Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • CONTENT
    • Early Release
    • Featured
    • Current Issue
    • Issue Archive
    • Collections
    • Podcast
  • ALERTS
  • FOR AUTHORS
    • Information for Authors
    • Fees
    • Journal Clubs
    • eLetters
    • Submit
    • Special Collections
  • EDITORIAL BOARD
    • Editorial Board
    • ECR Advisory Board
    • Journal Staff
  • ABOUT
    • Overview
    • Advertise
    • For the Media
    • Rights and Permissions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Feedback
    • Accessibility
  • SUBSCRIBE

User menu

  • Log out
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Neuroscience
  • Log out
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Neuroscience

Advanced Search

Submit a Manuscript
  • HOME
  • CONTENT
    • Early Release
    • Featured
    • Current Issue
    • Issue Archive
    • Collections
    • Podcast
  • ALERTS
  • FOR AUTHORS
    • Information for Authors
    • Fees
    • Journal Clubs
    • eLetters
    • Submit
    • Special Collections
  • EDITORIAL BOARD
    • Editorial Board
    • ECR Advisory Board
    • Journal Staff
  • ABOUT
    • Overview
    • Advertise
    • For the Media
    • Rights and Permissions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Feedback
    • Accessibility
  • SUBSCRIBE
PreviousNext
Articles, Development/Plasticity/Repair

Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Cortical Development through Early Childhood in Autism

Cynthia M. Schumann, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Cynthia Carter Barnes, Graham M. Wideman, Ruth A. Carper, Natacha Akshoomoff, Karen Pierce, Donald Hagler, Nicholas Schork, Catherine Lord and Eric Courchesne
Journal of Neuroscience 24 March 2010, 30 (12) 4419-4427; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5714-09.2010
Cynthia M. Schumann
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Cinnamon S. Bloss
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Cynthia Carter Barnes
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Graham M. Wideman
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Ruth A. Carper
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Natacha Akshoomoff
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Karen Pierce
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Donald Hagler
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Nicholas Schork
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Catherine Lord
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Eric Courchesne
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF
Loading

Article Figures & Data

Figures

  • Tables
  • Figure 1.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 1.

    Axial section as shown in GWseg, displaying semimanual local threshold segmentation of cerebrum into cerebral gray matter (GM) and cerebral white matter (WM) (a) and resulting tissue classification used by Freesurfer to determine gray/white surface (b).

  • Figure 2.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 2.

    Surface parcellation of cerebral gray (adapted from Desikan et al., 2006).

  • Figure 3.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 3.

    Coronal images indicating parcellation boundaries for lobe regions of cerebral gray.

  • Figure 4.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 4.

    Total cerebral volume (Vol) growth trajectory for males (○) and females (□). Dotted lines represent each subject's volume measurements; solid lines are autistic disorder (red) and typical control (blue) group quadratic growth regression curves. mo, Months.

  • Figure 5.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 5.

    Cerebral gray (left) and white (right) matter volume growth trajectories for males (○) and females (□). Dotted lines represent each subject's volume measurements; solid lines are autistic disorder (red) and typical control (blue) group quadratic growth regression curves.

  • Figure 6.
    • Download figure
    • Open in new tab
    • Download powerpoint
    Figure 6.

    Frontal (left) and temporal (right) gray matter volume growth trajectories for males (○) and females (□). Dotted lines represent each subject's volume measurements; solid lines are autistic disorder (red) and typical control (blue) group quadratic growth regression curves.

Tables

  • Figures
    • View popup
    Table 1.

