Relationship between sensory characteristics and cortical thickness/volume in autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) exhibit atypical sensory characteristics, impaired social skills, deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. The relationship between sensory characteristics and brain morphological changes in ASD remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between brain morphological changes and sensory characteristics in individuals with ASD using brain image analysis and a sensory profile test. Forty-three adults with ASD and 84 adults with typical development underwent brain image analysis using FreeSurfer. The brain cortex was divided into 64 regions, and the cortical thickness and volume of the limbic system were calculated. The sensory characteristics of the participants were evaluated using the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP). Correlation analysis was performed for cortical thickness, limbic area volume, and AASP scores. In the ASD group, there was a significant positive correlation between visual sensory sensitivity scores and the right lingual cortical thickness (r = 0.500). There were also significant negative correlations between visual sensation avoiding scores and the right lateral orbitofrontal cortical thickness (r = -0.513), taste/smell sensation avoiding scores and the right hippocampal volume (r = -0.510), and taste/smell sensation avoiding scores and the left hippocampal volume (r = -0.540). The study identified associations among the lingual cortical thickness, lateral orbitofrontal cortical thickness, and hippocampal volume and sensory characteristics. These findings suggest that brain morphological changes may trigger sensory symptoms in adults with ASD.

Fig. 1. Relationship between sensory profile and social behavior scores in the ASD group.

Red colors indicate positive correlations. Bule color indicate negative correlations. Numbers in box indicate correlations coefficients. ASD autism spectrum disorder, AQ autism spectrum quotient, SRS social responsiveness scale. *** P ≤ 0.001.

Fig. 2. Relationship between AASP scores and cortical thickness.

A Significant correlation between visual sensory sensitivity scores on the AASP and the right lingual cortical thickness in the ASD group (TD: p = 0.452, r = 0.085; ASD: p < 0.001, r = 0.500). The group differences of correlations between the two groups (z = 3.28, p = 0.001). B Significant correlation between visual sensation avoiding scores on the AASP and the right lateral orbitofrontal cortical thickness in the ASD group (TD: p = 0.488, r = −0.078; ASD: p < 0.001, r = −0.513). The group differences of correlations between the two groups (z = 2.57, p = 0.011). AASP Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, ASD autism spectrum disorder, TD typically developing.

Fig. 3. Relationship between AASP scores and limbic volume in the ASD group.

A Significant correlation between taste/smell sensation avoiding scores and the right hippocampal volume in the ASD group (TD: p = 0.078, r = −0.197; ASD: p < 0.001, r = −0.510). B Significant correlation between taste/smell sensation avoiding scores and the left hippocampal volume in the ASD group (TD: p = 0.027, r = −0.246; ASD: p < 0.001, r = −0.540). AASP Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, ASD autism spectrum disorder, TD typically developing.