Brain and Language Associations in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 725 - 737
• Main Authors: Cermak, Carly A., Arshinoff, Spencer, Ribeiro de Oliveira, Leticia, Tendera, Anna, Beal, Deryk S., Brian, Jessica, Anagnostou, Evdokia, Sanjeevan, Teenu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Age differences; Association (Psychology); Associations; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnostic imaging; Behavior; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Brain; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain mapping; Brain research; Child and School Psychology; Children; Complications and side effects; Humans; Language; Language Patterns; Language skills; Literature Reviews; Medical imaging; Neuroimaging; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychology; Public Health; Systematic review; Canada; Neuroimaging; Scoping review; Language; Autism spectrum disorder
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04975-0

Examining brain and behaviour associations for language in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may bring us closer to identifying neural profiles that are unique to a subgroup of individuals with ASD identified as language impaired (e.g. ASD LI+). We conducted a scoping review to examine brain regions that are associated with language performance in ASD. Further, we examined methodological differences across studies in how language ability was characterized and what neuroimaging methods were used to explore brain regions. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Brain regions specific to ASD LI+ groups were found, however inconsistencies in brain and language associations were evident across study findings. Participant age, age-appropriate language scores, and neuroimaging methods likely contributed to differences in associations found.