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Contributions of Cerebellar White Matter Microstructure to Social Difficulty in Nonverbal Learning Disability

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Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that the cerebellum may contribute to variety of cognitive capacities, including social cognition. Nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) is characterized by visual-spatial and social impairment. Recent functional neuroimaging studies have shown that children with NVLD have altered cerebellar resting-state functional connectivity, which is associated with various symptom domains. However, little is known about cerebellar white matter microstructure in NVLD and whether it contributes to social deficits. Twenty-seven children (12 with NVLD, 15 typically developing (TD)) contributed useable diffusion tensor imaging data. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to quantify fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cerebellar peduncles. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist, providing a measure of social difficulty. Children with NVLD had greater fractional anisotropy in the left and right inferior cerebellar peduncle. Furthermore, right inferior cerebellar peduncle FA was associated with social impairment as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist Social Problems subscale. Finally, the association between NVLD diagnosis and greater social impairment was mediated by right inferior cerebellar peduncle FA. These findings provide additional evidence that the cerebellum contributes both to social cognition and to the pathophysiology of NVLD.

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Funding

This work was supported by NIEHS grant K23ES026239 (to AEM), the NVLD Project (to AEM), and the Promise Project.

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  1. New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Bruce Ramphal, David Pagliaccio, Lauren V. Thomas, Xiaofu He & Amy E. Margolis

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  1. Bruce Ramphal
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Correspondence to Amy E. Margolis.

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Ramphal, B., Pagliaccio, D., Thomas, L.V. et al. Contributions of Cerebellar White Matter Microstructure to Social Difficulty in Nonverbal Learning Disability. Cerebellum 20, 931–937 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-021-01265-4

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