DTI-based Connectome Analysis to Predict Outcome of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in Young Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

The aim of this study is to apply DTI-based connectome analysis to investigate the neural substrate and mechanism of picture exchange communication system (PECS) in young children with ASD. Seventeen non-verbal children with ASD who underwent PECS and 3T DTI (age: 3.05±0.82 years, 10 boys) were retrospectively selected for whole brain connectome analysis . Compared with 5 children who failed PECS (non-verbal after PECS), 12 children who succeeded PECS (verbal after PECS) showed significantly increased betweeness, local efficiency and nodal strength in anterior inferior occipital gyrus (p <0.01). Such increases may be an effective imaging marker to detect ASD children who will become verbal after PECS.