Neural Correlates of Inhibitory Control in Children: Evidence Using MRI and fNIRS.

Inhibitory control (IC) develops in stages from infancy through adolescence and is associated with numerous developmental disorders and learning outcomes. This study examined how neural architecture - in particular myelination - underlies brain activation patterns observed during IC tasks in a sample of 28 children aged 4-10 years old. IC was observed using reaction times during go/no-go and flanker IC tasks.

White matter microstructure as a potential contributor to differences in resting state alpha activity between neurotypical and autistic children: a longitudinal multimodal imaging study.

We and others have demonstrated the resting-state (RS) peak alpha frequency (PAF) as a potential clinical marker for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with previous studies observing a higher PAF in school-age children with ASD versus typically developing (TD) children, as well as an association between the RS PAF and measures of processing speed in TD but not ASD. The brain mechanisms associated with these findings are unknown. A few studies have found that in children more mature optic radiation white matter is associated with a higher PAF.

Tract- and gray matter- based spatial statistics show white matter and gray matter microstructural differences in autistic males.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition commonly studied in the context of early childhood. As ASD is a life-long condition, understanding the characteristics of brain microstructure from adolescence into adulthood and associations to clinical features is critical for improving outcomes across the lifespan. In the current work, we utilized Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and Gray Matter Based Spatial Statistics (GBSS) to examine the white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) microstructure in neurotypical (NT) and autistic males.

A comparison of resting-state eyes-closed and dark-room alpha-band activity in children.

In a relaxed and awake state with the eyes closed, 8-12 Hz neural oscillations are the dominant rhythm, most prominent in parietal-occipital regions. Resting-state (RS) alpha is associated with processing speed and is also thought to be central to how networks process information. Unfortunately, the RS eyes-closed (EC) exam can only be used with individuals who can remain awake with their eyes closed for an extended period.

Gray matter microstructure differences in autistic males: A gray matter based spatial statistics study.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition. Understanding the brain's microstructure and its relationship to clinical characteristics is important to advance our understanding of the neural supports underlying ASD. In the current work, we implemented Gray-Matter Based Spatial Statistics (GBSS) to examine and characterize cortical microstructure and assess differences between typically developing (TD) and autistic males.

Automated motion artifact detection in early pediatric diffusion MRI using a convolutional neural network.

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a widely used method to investigate the microstructure of the brain. Quality control (QC) of dMRI data is an important processing step that is performed prior to analysis using models such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) or neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI). When processing dMRI data from infants and young children, where intra-scan motion is common, the identification and removal of motion artifacts is of the utmost importance.

Applications of advanced diffusion MRI in early brain development: a comprehensive review.

Brain development follows a protracted developmental timeline with foundational processes of neurodevelopment occurring from the third trimester of gestation into the first decade of life. Defining structural maturational patterns of early brain development is a critical step in detecting divergent developmental trajectories associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders that arise later in life. While considerable advancements have already been made in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) for pediatric research over the past three decades, the field of neurodevelopment is still in its infancy with remarkable scientific and clinical potential.

Differential Maturation of Auditory Cortex Activity in Young Children with Autism and Typical Development.

Maturation of auditory cortex neural encoding processes was assessed in children with typical development (TD) and autism. Children 6-9 years old were enrolled at Time 1 (T1), with follow-up data obtained ~ 18 months later at Time 2 (T2), and ~ 36 months later at Time 3 (T3). Findings suggested an initial period of rapid auditory cortex maturation in autism, earlier than TD (prior to and surrounding the T1 exam), followed by a period of faster maturation in TD than autism (T1-T3).

Peak Alpha Frequency and Thalamic Structure in Children with Typical Development and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Associations between age, resting-state (RS) peak-alpha-frequency (PAF = frequency showing largest amplitude alpha activity), and thalamic volume (thalamus thought to modulate alpha activity) were examined to understand differences in RS alpha activity between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically-developing children (TDC) noted in prior studies. RS MEG and structural-MRI data were obtained from 51 ASD and 70 TDC 6- to 18-year-old males. PAF and thalamic volume maturation were observed in TDC but not ASD.

MEG-PLAN: a clinical and technical protocol for obtaining magnetoencephalography data in minimally verbal or nonverbal children who have autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Neuroimaging research on individuals who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has historically been limited primarily to those with age-appropriate cognitive and language performance. Children with limited abilities are frequently excluded from such neuroscience research given anticipated barriers like tolerating the loud sounds associated with magnetic resonance imaging and remaining still during data collection. To better understand brain function across the full range of ASD there is a need to (1) include individuals with limited cognitive and language performance in neuroimaging research (non-sedated, awake) and (2) improve data quality across the performance range.

Abnormal Auditory Mismatch Fields in Children and Adolescents with 47,XYY Syndrome.

47,XYY syndrome (XYY) is one of the common forms of sex chromosome aneuploidy in males. XYY males tend to have tall stature, early speech, motor delays, social and behavioral challenges, and a high rate of language impairment. Recent studies indicate that 20-40% of males with XYY meet diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD; the rate in the general population is 1-2%).

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Demonstrate Regionally Specific Altered Resting-State Phase-Amplitude Coupling.

Studies suggest that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit altered electrophysiological alpha to gamma phase-amplitude coupling (PAC). Preliminary reports with small samples report conflicting findings regarding the directionality of the alpha to gamma PAC alterations in ASD. The present study examined resting-state activity throughout the brain in a relatively large sample of 119 children with ASD and 47 typically developing children.