Abstract
We describe a protocol with which we achieved a 93% success rate in acquiring high quality MRI scans without the use of sedation in 2.5–4.5 year old children with autism, developmental delays, and typical development. Our main strategy was to conduct MRIs during natural nocturnal sleep in the evenings after the child’s normal bedtime. Alternatively, with some older and higher functioning children, the MRI was conducted while the child was awake and watching a video. Both strategies relied heavily on the creation of a child and family friendly MRI environment and the involvement of parents as collaborators in the project. Scanning very young children with autism, typical development, and developmental delays without the use of sedation or anesthesia was possible in the majority of cases.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.References
Almli, C. R., Rivkin, M. J., & McKinstry, R. C. (2007). The NIH MRI study of normal brain development (Objective-2): Newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Neuroimage, 35(1), 308–325.
Aylward, E. H., Minshew, N. J., Field, K., Sparks, B. F., & Singh, N. (2002). Effects of age on brain volume and head circumference in autism. Neurology, 59(2), 175–183.
Berument, S. K., Rutter, M., Lord, C., Pickles, A., & Bailey, A. (1999). Autism screening questionnaire: Diagnostic validity. British Journal of Psychiatry, 175, 444–451.
Carper, R. A., Moses, P., Tigue, Z. D., & Courchesne, E. (2002). Cerebral lobes in autism: Early hyperplasia and abnormal age effects. Neuroimage, 16(4), 1038–1051.
Courchesne, E., Karns, C. M., Davis, H. R., Ziccardi, R., Carper, R. A., Tigue, Z. D., et al. (2001). Unusual brain growth patterns in early life in patients with autistic disorder: An MRI study. Neurology, 57(2), 245–254.
DiLavore, P. C., Lord, C., & Rutter, M. (1995). The pre-linguistic autism diagnostic observation schedule. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25(4), 355–379.
Evans, A. C. (2006). The NIH MRI study of normal brain development. Neuroimage, 30(1), 184–202.
Filipek, P. A. (2005). Medical aspects of autism. In F. R. Volkmar, R. Paul, A. Klin, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (Vol. 1, pp. 542–543). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Giedd, J. N., Blumenthal, J., Jeffries, N. O., Castellanos, F. X., Liu, H., Zijdenbos, A., et al. (1999). Brain development during childhood and adolescence: A longitudinal MRI study. Nature Neuroscience, 2(10), 861–863.
Gray, C. A., & Garand, J. D. (1993). Social stories: Improving responses of students with autism with accurate social information. Focus on Autistic Behavior, 8(1), 1–10.
Hazlett, H. C., Poe, M., Gerig, G., Smith, R. G., Provenzale, J., Ross, A., et al. (2005). Magnetic resonance imaging and head circumference study of brain size in autism: Birth through age 2 years. Archieves of General Psychiatry, 62(12), 1366–1376.
Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Jr., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 205–223.
Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview-revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24(5), 659–685.
Mullen E. M. (1995). Mullens scales of early learning. Circle Pines: American Guidance Service, Inc.
Rogers, S. J., & Ozonoff, S. (2005). Annotation: What do we know about sensory dysfunction in autism? A critical review of the empirical evidence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(12), 1255–1268.
Ross, A. K., Hazlett, H. C., Garrett, N. T., Wilkerson, C., & Piven, J. (2005). Moderate sedation for MRI in young children with autism. Pediatric Radiology, 35(9), 867–871.
Sparks, B. F., Friedman, S. D., Shaw, D. W., Aylward, E. H., Echelard, D., Artru, A. A., et al. (2002). Brain structural abnormalities in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Neurology, 59(2), 184–192.
Tharpe, A. M., Bess, F. H., Sladen, D. P., Schissel, H., Couch, S., & Schery, T. (2006). Auditory characteristics of children with autism. Ear and Hearing, 27(4), 430–441.
Thorndike, R. L., Hagen, E. P., & Sattler, J. M. (1986). The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (4th ed). Chicago: The Riverside Publishing Co.
Acknowledgments
This research was carried out as a component of the UC Davis Autism Phenome Project (APP). It was supported, in part, by the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute and the Autism Research Training Program (T32 MH073124). We thank Steve Dager, Bob Almli, Susan Rivera, and April Benasich for helpful advice, Carolyn McCormick and Cherie Green for excellent technical assistance, and Cameron Carter and the UC Davis Imaging Research Center for flexibility and support. The following individuals were instrumental in carrying out the APP: Lou Ann Barnett, Meridith Brandt, Lisa Cochran, Susan Rumberg, and Meagan Thompson. We especially thank all of the parents and children who participated in this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nordahl, C.W., Simon, T.J., Zierhut, C. et al. Brief Report: Methods for Acquiring Structural MRI Data in Very Young Children with Autism Without the Use of Sedation. J Autism Dev Disord 38, 1581–1590 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0514-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0514-x