Emerging functional connectivity differences in newborn infants vulnerable to autism spectrum disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Genetics

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) animal models suggest early atypical neural activity is a core vulnerability.
• Human studies on ASD functional connectivity are heterogeneous due to secondary/compensatory events.
• Investigating early development is crucial to understand primary ASD vulnerability mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test if brain functional connectivity is altered in neonates at high risk for ASD (due to family history).
• To identify potential early biomarkers of ASD vulnerability.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with high temporal resolution was used in neonates.
• Regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis quantified local functional connectivity.
• Distance correlation analysis assessed long-range functional connectivity.

Main Results:

• Neonates with a first-degree relative with ASD exhibited significantly higher ReHo within multiple resting state networks.
• No significant differences in long-range functional connectivity were observed between groups.
• Atypical local functional activity may precede long-range connectivity disruptions seen in older individuals with ASD.

Conclusions:

• Altered local functional connectivity in neonates with a family history of ASD may represent an early biomarker of vulnerability.
• This finding suggests that disruptions in local brain activity precede broader connectivity changes in ASD development.
• Further research can explore the predictive value of these early neural markers for ASD diagnosis and intervention.