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Abstract #2337

A Combined Study of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging Revealed Neuronal Tract Associated with Autistic Tendency

Tetsuya Iidaka1, Makoto Miyakoshi2, Tokiko Harada3, Toshiharu Nakai4

1Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; 2Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, Institute for Neural Computation, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; 3NIPS, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; 4Neuroimaging & Informatics, NCGG, Ohbu, Aichi, Japan

We performed fMRI in combination with DTI in 30 healthy young subjects. Face-specific brain activation in the superior temporal sulcus (STS) and amygdala (AMG) was identified. Probabilistic tractography indicated a white matter pathway between the face-specific regions of interest in the STS and AMG. The volume of connectivity between the STS and AMG correlated positively with the total AQ score (p<0.05); however, among the AQ subscales, only imagination was significantly associated with the connectivity volume. Healthy subjects with high autistic traits may show an increase in the white matter pathway that connects key regions involved in face processing.

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Keywords

ability action activation allows alterations among asked attention autism autistic baron bold combined communicate communication complete computation computational computed condition conditions conducted connectivity consider consisting continuously contrast correlate correlated correlates correlation cortex defined delineate details determining diffusion disorders distributed dysfunction exceeded expressions face faces female finally function functional future general goal graduate greater hand healthy help hemisphere human imagination imitation important indicates individuals informatics institute investigated involved involving japan known larger limited local male mask measured medicine mirror neural neuron neuronal nips nonverbally others passive patients perceived perception play population positive positively probabilistic processing psychiatry putative questionnaire quotient rank recognition related relatedness representative respect reveal revealed role scale scanner school score scores selective shape shapes significantly since slices social spectrum statistically subject subjects substrates superior switching symptoms system task temporal tended tendency tensor tract traits trio uncorrected underlie verbally version versus viewing volume volunteers whereas whether white women word words years