Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40719861›Full record

Observational studyEuropean journal of pediatrics2025

Associations between sleep problems, cortical morphometry, and structural brain network organization in preschool children with autism: a retrospective observational study.

Miaoshui Bai, Jinming Xiao, Tong Zhao, Ren Chen, Yang Xue, Zakaria Ahmed Mohamed, Feiyong Jia, Hanyu Dong

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in European journal of pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Miaoshui BaiDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Jinming XiaoSchool of Life Science and Technology, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Tong ZhaoDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Ren ChenDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Yang XueDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Zakaria Ahmed MohamedDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Feiyong JiaDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Hanyu DongDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China. donghanyu@jlu.edu.cn.

Funding

the Youth Development Fund of the First Hospital of Jilin University JDYY14202328
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sleep problems are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may contribute to behavioral challenges and atypical brain development. However, the neuroanatomical mechanisms linking sleep problems and ASD during early childhood remain underexplored. This retrospective observational study included 183 preschool children with ASD, grouped by sleep problem status using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Structural MRI data were processed with FreeSurfer to obtain cortical volume measures across 68 regions. Structural covariance networks were constructed to assess topological properties using graph theory. Group comparisons and exploratory correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate associations with behavioral measures. No significant group differences were found in total cortical or subcortical volumes. Exploratory analyses revealed uncorrected focal differences in the peri-calcarine cortex and right pars orbitalis, but these did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. Network analyses showed significantly reduced local connectivity (clustering coefficient, local efficiency) and altered small-world topology (Gamma, Sigma) in children with sleep problems, with preserved global efficiency. Exploratory correlations suggested that regional volumes may be linked to repetitive behaviors and withdrawn symptoms, although these did not remain significant after correction.

conclusionPreschool children with ASD and sleep problems show disrupted local brain network properties, particularly in sensory and social-cognitive regions. While some regional associations with behavior were observed, they should be interpreted cautiously due to their exploratory nature. These findings support the importance of considering sleep in neurodevelopmental assessments and highlight the need for longitudinal studies with objective sleep measures. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Sleep problems are highly prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are linked to adverse behavioral outcomes. • Structural covariance networks (SCNs) reflect coordinated brain development and are altered in ASD. WHAT IS NEW: • This study explores associations between sleep problems and both cortical morphology and SCNs in preschoolers with ASD. • Exploratory analyses reveal regional volume trends and altered network topology in children with sleep problems, suggesting potential early neural correlates.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderBrainCerebral CortexNerve NetSleep Wake DisordersChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleRetrospective StudiesAutismCortical morphometryPreschool childrenSleep problemsStructural covariance networks

Identifiers

PMID40719861

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.