Habenula Alterations in Resting-State Functional Connectivity Among Autistic Individuals

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Brain Imaging and Connectomics

Background:

• The reward-based framework of autism implicates altered reward circuitry in core symptoms.
• Previous research identified structural changes in the habenula in autism, but functional connectivity (FC) remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in habenula functional connectivity (FC) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• To explore age-related developmental trajectories and brain-behavior relationships of habenula FC in autism.

Main Methods:

• Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 1,479 participants in the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE).
• Performed whole-brain FC analysis with subject-specific habenula seeds.
• Conducted regression analyses to examine age and behavioral correlations.

Main Results:

• Autistic participants showed significantly increased habenula connectivity with the temporal gyri compared to neurotypical controls.
• Autistic adolescents exhibited an accelerated developmental trajectory of habenula FC with the cingulate gyrus.
• Habenula hyperconnectivity was inversely associated with social motivation and communication scores.

Conclusions:

• This study provides novel evidence of altered habenula functional connectivity in autism, particularly with sensory processing regions.
• Habenula circuitry development differs in autistic adolescents, with links to social behaviors.
• Findings support the role of the dopaminergic reward system in the pathophysiology of autism.