Reduced covariation between brain morphometry and local spontaneous activity in young children with ASD

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Early life brain development is critical for typical maturation.
• Disruptions in brain maturation are known in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• The relationship between brain structure and function in early ASD is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the covariation between brain structure and spontaneous activity in toddlers and preschoolers with ASD.
• To compare brain structure-function relationships in ASD with typically developing (TD) children.
• To explore the neurodevelopmental significance of these relationships for behavior.

Main Methods:

• Multivariate pattern analysis applied to T1-weighted structural MRI and resting-state fMRI data.
• Study included 38 toddlers and preschoolers with ASD and 31 TD children.
• Data acquired during natural sleep.

Main Results:

• Significantly reduced brain structure-function correlations were observed in children with ASD.
• Brain structure-function indices correlated with age in TD children, but not in ASD, indicating atypical maturational timing.
• Brain function indices were associated with developmental and adaptive behaviors in the ASD group.

Conclusions:

• Early life brain structure and function are less correlated in ASD, suggesting atypical neurodevelopmental trajectories.
• Local brain activity in early childhood is neurodevelopmentally significant for behavior in autism.
• Findings highlight the importance of studying brain structure-function relationships in early ASD.