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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Dynamic Functional Synchronization Profiles in Autism Differ by Spatial Scale and Along Hierarchical Cortical
Benedikt P Fuhr1,2, Yonatan Sanz Perl3,4, Ines Severino1,2
1Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy.
Autistic individuals exhibit altered brain connectivity dynamics, with increased short-range and decreased long-range functional synchronization. These findings reveal new insights into the neurodevelopmental basis of autism spectrum disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Brain Imaging
- Autism Research
Background:
- Autism theories suggest local overconnectivity and long-range underconnectivity, but evidence is inconsistent.
- Understanding dynamic functional brain organization in autism is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate dynamic functional synchronization profiles in autism using the turbulence dynamics framework.
- To analyze changes over time, across cortical regions, and at different spatial scales.
Main Methods:
- Applied the turbulence dynamics framework to the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset (N=1009).
- Examined functional synchronization variability and strength across spatial scales and cortical gradients.
Main Results:
- Autistic individuals showed increased short-range and reduced long-range functional synchronization variability.
- Reduced synchronization strength and faster decay with distance were observed in autism.
- Altered synchronization dynamics mapped onto sensorimotor-association cortical gradients.
Conclusions:
- Disturbances in functional synchronization dynamics are evident in autistic individuals across spatial scales and hierarchical gradients.
- Findings support dynamic functional connectomic organization theories in autism.
- Alterations are linked to neurodevelopmental processes along cortical gradients.
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