Long-term Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, Combined with Augmentative Communication, are Related to Uncinate Fasciculus Integrity in Autism

Abstract

Recent evidence points to white-matter abnormalities as a key factor in autism physiopathology. Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging, we studied white-matter structural properties in a convenience sample of twenty-two subjects with low-functioning autism exposed to long-term augmentative and alternative communication, combined with sessions of cognitive and behavioral therapy. Uncinate fasciculus structural properties correlated significantly with therapy length and early onset, as well as to clinical outcome, independently from IQ, age or symptoms severity at therapy onset. Moreover, adherence to therapy was linked with better clinical outcome and uncinate fasciculus structural integrity. The results point to the capability of a long-term rehabilitation of subjects with low-functioning autism to produce white-matter structural modifications, which could thus play a role in the rehabilitative outcome.

Measuring the Plasticity of Social Approach: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of the PEERS Intervention on EEG Asymmetry in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Another study found increased efficiency of brainstem responses to sound after children with ASD completed an auditory intervention (Russo et al 2010). Lastly, a correlational study found that white matter integrity in children with autism was linked with onset and duration of early intervention (Pardini et al 2012). Thus, the idea that intervention may affect neurophysiology and electrophysiology has been borne out in adults and children with ASD.…”

Neuroimaging for psychotherapy research: Current trends

“…DTI has not yet appeared in studies of typical psychotherapies. However, it has been used to study effects of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) for schizophrenia (Penades et al, 2013), as well as a long-term, complex cognitive, behavioral, and communicative treatment of autism (Pardini et al, 2012). It has also been used to study how a nontraditional mindfulness therapy, Integrated Body Mind Therapy (IBMT), which improved self-regulation and mood in healthy participants, led to white matter neuroplastic changes around the anterior cingulate in only 2 to 4 weeks (Tang et al, 2012).…”

“…Hauner et al, 2012; Schienle, Schäfer, Stark, & Vaitl, 2009). Long-term treatments included 15 months of psychodynamic therapy of depression (Buchheim et al, 2012), 2 years of cognitive enhancement therapy of schizophrenia (Eack et al, 2010), and 6 years of treatment of autism (Pardini et al, 2012). Studies of mindfulness or meditation approaches summarized in Table 2 have assessed effects in some participants after 2 to 4 weeks of training (Tang, Lu, Fan, Yang, & Posner, 2012) or 8 or more years (e.g.…”

Cognitive-Behavioral Approach for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: a Meta-Analysis

“…One of the very few research studies intervening with participants with ASD and with lower cognitive abilities incorporated CBA as a major component of its treatment protocol, and positive effects were reported (Pardini et al 2012). Positive results were also reported in studies on CBA interventions for anger management for adults with intellectual disabilities (Taylor and Novaco 2005).…”