Altered cortical gyrification, sulcal depth, and fractal dimension in the autism spectrum disorder comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder than the autism spectrum disorder. Issue 2 (17th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Yajue; Luo, Jiawen; Chen, Songjian; Lin, Qiwen; Kuang, Changyi; Rao, Yuyang; Zhang, Xuebiao; Huang, Yanping; Ma, Lijun; Lin, Jiabao
• Is Part Of: NeuroReport. Volume 34:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 93
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2022-12-17
• Subjects: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- autism spectrum disorder -- comorbidity -- gyrification -- fractal dimension -- sulcal depth; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001864
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4965

Abstract

Abstract : Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently occurs accompanied by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which catches increasing attention. The comorbid diagnosis of ASD with ADHD (ASD + ADHD) is permitted in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). However, compared to autism spectrum disorder without other symptoms (ASD-only), the special neural underpinnings in ASD+ADHD remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to uncover the differences in cortical complexity between ASD + ADHD and ASD-only patients. A total of 114 ASD participants (i.e. containing 40 ASD + ADHD and 74 ASD-only participants) with T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were collected from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange II. Afterward, a surface-based morphometry method was carried out to compare the cortical complexity (i.e. gyrification index, fractal dimension, and sulcal depth) between the ASD + ADHD and ASD-only cohorts. Results showed the increased fractal dimension in the right fusiform gyrus of the ASD + ADHD cohort in comparison to the ASD-only cohort. Moreover, the ASD + ADHD cohort exhibited increased sulcal depth in the left middle temporal gyrus/inferior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus compared to the ASD-only cohort. Last but not least, the increased gyrification index in the insula/postcentral gyrus was observed in the ASD + ADHD cohort in comparison to the ASD-only cohort. Overall, the present study contributes to the delineation of particular structural abnormalities in ASD + ADHD than ASD-only, enriching the evidence of the combined phenotype of ASD + ADHD.