There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with disturbances of neural connectivity.
Functional connectivity between neural structures is typically examined within the
context of a cognitive task, but also exists in the absence of a task (i.e., "rest").
Connectivity during rest is particularly active in a set of structures called the
default network, which includes the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), retrosplenial
cortex, lateral parietal cortex/angular gyrus, medial prefrontal cortex, superior
frontal gyrus, temporal lobe, and parahippocampal gyrus. We previously reported that
adults with ASD relative to controls show areas of stronger and weaker connectivity
within the default network. The objective of the present study was to examine the
default network in adolescents with ASD. Sixteen adolescents with ASD and 15 controls
participated in a functional MRI study. Functional connectivity was examined between
a PCC seed and other areas of the default network. Both groups showed connectivity
in the default network. Relative to controls, adolescents with ASD showed widespread
weaker connectivity in nine of the eleven areas of the default network. Moreover,
an analysis of symptom severity indicated that poorer social skills and increases
in restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests correlated with weaker connectivity,
whereas poorer verbal and non-verbal communication correlated with stronger connectivity
in multiple areas of the default network. These findings indicate that adolescents
with ASD show weaker connectivity in the default network than previously reported
in adults with ASD. The findings also show that weaker connectivity within the default
network is associated with specific impairments in ASD.
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.