Gray Matter Volume and Cortical Thickness of the Theory-

of-Mind Network in Autism Spectrum Disorder

McKensie MacGrath & Rajesh Kana, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology & Center for Innovative Research in Autism
The University of Alabama

ABSTRACT METHODS CURRENT RESULTS & DISCUSSION

• This study will look at whether there are underlying anatomical • The current results of the data analysis suggest that there is no
Theory-of-mind (ToM) is the ability to attribute mental states, differences in the ToM network between ASD and typically significant difference between the Gray Matter Volume of the
including beliefs and goals, to oneself and others. People with developing participants Total Gray Theory-of-Mind Network in ASD and TD participants. The study
Subcortical
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), compared to typically Cortical Gray has also found that there is no correlation between MIE scores
Gray Matter
Matter Volume
Matter
developing (TD) people, have deficits in ToM and have decreased Volume and FIQ scores and Gray Matter Volume or Cortical Thickness.
activation and connectivity of the brain’s ToM network. However, Hypotheses Volume
• The next step is to perform t-tests between the two groups (ASD
there has been limited research on the underlying anatomical • Gray Matter Volume and Cortical Thickness of the ToM network will and TD) on Subcortical Gray Matter Volume, Cortical Gray
structures of the ToM network in ASD. This study examines the be reduced in ASD participants compared to TD participants Matter Volume, Left Hemisphere Cortical Thickness, and Right
• Gray Matter Volume will be reduced in the MPFC, pSTS at the TPJ, Left Right
cortical morphology (Gray Matter Volume and Cortical Cortical Hemisphere Cortical Thickness. Then I will compare the Gray
Hemisphere Hemisphere
Thickness) of the ToM network in individuals with ASD. The and TPs in ASD participants compared to TD participants Cortical Cortical Matter Volume and Cortical Thickness of the MPFC, pSTS at the
current ongoing study uses pre-existing structural MRI and Variables Thickness
Thickness Thickness TPJ, and the TPs.
behavioral data to assess the anatomical differences in the brain’s • Quasi-independent variables: ASD vs. TD participants • This further analysis will allow me to draw conclusions on the
ToM network. • Dependent variables: Gray Matter Volume and Cortical Thickness relationship between the Theory-of-Mind anatomical structures in
Data the brain and deficits in Theory-of Mind in people with ASD.
• Participants: 30 high-functioning ASD and 30 TD participants. • Due to the replication crisis in psychology, I think that it is
INTRODUCTION Participants were between the ages of 16 and 40 years old.
ASD GMV TD GMV Figure 3. The two-
samples t-test of Total important to report all results of data analysis, even the ones that
Participants with ASD had an average age of 22.7 years old and Mean 701479.4 716300.7
Gray Matter Volume are not significant and/or do not support a hypothesis.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental participants with typical development had an average age of 22.7 Variance 3.41E+09 3.24E+09 chart. As can be seen,
disorder that is characterized by: years old. The range of Full-scale IQ for participants was 80 to 140,
Observations 32 34 the two-tailed p-value is FUTURE DIRECTIONS
• Deficits in social communication with an average of 112.6. greater than the a, which
• Restricted/repetitive patterns of behaviors and • MRI Data Acquisition: High resolution T1 weighted anatomical Hypothesized
Mean Difference 0 is .05. This supports the • The current results of the study are not in support of the
interests images were acquired using a Siemens Allegra 3 Tesla MRI scanner df 64 acceptance of the null current research findings that deficits in social interaction and
• Theory-of-Mind (ToM) is the ability to attribute mental states, (Siemens Medical Inc., Erlangen, Germany); Other parameters hypothesis. communication in people with ASD correspond to differences
including beliefs and goals, to oneself and others include: 160 slice 3D MPRAGE volume scan (TR=200 ms, TE=3.34 t Stat -1.04347 in the anatomical structures in the brain, like white and gray
• Studies have shown that people with ASD have ms, flip angle=12, FOV=25.6, 256 x 256 matrix size, 1 mm slice P(T<=t) one-tail 0.150327 matter.
deficits in ToM compared to typically developing thickness). • This suggests that further research is needed on this topic.
(TD) individuals Current Data Analysis t Critical one-tail 1.669013
• The conclusions of this study, whether rejecting or supporting
• The brain’s ToM network consists of: • Structural data were analyzed using FreeSurfer image analysis suite, P(T<=t) two-tail 0.300654 my hypotheses, will draw questions on the developmental
• Medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) which is documented and freely available
t Critical two-tail 1.99773
aspect of ASD. A future direction of this type of research
• Posterior superior temporal sulcus (http://surfer.nmr.mgh.Harvard.edu/). The technical details of these would be to look at the Gray Matter Volume and Cortical
(pSTS) at the temporoparietal procedures are described in several previous publications (e.g., Fischl,
Figure 2. Activation of the pSTS, TPJ, and MPFC during a Thickness of the ToM network in ASD and TD participants at
junction (TPJ) Liu & Dale, 2001).
Figure 1. The Theory-of-Mind task, among typically developing and ASD different stages of development, i.e., at different ages.
Theory-of-Mind
• Temporal poles (TPs) • Outliers that were more than 3 standard deviations from the Gray
network in the Matter Volume mean were removed participants.
brain. Red: the • A two-samples t-test of Total Gray Matter Volume has been performed Figure adapted from Ammons, Doss, Bala, & Kana (2018). REFERENCES
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