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Review
. 2024 Jan 15;95(2):102-111.
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.015. Epub 2023 Aug 29.

Developmental Disruptions of the Dorsal Striatum in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Maya M Evans  1 , Jaekyoon Kim  2 , Ted Abel  2 , Thomas Nickl-Jockschat  3 , Hanna E Stevens  4
Affiliations
Review

Developmental Disruptions of the Dorsal Striatum in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Maya M Evans et al. Biol Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social and communication deficits as well as patterns of restricted, repetitive behavior. Abnormal brain development has long been postulated to underlie ASD, but longitudinal studies aimed at understanding the developmental course of the disorder have been limited. More recently, abnormal development of the striatum in ASD has become an area of interest in research, partially due to overlap of striatal functions and deficit areas in ASD, as well as the critical role of the striatum in early development, when ASD is first detected. Focusing on the dorsal striatum and the associated symptom domain of restricted, repetitive behavior, we review the current literature on dorsal striatal abnormalities in ASD, including studies on functional connectivity, morphometry, and cellular and molecular substrates. We highlight that observed striatal abnormalities in ASD are often dynamic across development, displaying disrupted developmental trajectories. Important findings include an abnormal trajectory of increasing corticostriatal functional connectivity with age and increased striatal growth during childhood in ASD. We end by discussing striatal findings from animal models of ASD. In sum, the studies reviewed here demonstrate a key role for developmental disruptions of the dorsal striatum in the pathogenesis of ASD. Directing attention toward these findings will improve our understanding of ASD and of how associated deficits may be better addressed.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Clinical studies; Developmental trajectories; Dorsal striatum; Functional connectivity; Striatal morphometry.

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Conflict of interest statement

TA is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of EmbarkNeuro and is a Scientific Advisor to Aditum Bio and Radius Health. All other authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Striatal Circuitry Includes Other Regions Implicated in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Striatal Changes in Autism Spectrum Disorder Exist Within Multiple Domains in Both Clinical Studies and Mouse Models.
A) This panel displays selected correlational findings between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) neurobiology and behavioral characteristics, which suggest roles for specific neurobiological substrates in ASD symptoms. B) Here we highlight three main ways that the trajectory of striatal development across age differs in ASD subjects as compared to comparison subjects. This is not a comprehensive list. C) Here we display selected striatal findings from mouse models relevant to ASD. D) Here we summarize clinical findings on the striatum in ASD weighted by study number and sample size. Sample sizes refer to number of subjects with ASD. Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Early Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) May Contribute to Altered Striatal Development As Well As Behavioral Outcomes.
Created with BioRender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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