Multimodal Brain Imaging in Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Promise of Twin Research

Autor/inn/en	Mevel, Katell; Fransson, Peter; Bölte, Sven
Titel	Multimodal Brain Imaging in Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Promise of Twin Research
Quelle	In: Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 19 (2015) 5, S.527-541 (15 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1362-3613
DOI	10.1177/1362361314535510
Schlagwörter	Autism; Twins; Brain Hemisphere Functions; Diagnostic Tests; Scientific Research; Genetics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Neurology; Biology; Models; Correlation + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Autismus; Twin; Zwilling; Diagnostic test; Diagnostischer Test; Humangenetik; Neurologie; Biologie; Analogiemodell; Korrelation
Abstract	Current evidence suggests the phenotype of autism spectrum disorder to be driven by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors impacting onto brain maturation, synaptic function, and cortical networks. However, findings are heterogeneous, and the exact neurobiological pathways of autism spectrum disorder still remain poorly understood. The co-twin control or twin-difference design is a potentially powerful tool to disentangle causal genetic and environmental contributions on neurodevelopment in autism spectrum disorder. To this end, monozygotic twins discordant for this condition provide unique means for the maximum control of potentially confounding factors. Unfortunately, only few studies of a rather narrow scope, and limited sample size, have been conducted. In an attempt to highlight the great potential of combining the brain connectome approach with monozygotic twin design, we first give an overview of the existing neurobiological evidence for autism spectrum disorder and its cognitive correlates. Then, a special focus is made onto the brain imaging findings reported within populations of monozygotic twins phenotypically discordant for autism spectrum disorder. Finally, we introduce the brain connectome model and describe an ongoing project using this approach among the largest cohort of monozygotic twins discordant for autism spectrum disorder ever recruited. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01