孤独症谱系障碍儿童感觉特征与脑灰质体积的相关性

目的 探讨孤独症谱系障碍(ASD)儿童感觉特征与脑灰质体积的潜在关联，为ASD儿童的诊断和治疗提供依据。方法 选取在西安市ASD诊疗机构就诊或康复的40名ASD和在西安市多所幼儿园公开招募的16名正常发育(TD)儿童，采用感觉讯息处理及自我调节功能检查表评估感觉特征，采用3D TIWI采集脑结构图像，利用基于体素的形态学测量方法分析脑灰质体积。将感觉特征和脑灰质体积进行组间比较，并分析感觉特征与脑灰质体积的相关性。结果 ASD组的听觉、视觉、触觉、感觉讯息处理功能及对感觉刺激的反应-不足得分均低于TD组(Z/t值分别为-2.63,-2.57,-3.11,-2.19,-3.83,P值均<0.05)。ASD组有左侧小脑后下叶、右侧小脑后下叶、右海马旁回、左岛叶、左额内侧回、左枕上回、右枕上回、右上顶叶及右中央后回脑灰质体积较TD组增大(t值分别为3.53,3.69,3.37,3.86,3.61,3.37,4.04,3.38,3.16,P值均<0.01)。ASD组视觉、前庭平衡觉、本体感觉、感觉讯息处理功能、对感觉刺激的寻求及对感觉刺激的反应-过度强烈得分与左枕上回灰质体积均呈负...

Relationship between sensory characteristics and gray matter volumes in children with autism spectrum disorders

  Objective  To investigate the potential relationship between sensory characteristics and gray matter volumes in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of children with ASD.  Methods  A total of 40 ASD children who were treated or recovered in Xi'an medical institutions and 16 typically developing (TD) children who were from several kindergatens in Xi'an were invited for participation. Sensory characteristics were evaluated by the sensory processing and self-regulation checklist, 3D structural brain images were obtained with TIWI, and gray matter volumes were analyzed by voxel-based morphometry. Sensory characteristics and gray matter volumes were compared between groups and the relationship between sensory characteristics and different gray matter volumes were analyzed.  Results  The scores of auditory, visual, tactile, sensory processing ability and sensory under-responsivity in the ASD group were lower than those in the TD group (Z/t=-2.63, -2.57, -3.11, -2.19, -3.83, P < 0.05). Gray matter volumes in nine brain regions increased in the ASD group compared to the TD group, including the left and right posterior inferior lobe, right parahippocamal gyrus, left insula, left media frontal gyrus, left superion occipital gyrus, right superion occipital gyrus, right superion parietal lobe, and right posterion central gyrus (t=3.53, 3.69, 3.37, 3.86, 3.61, 3.37, 4.04, 3.38, 3.16, P < 0.01). In the ASD group, the scores of visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, sensory processing ability, sensory-seeking behavior and sensory over-responsivity were negatively correlated with gray matter volumes of left superior occipital gyrus (r=-0.36, -0.40, -0.39, -0.36, -0.40, -0.36), and the scores of visual, vestibular, and sensory over-responsivity were negatively correlated with gray matter volumes of the right superior parietal lobule (r=-0.36, -0.50, -0.42)(P < 0.05).  Conclusion  The presence of paresthesia in children with ASD is associated with gray matter volumes of the left superior occipital gyrus and right superior parietal lobule.