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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Alterations of static and dynamic brain functional network connectivity in preschool children with autism spectrum
Chunlan Sun1, Shuang Ding1, Bin Qin1
1Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Chongqing, China.
Insights
Preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show both static brain network disconnections and dynamic network rigidity. These brain alterations correlate with core ASD symptoms like social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of ASD in early childhood is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in static and dynamic brain functional network connectivity (FNC) in preschool children with ASD.
- To explore the correlation between these FNC alterations and clinical symptoms of ASD.
- To provide neuroimaging evidence for the pathogenesis of ASD.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected from 47 preschool children with ASD and 56 typically developing children (TDC).
- Independent component analysis (ICA) and dynamic FNC analysis were used to assess static and dynamic FNC.
- Correlations between FNC measures and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores were examined.
Main Results:
- ASD group exhibited decreased static FNC between networks like the left frontoparietal network (lFPN) and sensorimotor network (SMN).
- Increased static FNC was observed between the right frontoparietal network (rFPN) and default mode network (DMN)/dorsal attention network (DAN) in ASD.
- ASD group showed increased dynamic FNC variability in posterior visual network (pVN) and auditory network (AN), and decreased variability in lFPN and lateral visual network (lVN).
- Repetitive behaviors and restricted interests correlated positively with rFPN-DMN and rFPN-DAN connectivity.
- Time spent in a specific dynamic state correlated with communication scores.
Conclusions:
- Preschool ASD brains display a dual pattern of static dysconnectivity and dynamic rigidity.
- These network alterations are potentially linked to core ASD symptoms in young children.
- Findings offer neuroimaging insights into ASD pathogenesis.
Objective:
To investigate alterations in both static and dynamic brain functional network connectivity (FNC) in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their correlation with clinical symptoms, thereby providing neuroimaging evidence for understanding the potential pathogenesis of ASD.
Methods:
Clinical and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected from 47 preschool children with ASD and 56 matched typically developing children (TDC). Independent component analysis (ICA) and dynamic FNC analysis were employed to compare differences in static FNC and dynamic FNC metrics between the groups. Correlations between altered FNC measures and clinical scale scores were specifically examined within the ASD group.
Results:
In the static FNC analysis, the ASD group showed decreased connectivity between the left frontoparietal network (lFPN) and the sensorimotor network (SMN), lateral visual network (lVN), and auditory network (AN) respectively. Connectivity was also reduced between the lVN and the posterior default mode network (pDMN), and between the right frontoparietal network (rFPN) and the posterior visual network (pVN). Conversely, the ASD group showed increased connectivity between the rFPN and both the pDMN and the dorsal attention network (DAN). Scores for repetitive behaviors and restricted interests in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) were positively correlated with the strength of the rFPN-pDMN and rFPN-DAN connections. In the dynamic FNC analysis, the ASD group showed increased functional connectivity variability within the pVN and AN, and decreased variability within the lVN and lFPN. Furthermore, the fraction time spent in state 5 was positively correlated with the communication score in the ADOS.
Conclusion:
The brain functional networks of preschool ASD children exhibit a dual characteristic pattern: static dysconnectivity and dynamic rigidity. These alterations may be closely related to the core symptoms of ASD in this age group, including social communication impairments, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests.
