagnostic Interview-RevisedAQ, Autism QuotientASD, Autism Spectrum DisordersATR, anterior thalamic radiationsCC, corpus callosumCT, corticospinal tractDTI, Diffusion Tensor ImagingDTT, Diffusion Tensor TractographyEF, executive functionsFA, fractional anisotropyIFOF, inferior froto-occipital fasciculusILF, inferior longitudinal fasciculusNT, neurotypicalPIQ, Performance Intelligence QuotientSLF, superior longitudinal fasciculusTBSS, Tract-based Spatial StatisticsTFCE, Threshold-free Cluster EnhancementTE, echo timeTR, repetition timeUNC, uncinate fasciculusVBM, Voxel-Based MorphometryVBS, Voxel based Statistics of FA Images (VBM-like)WM, white matterDiffusion Tensor ImagingAutism spectrum disorderBrain connectivityFractional anisotropyBrain developmentBrain maturationJournal Article2014-03-1010.1016/j.nicl.2012.09.001