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Published on: April 22, 2015
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Default Mode Hypoconnectivity Underlies a Sex-Related Autism Spectrum
Rolf J F Ypma1, Rachel L Moseley2, Rosemary J Holt3
1Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry; Hughes Hall.
Summary
Autism spectrum traits may exist on a sex-related continuum. Default mode network (DMN) hypoconnectivity is a neuroimaging marker associated with autistic traits in both males and females.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) exhibit sex-based differences in prevalence and presentation.
- A leading theory suggests autistic traits lie on a sex-related continuum, with autism representing the extreme male end.
- This study investigates default mode network (DMN) hypoconnectivity as a potential neurobiological correlate of this sex-related spectrum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if DMN hypoconnectivity aligns with the sex-related continuum theory of autism.
- To determine if DMN hypoconnectivity is present in autistic females, differentiates sexes in the general population, and correlates with autistic traits.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two datasets: a primary adolescent cohort (N=121) and a replication multisite cohort (N=980).
- Quantification of average connectivity within DMN regions.
- Testing for group differences and correlations with behavioral performance using robust regression.
Main Results:
- Significant DMN hypoconnectivity differences were found between female controls and females with autism in both datasets.
- Significant DMN hypoconnectivity differences were observed between female controls and male controls in both datasets.
- DMN hypoconnectivity significantly correlated with mentalizing task performance in the primary dataset.
Conclusions:
- Findings provide the first evidence for DMN hypoconnectivity as a behaviorally relevant neuroimaging phenotype within the sex-related spectrum of autistic traits.
- This supports the model of autism as an extreme manifestation of this spectrum.
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