Early Autism Diagnosis using Path Signature and Siamese Unsupervised Feature Compressor

Konsep Inti

A novel deep learning-based method to extract key features from scarce, class-imbalanced, and heterogeneous structural MRI data for early autism diagnosis.

Abstrak

The paper proposes a class-imbalanced deep learning scheme for early autism diagnosis from structural MRI (sMRI) data in infants. The key highlights are:

To overcome the small sample size, a Siamese verification model is proposed to enlarge the dataset by converting single-sample classification into two-sample paired input.

To address the imbalance between sample categories, an unsupervised feature compression model based on a dual-channel stacked autoencoder is proposed to extract key features without the influence of imbalanced sample distribution.

To deal with the heterogeneity among samples, different weights are assigned to different reference samples in the Siamese verification voting process during the test phase, giving more importance to similar reference samples.

To enrich the feature representation and extract cortical properties from the complex longitudinal data more effectively, the path signature (PS) of sMRI data is computed and concatenated with the original input.

Based on the proposed deep learning scheme, the paper further analyzes the focused brain regions for early autism diagnosis, which are in line with evidence from other studies.

Statistik

1 in 44 American children is affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which has increased 241% from 2000 to 2018.
The first two postnatal years are a period of extremely dramatic brain development, which contains critical information for the early diagnosis of ASD.
The dataset includes 30 autistic infants and 127 normal infants, with T1w and T2w brain MR images acquired at around 6 and 12 months of age.

Kutipan

"Early diagnosis would be critical for more effective ASD treatment, as ASD is an early-onset neurodevelopmental disorder."
"Despite the presence of group-level cortical developmental abnormalities in MRI data of autistic children, individual-level abnormalities are more complex and heterogeneous, posing significant challenges in imaging-based automatic diagnosis and prediction."

Wawasan Utama Disaring Dari

Early Autism Diagnosis based on Path Signature and Siamese Unsupervised Feature Compressor

by Zhuowen Yin,... pada arxiv.org 05-06-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2307.06472.pdf

Pertanyaan yang Lebih Dalam

How can the proposed method be extended to incorporate other modalities of data, such as diffusion MRI and functional MRI, to provide more comprehensive insights for early autism diagnosis?

Incorporating other modalities of data, such as diffusion MRI and functional MRI, into the proposed method can enhance the comprehensiveness of insights for early autism diagnosis. One approach to extend the method is to create a multi-modal deep learning framework that can effectively fuse information from different modalities. This can involve developing separate branches in the network architecture to process each modality's data and then integrating the extracted features for a more holistic analysis.
For diffusion MRI data, which provides information on the brain's white matter connectivity, techniques like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to extract features related to the structural connectivity of the brain. These features can then be combined with the structural MRI features extracted in the current method to capture both anatomical and connectivity abnormalities associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Functional MRI data, on the other hand, offers insights into brain activity and connectivity patterns during different tasks or at rest. Graph-based representations of functional connectivity networks can be constructed, where brain regions are nodes and functional connections are edges. Graph convolutional networks (GCNs) can then be applied to learn from these networks and extract features that capture the functional abnormalities characteristic of ASD.
By integrating diffusion MRI and functional MRI data with the current structural MRI approach, the model can leverage a more comprehensive set of features that encompass both structural and functional aspects of the brain. This integration can lead to a more nuanced understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of autism and potentially improve the accuracy and specificity of early diagnosis.

How can graph-based representations of the brain and graph convolutional networks be leveraged to further improve the feature extraction and classification performance?

Graph-based representations of the brain and graph convolutional networks (GCNs) offer a powerful framework for analyzing brain connectivity data and can be leveraged to enhance feature extraction and classification performance in the context of autism diagnosis.

Graph Construction: Brain connectivity data, such as functional MRI connectivity matrices or diffusion MRI tractography data, can be transformed into graphs where brain regions are nodes and connectivity strengths are edges. These graphs capture the complex interrelationships between different brain regions.

Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs): GCNs are neural networks designed to operate on graph-structured data. By applying GCNs to brain connectivity graphs, the model can learn from the topology of the brain network and extract features that capture important patterns in brain connectivity related to autism. GCNs can effectively propagate information through the graph structure, enabling the model to capture hierarchical relationships and dependencies between brain regions.

Feature Learning: GCNs can learn node embeddings that encode the structural and functional properties of brain regions in a low-dimensional space. These embeddings can serve as rich feature representations that capture the underlying connectivity patterns associated with autism. By leveraging GCNs for feature learning, the model can extract informative features that are tailored to the specific characteristics of brain connectivity data.

Classification: The learned features from GCNs can then be used for classification tasks, such as distinguishing between individuals with autism and neurotypical controls. The model can leverage the discriminative power of the extracted features to improve classification performance and enhance the accuracy of early autism diagnosis.

By incorporating graph-based representations and GCNs into the feature extraction and classification pipeline, the model can effectively capture the intricate connectivity patterns of the brain and leverage this information to enhance the diagnostic capabilities for autism spectrum disorder.

What are the potential implications of the identified key brain regions for understanding the underlying neurodevelopmental mechanisms of autism, and how can this knowledge be translated into improved clinical interventions?

The identification of key brain regions, such as the left superior frontal gyrus, left caudal anterior-cingulate cortex, right bank of the superior temporal sulcus, left superior temporal gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, and right lateral orbital frontal cortex, holds significant implications for understanding the underlying neurodevelopmental mechanisms of autism and translating this knowledge into improved clinical interventions.

Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities: The key brain regions identified are known to be involved in social cognition, language processing, executive function, and sensory perception, functions that are often impaired in individuals with autism. Abnormalities in these regions may contribute to the core symptoms of autism, such as social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.

Functional Connectivity: These regions are part of larger functional networks implicated in autism, such as the default mode network and social brain network. Understanding the connectivity patterns and interactions within and between these regions can provide insights into the neural basis of autism and how atypical brain connectivity contributes to the disorder.

Early Biomarkers: The identified brain regions may serve as potential biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of autism. By tracking the developmental trajectories of these regions in at-risk infants, clinicians can identify early signs of neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with autism and intervene proactively.

Clinical Interventions: Knowledge of the key brain regions can inform targeted clinical interventions aimed at modulating brain activity and connectivity in individuals with autism. Techniques such as neurofeedback, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and cognitive training can be tailored to specifically target the identified regions to improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes in individuals with autism.

Personalized Treatment: Understanding the role of these brain regions in autism can facilitate the development of personalized treatment approaches that address individual differences in brain structure and function. By tailoring interventions based on the specific neurodevelopmental profiles of individuals, clinicians can optimize treatment outcomes and enhance quality of life for individuals with autism.

In conclusion, the identification of key brain regions associated with autism provides valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of the disorder and offers promising avenues for developing targeted interventions that address the underlying neural abnormalities in individuals with autism.