The role of white-matter tracts in language processing and auditory perception in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Diffusion Tensor Imaging data

The white-matter tracts, connecting cortical areas with each other, play a significant role in information processing among with grey matter. Some studies have shown different white matter abnormalities in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), both in their structure and lateralization (Bakhtiari et al., 2012; Wan et al., 2012).

The goal of this project is to investigate the Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) metrics of some tracts which are involved in auditory perception and language processing, including one of the main white-matter pathways associated with language, namely, Arcuate Fasciculus (AF) in children with ASD. It is known that AF a) is critically involved in language processes, b) has a left lateralization. We correlate language behavior with DTI metrics of AF and assess its lateralization in children with ASD.