    Subject and diagnostic data at final clinical visit

    Autistic disorder (n = 41)Typical (n = 44)
    MaleFemaleMaleFemale
    Number of subjects3293212
    Age range at MRI (months)22–6726–5812–6312–61
    Mean age at final clinical visit (months)49 ± 149 ± 1044 ± 346 ± 1
    Full-scale IQ57 ± 1857 ± 23111 ± 16116 ± 15
    Verbal IQ50 ± 1950 ± 29112 ± 17116 ± 15
    Performance IQ63 ± 1962 ± 21107 ± 20115 ± 16
    ADI-R Social18 ± 518 ± 6n/an/a
    ADI-R NV Comm.9 ± 39 ± 3n/an/a
    ADI-R RnR6 ± 25 ± 2n/an/a
    Vineland Social66 ± 964 ± 797 ± 8102 ± 15
    Vineland Comm.66 ± 1162 ± 16108 ± 11105 ± 9
    Vineland ABC63 ± 864 ± 11100 ± 10106 ± 12
    • n/a, Not applicable; NV Comm., nonverbal communication; RnR, restricted and repetitive.

    • View popup
    Table 2.

    Number of successful scans per subject by diagnostic group and the average number and range of months between scans

    Numberof scansAutisticdisorderTypicalMean number andrange of monthsbetween scansTotal numberof scans
    1151227
    2161417 (7–25)60
    36810 (5–19)42
    4358 (3–19)32
    5049 (5–20)20
    6115 (0–8)12
    Total number of subjects4144193
    • View popup
    Table 3.

    Cross-sectional volumetric analyses (ANCOVA with gender and age at MRI scan as covariates) at ∼2.5 years of age for combined sample of males and females with autistic disorder compared with typically developing controls

    Autisticdisorder (n = 41)Control(n = 44)Significance(p value)Percentagedifference
    Mean age at MRI (months)32 ± 930 ± 110.182
    Total cerebrum (cm3)984 ± 76920 ± 850.018*7%
    Total white (cm3)307 ± 32277 ± 470.050*10%
    Total gray (cm3)676 ± 59643 ± 540.046*5%
    Frontal gray (cm3)232 ± 24218 ± 190.038*6%
    Temporal gray (cm3)142 ± 14131 ± 130.008**9%
    Cingulate gray (cm3)26 ± 324 ± 30.0978%
    Parietal gray (cm3)165 ± 15160 ± 150.2894%
    Occipital gray (cm3)80 ± 878 ± 90.2253%
    • ↵*p ≤ 0.05;

    • ↵**p ≤ 0.01.

    • View popup
    Table 4.

    Results of best-fit mixed-effects model analyses in a combined sample of males and females with autistic disorder compared with typically developing controls

    RegionGenderLinear ageDiagnosisDiagnosis × linear ageQuadratic ageDiagnosis × quadratic age
    Total cerebrum0.003a<0.0001a0.2220.546<0.0001a<0.001a
    Total white0.111<0.0001a0.7130.264<0.0001a0.051a
    Total gray0.002a<0.0001a0.1330.8390.002a0.073a
    Frontal gray0.002a<0.0001a0.027a
    Temporal gray0.007a<0.0001a0.008a0.9720.0620.058a
    Cingulate gray0.120<0.0001a0.4640.959<0.0001a0.010a
    Parietal gray0.053<0.0001a0.6470.3520.008a0.027a
    Occipital gray0.001a<0.0001a0.6200.009a
    • Bold indicates a significant difference between autistic disorder and control.

    • ↵aSignificant effect.

    • View popup
    Table 5.

    Significant differences from best-fit model analyses of males with autistic disorder compared with typically developing controls

    RegionLinear ageDiagnosisDiagnosis × linear ageQuadratic ageDiagnosis × quadratic age
    Total cerebrum<0.0001a0.4300.559<0.0001a0.009a
    Frontal gray<0.0001a0.081a
    Temporal gray<0.0001a0.018a
    Cingulate gray<0.0001a0.9700.760<0.0001a0.030a
    • Bold indicates a significant difference between autistic disorder and control.

    • ↵aSignificant effect.

    • View popup
    Table 6.

