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Updated: May 15, 2026
12:21
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Disrupted functional brain networks in autistic toddlers.
Maria Boersma1, Chantal Kemner, Marcel A de Reus
1Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. M.Boersma-7@umcutrecht.nl
Brain Connectivity
|December 25, 2012
Summary
Early autism diagnosis may be possible by identifying disrupted brain communication in toddlers. This study reveals reduced global communication capacity and under-connectivity in young children with autism, suggesting early developmental deviations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Computational Psychiatry
Background:
- Effective brain communication is crucial for cognitive function.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is linked to altered brain connectivity.
- Early identification of neural underpinnings in autism is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional brain network organization in toddlers with autism.
- To explore early-stage deviations in brain communication using graph analytical tools.
- To test the hypothesis of aberrant neural communication in early development of autism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 12 toddlers with autism and 19 controls.
- Assessed interregional functional brain connectivity via temporal synchronization.
- Constructed functional brain networks using graph analytical tools.
Main Results:
- Children with autism exhibited increased normalized path length and reduced normalized clustering.
- Findings suggest reduced global communication capacity in early autism development.
- Significantly reduced whole-brain connectivity indicates overall under-connectivity in young autistic individuals.
Conclusions:
- Supports the hypothesis of abnormal neural communication in autism.
- Deviating brain communication patterns are present in early developmental stages of autism.
- Early identification of altered brain networks may aid in understanding and intervention for autism.
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