Shared atypical default mode and salience network functional connectivity between autism and schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders with shared genetic and behavioral characteristics.
• The underlying neural substrates common to both conditions remain incompletely understood.
• This study investigates shared neural mechanisms in ASD and schizophrenia using resting-state functional MRI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common neural substrates underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.
• To explore the relationship between shared atypical brain connectivity and social deficits in ASD.
• To enhance understanding of the neurobiology of these two distinct neurodevelopmental disorders.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional MRI data from adolescents with first-episode schizophrenia and individuals with ASD were analyzed.
• Functional brain networks were constructed using predefined regions of interest.
• Multivariate pattern analysis and multi-task regression identified shared atypical brain connections differentiating patients from controls.

Main Results:

• High classification accuracy was achieved between individuals with schizophrenia and controls (83%) and between individuals with ASD and controls (80%).
• Shared atypical brain connections, primarily in the default mode network (DMN) and salience network (SN), were identified in both disorders.
• These common functional connections correlated with the severity of social deficits in ASD.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest common neural mechanisms contribute to the pathophysiology of both schizophrenia and ASD.
• Atypical connectivity within the DMN and SN represents a potential shared neural substrate.
• Understanding these commonalities may aid in developing more targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders.