A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic study in autism spectrum disorders: Amygdala and orbito-frontal cortex

We previously reported neural dysfunction in the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in autistic patients using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). In this investigation, we measured chemical metabolites in the left amygdala and the bilateral orbito-frontal cortex (OFC), which are the main components of the social brain. We also examined the association between these metabolic findings and social abilities in subjects with autism. The study group included 77 autistic patients (3–6 years old; mean age 4.1; 57 boys and 20 girls). The control subjects were 31 children (3–6 years old; mean age 4.0; 23 boys and 8 girls). Conventional proton MR spectra were obtained using the STEAM sequence with parameters of TR = 5 sec and TE = 15 msec by a 1.5-tesla clinical MRI system. We analyzed the concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr), and choline-containing compounds (Cho) using LCModel (Ver. 6.1). The concentrations of NAA in the left amygdala and the bilateral OFC in autistic patients were significantly decreased compared to those in the control group. In the autistic patients, the NAA concentrations in these regions correlated with their social quotient. These findings suggest the presence of neuronal dysfunction in the amygdala and OFC in autism. Dysfunction in the amygdala and OFC may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism.