Abstract #2497

Atypical White Matter Microstructural Integrity Pattern in Children with High Functioning Autism & Low Functioning Autism Identified with Tract Based Spatial Statistics

Vijay Narayan Tiwari^1,2, Jeong-Won Jeong¹, Senthil K. Sundaram¹, Harry T. Chugani³, Diane C. Chugani⁴

¹Pediatrics, Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; ²PET Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, United States; ³Pediatrics, Neurology, Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; ⁴Pediatrics, Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States

In this study, we have applied tract based spatial statistics (TBSS) to assess fractional anisotropy (FA) derived from DTI data in children with ASD with normal cognitive function (high functioning autism, HFA) or with impaired cognitive function (low functioning autism, LFA) compared to a group of typically developing children. The LFA group has more extensive involvement of cerebellum and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) as compared to the HFA group. Bilateral clusters in the region of thalamus were found in LFA group whereas bilateral parahippocampal clusters were exclusively observed in HFA group.