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Published on: December 7, 2018
Atypical Social Behavior is Predicted by Overconnectivity Between Salience and Default Mode Networks in Autism
Alina Minnigulova1, Maria Protopova2, Olga Dragoy2,3
1Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia. alinaminnigulovahouse@gmail.com.
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show altered connectivity in the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Salience Network (SN). These differences impact social responsiveness and brain development in ASD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Autism Research
Background:
- The Default Mode Network (DMN) and Salience Network (SN) are crucial for social behavior and attention regulation.
- Altered function and development of these networks are suspected in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but specific interactive changes and age-related maturation patterns remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional connectivity (FC) differences between the DMN and SN in individuals with ASD compared to controls.
- To explore the relationship between DMN-SN interactivity and autistic traits, including social responsiveness, executive functions, and communication skills.
- To examine how age influences the maturation of these networks in both ASD and typically developing individuals.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of resting-state functional connectivity (FC) data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset.
- Comparison of FC within and between the DMN and SN in individuals with ASD (n=144) and healthy controls (n=99).
- Assessment of correlations between FC and behavioral measures (social responsiveness, executive functions, adaptive behavior) in the ASD group, and age-related effects on FC.
Main Results:
- Individuals with ASD exhibited increased FC between the DMN and SN, alongside decreased FC within the DMN, compared to controls.
- Functional connectivity between the right insular and medial prefrontal cortices was associated with greater social responsiveness impairments in ASD.
- The maturation patterns of the DMN and SN in ASD differed partly from those observed in typical development.
Conclusions:
- The findings reveal significant differences in the intrinsic functional connectivity within and between the DMN and SN in individuals with ASD.
- Altered DMN-SN interactions contribute to specific autistic traits, particularly social responsiveness impairments.
- These results underscore the importance of studying DMN and SN development and interactivity in ASD for a comprehensive understanding of the disorder.
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