Triple-Network Functional Connectivity in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared to Early-Onset Psychosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and early-onset psychosis (EOP) share social cognition deficits.
• The triple-network model (default mode network-DMN, central executive network-CEN, salience network-SN) is implicated in these deficits.
• Adolescent network connectivity in ASD vs. EOP and its link to social cognition remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare triple-network functional connectivity in adolescents with ASD, EOP, and typically developing (TD) controls.
• To investigate the relationship between network connectivity and social cognition/emotion recognition in these groups.

Main Methods:

• Functional connectivity analysis of the DMN, CEN, and SN in youth with ASD (N=24), EOP (N=25), and TD controls (N=26).
• Correlational analyses examined links between network connectivity and behavioral measures of social cognition and emotion recognition.

Main Results:

• ASD youth exhibited mixed DMN, CEN overconnectivity, and SN underconnectivity.
• EOP youth showed DMN and CEN overconnectivity with relatively intact SN connectivity.
• Compared to EOP, ASD youth had reduced SN connectivity and altered DMN connectivity.
• Across groups, DMN overconnectivity in EOP and SN underconnectivity in ASD were linked to poorer social cognition.

Conclusions:

• ASD and EOP display both shared and distinct patterns of triple-network dysconnectivity.
• Findings support transdiagnostic models of social cognitive dysfunction.
• Adolescence is a key developmental period for network-based brain alterations in these conditions.