    Significant differences from best-fit model analyses of females with autistic disorder compared with typically developing controls

    RegionLinear ageDiagnosisDiagnosis × linear ageQuadratic ageDiagnosis × quadratic age
    Total cerebrum<0.0001a0.2730.029a<0.0001a0.019a
    Total white<0.0001a0.4800.001a<0.0001a0.002a
    Total gray<0.0001a0.2300.021a0.002a
    Frontal gray<0.0001a0.4000.010a0.007a
    Temporal gray<0.0001a0.069a0.6600.008a0.078a
    Cingulate gray<0.0001a0.052a0.001a
    • Bold indicates a significant difference between autistic disorder and control.

    • ↵aSignificant effect.

Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of Neuroscience: 30 (12)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 30, Issue 12
24 Mar 2010
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
  • Advertising (PDF)
  • Ed Board (PDF)
Email

Thank you for sharing this Journal of Neuroscience article.

NOTE: We request your email address only to inform the recipient that it was you who recommended this article, and that it is not junk mail. We do not retain these email addresses.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Cortical Development through Early Childhood in Autism
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Journal of Neuroscience
(Your Name) thought you would be interested in this article in Journal of Neuroscience.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Print
View Full Page PDF
Citation Tools
Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Cortical Development through Early Childhood in Autism
Cynthia M. Schumann, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Cynthia Carter Barnes, Graham M. Wideman, Ruth A. Carper, Natacha Akshoomoff, Karen Pierce, Donald Hagler, Nicholas Schork, Catherine Lord, Eric Courchesne
Journal of Neuroscience 24 March 2010, 30 (12) 4419-4427; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5714-09.2010

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Respond to this article
Request Permissions
Share
Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Cortical Development through Early Childhood in Autism
Cynthia M. Schumann, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Cynthia Carter Barnes, Graham M. Wideman, Ruth A. Carper, Natacha Akshoomoff, Karen Pierce, Donald Hagler, Nicholas Schork, Catherine Lord, Eric Courchesne
Journal of Neuroscience 24 March 2010, 30 (12) 4419-4427; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5714-09.2010
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Materials and Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF

Responses to this article

Respond to this article

Jump to comment:

No eLetters have been published for this article.

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

Articles

  • Memory Retrieval Has a Dynamic Influence on the Maintenance Mechanisms That Are Sensitive to ζ-Inhibitory Peptide (ZIP)
  • Neurophysiological Evidence for a Cortical Contribution to the Wakefulness-Related Drive to Breathe Explaining Hypocapnia-Resistant Ventilation in Humans
  • Monomeric Alpha-Synuclein Exerts a Physiological Role on Brain ATP Synthase
Show more Articles

Development/Plasticity/Repair

  • Developmental Changes in Brain Cellular Membrane and Energy Metabolism: A Multi-Occasion 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
  • The Epigenetic Reader PHF23 Is Required for Embryonic Neurogenesis
  • Microglia Support Both the Singular Form of LTP Expressed by the Lateral Perforant Path and Episodic Memory
Show more Development/Plasticity/Repair
  • Home
  • Alerts
  • Follow SFN on BlueSky
  • Visit Society for Neuroscience on Facebook
  • Follow Society for Neuroscience on Twitter
  • Follow Society for Neuroscience on LinkedIn
  • Visit Society for Neuroscience on Youtube
  • Follow our RSS feeds

Content

  • Early Release
  • Current Issue
  • Issue Archive
  • Collections

Information

  • For Authors
  • For Advertisers
  • For the Media
  • For Subscribers

About

  • About the Journal
  • Editorial Board
  • Privacy Notice
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
(JNeurosci logo)
(SfN logo)

Copyright © 2025 by the Society for Neuroscience.
JNeurosci Online ISSN: 1529-2401

The ideas and opinions expressed in JNeurosci do not necessarily reflect those of SfN or the JNeurosci Editorial Board. Publication of an advertisement or other product mention in JNeurosci should not be construed as an endorsement of the manufacturer’s claims. SfN does not assume any responsibility for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising from or related to any use of any material contained in JNeurosci.