Niche Lab - Neuroimaging In Childhood

Autism research at NICHE

Within NICHE, there are several projects on autism.

The first is our large longitudinal anatomical MR imaging project (main investigator: Marieke Langen), where we acquire multiple MRI scans (structural MRI, DTI and MTR) of children, adolescents and young adults with autism. The first (cross-sectional) data from this project have been analysed and published (see Library). The longitudinal data are currently being processed and analysed. The first results are expected in the summer of 2010.

The first cross-sectional data showed that both gray and white matter in cortico-striatal circuitry - important for flexible behavior in typically developing children - follow a differential developmental trajectory in children with autism. Changes in this circuitry were associated with the severity of the rigid and repetitive behaviour in autism.

In another project (main investigator: Tamar van Raalten) we are further exploring how changes in structural and functional organization of the corticostriatal system contribute to inflexibility and rigidity in autism. With functional MRI, resting state MRI and DTI we are investigating the relationship between brain function, cognitive flexibility and rigidity. This project started in January 2010 and will run for at least three years. From the summer of 2010, Dienke Bos will join this project as a PhD student.

In addition to linking MR measures to behavioural data, we are also investigating how MRI-data relate to genetics. In the project “Imaging genetics in Autism Spectrum Disorders” (main investigator: Sarai van Dijk) we are investigating the effects of autism risk-genes on brain anatomy in autism spectrum disorders. This project started in April 2009 and is expected to end in 2013.