# BRAIN CONNECTIVITY AND THE ROLE OF MYELIN IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $248,020

## Abstract

BRAIN CONNECTIVITY AND THE ROLE OF MYELIN IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
ABSTRACT
The maturation of the myelin sheath is a cornerstone to human brain development and function. Myelination
plays a critical role in the establishment and maintenance of efficient communication between discrete brain
regions (i.e. brain connectivity) and is additionally believed to underlie a variety of neurological and psychiatric
disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the current understanding of myelin in ASD is
exceptionally limited. Thus, the goal of this proposed research is to examine whether differences in the
myelinated white matter microstructure exist between individuals ASD and typical development and to
investigate the extent to which the myelinated white matter and its development influences structural and
functional connectivity in these two groups. We aim to achieve this goal in two solid steps. In the first phase
(K99), we will leverage an ongoing longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study to measure both structural
and functional connectivity characteristics in the brain of 40 individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder and 40 typically developing subjects. We will additionally utilize advancements in the field of
quantitative MRI to implement and acquire measurements of the myelin water fraction, a surrogate measure of
myelin content, from these subjects. This data will allow us to perform the first investigation about the role of
myelin in autism spectrum disorders and allow us to examine how myelin influences the relationships between
structural and functional brain connectivity. In the next phase (R00), we measure and interrogate brain
microstructure during early brain development in infants at heightened risk for developing autism. We will
examine the cross-sectional neurodevelopmental trajectories of brain connectivity and myelin content in order
to provide knowledge and new insights regarding the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that underlie this
escalating disorder. We expect that this detailed analysis will result in invaluable information about the
structure-function relationships of the brain as well as provide new understanding into the critical role that
myelinated white matter has on mediating connectivity relationships of the brain. Our results will reveal new
neurobiological mechanisms of the pathogenesis of autism and advance our comprehension about the earliest
manifestations of this impairing disorder. The results from the proposed project are thus significant to new
understanding of brain imaging phenotypes of autism spectrum disorders and will have direct implications for
the development of earlier and targeted intervention strategies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9978615
- **Project number:** 5R00MH110596-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Douglas Carl Dean III
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $248,020
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-21 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978615

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978615, BRAIN CONNECTIVITY AND THE ROLE OF MYELIN IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (5R00MH110596-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978615. Licensed CC0.

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