Crucitti Joel, Hyde Christian, Enticott Peter G, Stokes Mark A
School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Cerebellum. 2020 Oct;19(5):617-628. doi: 10.1007/s12311-020-01143-5.
Cerebellar volume, in particular vermal lobule areas VI-VII, have been extensively researched in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although findings are often unclear. The aim of the present study is to consolidate all existing cerebellar and age data of individuals with ASD, and compare this data to typically developing (TD) controls. Raw data, or the means and standard deviations of cerebellar volume and age, were obtained from 17 studies (N: 421 ASD and 370 TD participants; N: 506 ASD and 290 TD participants). Total cerebellar volume, or VI-VII area, was plotted against age and lines of fit of ASD and TD data were compared. Mean differences in cerebellar volume and VI-VII area between participants with ASD and TD participants were then compared via ANCOVA analyses. Findings revealed multiple differences in VI-VII area between participants with ASD and TD participants below 18 years of age. Additionally, cerebellar volume was greater in males with ASD than TD males between 2 and 4 years. In the present study, cerebellar volume and VI-VII area show different rates of change across age for those with autism compared with those without. These morphological differences provide a neurobiological justification to investigate related behavioural correlates.
小脑体积，尤其是蚓部小叶VI-VII区，在自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）个体中已得到广泛研究，尽管研究结果往往不明确。本研究的目的是整合ASD个体所有现有的小脑和年龄数据，并将这些数据与正常发育（TD）对照进行比较。原始数据，即小脑体积和年龄的均值及标准差，来自17项研究（样本量：421名ASD参与者和370名TD参与者；样本量：506名ASD参与者和290名TD参与者）。将小脑总体积或VI-VII区与年龄作图，并比较ASD和TD数据的拟合线。然后通过协方差分析比较ASD参与者和TD参与者在小脑体积和VI-VII区的平均差异。结果显示，18岁以下的ASD参与者和TD参与者在VI-VII区存在多种差异。此外，2至4岁的ASD男性的小脑体积大于TD男性。在本研究中，与无自闭症者相比，自闭症患者的小脑体积和VI-VII区在不同年龄段呈现出不同的变化率。这些形态学差异为研究相关行为相关性提供了神经生物学依据。
