Neuroanatomy Report: Future of Neuroanatomy in Autism Spectrum

This report analyzes the implications of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on neuroanatomy, particularly focusing on brain overgrowth as evidenced by MRI scans and local gyrification index (lGI). The study, referencing Kohli et al. (2018), discusses how lGI can reveal aberrant cortical expansion in ASD. The report highlights findings suggesting a bilateral decrease in lGI with age, especially in the frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. It also addresses the limitations of the studies, such as the impact of patient movement during MRI and the cross-sectional nature of the data, which may not accurately reflect age trajectories. The report suggests future directions for neuroanatomy research, including the use of real-time motion correction in MRI, longitudinal studies to track age trajectories, and the incorporation of novel techniques to examine microstructural changes. It emphasizes the importance of considering factors like cognitive ability, sex, and age in future studies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of ASD.

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NEUROANATOMY
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Neuroanatomy
Autism spectrum disorders are associated with an early brain overgrowth as evidenced by an
extensive MRI. As discussed by Kohli et al., 2018, local gyrification can be used to show the
timing and distribution of aberrant cortical expansion in autism spectral disorders. From the two
studies conducted, the first study revealed that local gyrification index decreased in a bilateral
manner with age. The decrease was steeper in autism spectrum disorder right frontal and
temporal and left parietal and temporal regions (p. 2412). The findings from the second study
were consistent as expected, however, they were not extensive. The findings also suggested that
an early overgrowth may be difficult to detect in later childhoods in autism spectrum disorder.
These findings are important in the way they are going to affect neuroanatomy in the future. In
this paper, we will discuss the implications of these findings on the future of neuroanatomy.
Firstly, it is important to note that this study hugely relied on the quality assurance that was
based on careful inspection and the elimination of data. It is, however, important to note that
individuals with advanced symptoms of autism spectrum disorder may not be able to remain still
in the MRI scan. This is why some of the findings were not consistent as by the inability to
extensively explore the statistical distribution of local gyrification index across the cortex. The
future of neuroanatomy may, therefore, try to correct this by employing the use of real-time
prospective motion correction in MRI scanning. This real-time prospective motion correction can
help in limiting the motion of the head during scanning to attain better results (White et al., 2010,
p. 93).
Additionally, it is important to note that the findings of the study were cross-sectional. The
findings, therefore, did not properly track age trajectories. There could be a possibility that the
findings of the study instead of reflecting accurate developmental trajectories, reflected cohort

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differences. In the future, neuroanatomy may aim to be more conclusive in testing age
trajectories of the various cortical features of morphology. A change could thus be seen where
longitudinal data are used in the study to appropriately establish findings. Longitudinal data will
test the same samples of data used across different points in time (Donovan and Basson, 2017, p.
7). In the context of neuroanatomy and autism spectrum disorder, longitudinal data will help in
knowing whether the local gyrification index of the children tested reduced with age in autism
spectral disorder over an extended time or if there could be variations over that given period.
Finally, there may be a need to use novel techniques in future studies of the neuroanatomy of
autism. These techniques will try to examine the source of changes in cortical variability at the
level of microstructure (Chen et al., 2011, p. 64). It is important to note that the development of
the brain depends on several factors that include cognitive ability, sex, and age. If these factors
can be considered in the future studies of neuroanatomy then we may find better analysis of
autism spectrum disorder and consequently more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

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Reference
Chen, R., Jiao, Y. and Herskovits, E.H., 2011. Structural MRI in autism spectrum
disorder. Pediatr Res, 69(5 Pt 2), pp.63R-8R.
Donovan, A.P. and Basson, M.A., 2017. The neuroanatomy of autism–a developmental
perspective. Journal of anatomy, 230(1), pp.4-15.
Kohli, J.S., Kinnear, M.K., Fong, C.H., Fishman, I., Carper, R.A. and Müller, R.A., 2018. Local
Cortical Gyrification is Increased in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, but Decreases
Rapidly in Adolescents. Cerebral Cortex, 29(6), pp.2412-2423.
White, N., Roddey, C., Shankaranarayanan, A., Han, E., Rettmann, D., Santos, J., Kuperman, J.
and Dale, A., 2010. PROMO: real‐time prospective motion correction in MRI using image‐based
tracking. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine: An Official Journal of the International Society for
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 63(1), pp.91-105.