Associate Provost for Research Boston University Medical Campus
NINDS - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke	Research Resources

Abstract

Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Autism is a developmental disorder with impairments in language and communication as primary diagnostic criteria. Family studies of children with autism have noted similar features, or a "broader phenotype," in some first-degree relatives, including impairments in language functioning. Recent imaging studies in children with autism have found structural abnormalities in language association cortex, white matter overgrowth in areas underlying language regions, and evidence of underconnectivity between brain regions critical for complex language. We hypothesize that abnormalities in language-related cortex and decreased structural integrity of white matter connecting these regions are heritable neurobiological markers of language impairment in autism, and the heritable nature of autism suggests that siblings of children with autism may also exhibit these abnormalities. The proposed studies will provide insight into the etiology of language impairment in autism and will help to define genetic subgroups based on neurobiological markers that will complement existing behavioral phenotypes.

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Institution:	BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
	715 ALBANY ST, 560
	BOSTON, MA 021182394
Fiscal Year:	2006
Department:	ANATOMY AND NEUROBIOLOGY
Project Start:	01-JUL-2006
Project End:	30-JUN-2011
ICD:	NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
IRG:	ZNS1