Mapping Thalamocortical Networks Across Development in ASD

绘制自闭症谱系障碍发展过程中丘脑皮质网络的图谱

• 批准号: 8636838
• 负责人: Carissa J Cascio
• 金额: $ 19.58万
• 依托单位: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-03-07 至 2016-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8636838
• 关键词: Accounting; Address; Affect; Age; Animal Model; Area; Base of the Brain; Behavior; Behavioral; Biological Markers; Brain; Child; Clinical; Complex; Data; Development; Diagnostic; Disease; Etiology; Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Functional disorder; Genes; Grant; Hypersensitivity; Individual; Intervention; Investigation; Knowledge; Link; Longevity; Maps; Methods; Motor; Motor Cortex; Neurobiology; Pathology; Pattern; Pervasive Development Disorder; Phenotype; Play; Population; Problem behavior; Rest; Role; Sensory; Sensory Process; Severities; Signal Transduction; Social Interaction; Somatosensory Cortex; Staging; Structure; Symptoms; Tactile; Thalamic Nuclei; Thalamic structure; Time; Work; age group; autism spectrum disorder; base; design; improved; innovation; network dysfunction; neuropathology; public health relevance; sensorimotor system; sensory gating; social communication; somatosensory; young adult

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of pervasive developmental disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and rigid or stereotypical behaviors. These complex behavioral problems arise, in part, from deficits in more basic sensory and motor systems. The thalamus plays a central role in processing sensory information and modulating overall cortical activity. Consequently, dysfunction of the thalamus and its connections with the cortex may account for some of the symptoms of ASD. Indeed, there is growing evidence that the structure and function of the thalamus is abnormal in ASD and contributes to ASD symptoms. Despite emerging evidence of thalamic abnormalities in ASD, several critical gaps in our knowledge about thalamic pathology in ASD remain. First, thalamocortical networks are organized topographically such that separate thalamic nuclei project to specific cortical areas raising the distinct possibility that thalamocortical networks may selectively affected in ASD. Second, we know virtually nothing about the post-natal developmental trajectories of thalamocortical networks in ASD. This is critical given mounting evidence that the developmental trajectories of the brain are altered in ASD. Moreover, the severity of ASD symptoms varies across the lifespan. Consequently, a complete understanding of thalamic circuitry in ASD and the relationship between thalamocortical network disturbances and ASD phenotypes will require systematic mapping of thalamocortical networks across the lifespan. This proposal will begin to address these critical gaps. Using an innovative resting-state fMRI method, we will determine if thalamocortical networks are altered in ASD (Aim 1); examine the developmental trajectories of thalamocortical networks in ASD (Aim 2); and establish the functional relevance of thalamocortical networks to the expression of ASD symptoms (Aim 3). The proposed work will contribute to our understanding of brain-basis of ASD.

描述（由申请人提供）：自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一组普遍性发育障碍，其特征是社交互动和沟通缺陷以及僵化或刻板行为。这些复杂的行为问题部分是由更基本的感觉和运动系统的缺陷引起的。丘脑在处理感觉信息和调节整体皮质活动中发挥着核心作用。因此，丘脑及其与皮质连接的功能障碍可能是自闭症谱系障碍的一些症状的原因。事实上，越来越多的证据表明自闭症患者丘脑的结构和功能异常，并导致自闭症谱系障碍症状。 尽管有新的证据表明自闭症谱系障碍丘脑异常，但我们对自闭症谱系障碍丘脑病理学的了解仍然存在一些关键差距。首先，丘脑皮质网络按地形组织，使得单独的丘脑核团投射到特定的皮质区域，这提高了丘脑皮质网络可能在自闭症谱系障碍中选择性受到影响的明显可能性。其次，我们对自闭症谱系障碍中丘脑皮质网络的产后发育轨迹几乎一无所知。鉴于越来越多的证据表明自闭症谱系障碍患者大脑的发育轨迹发生了改变，这一点至关重要。此外，自闭症谱系障碍症状的严重程度在整个生命周期中各不相同。因此，要全面了解自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 的丘脑回路以及丘脑皮质网络干扰与自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 表型之间的关系，需要系统地绘制整个生命周期的丘脑皮质网络。 该提案将开始解决这些关键差距。使用创新的静息态功能磁共振成像方法，我们将确定自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 中丘脑皮质网络是否发生改变（目标 1）；检查 ASD 丘脑皮质网络的发育轨迹（目标 2）；并建立丘脑皮质网络与 ASD 症状表达的功能相关性（目标 3）。拟议的工作将有助于我们了解自闭症谱系障碍的大脑基础。