Spectrally Edited Glutamate Associated with Autism Traits

Motivation: This study examines the relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) severity, measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and brain levels of excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA. Goal(s): Explore whether these chemicals are associated with the severity of ASD. Approach: Using the MEGA-PRESS sequence, we measured Glu and GABA levels in the temporal cortices of typically developing children and children with ASD. We later correlated Glu and GABA levels (separately) with the SRS scores. Results: The ASD group negatively correlated with SRS scores, suggesting Glu as a potential correlate of ASD severity ratings. Impact: Brain glutamate plays a role in language comprehension, which differs in ASD. This study found that MRS-derived glutamate levels are associated with SRS scores, implying that glutamate is a potential marker for communication deficits in ASD.