scholarly journals Functional connectivity-based subtypes of individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda K. Easson ◽  
Zainab Fatima ◽  
Anthony R. McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
The Other ◽  
Repetitive Behaviours ◽  
Subtype A

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by impairments in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviours. Neuroimaging studies have shown complex patterns of functional connectivity (FC) in ASD, with no clear consensus on brain-behaviour relationships or shared patterns of FC with typically developing controls. Here, we used k-means clustering and multivariate statistical analyses to characterize distinct FC patterns and FC-behaviour relationships in participants with and without ASD. Two FC subtypes were identified by the clustering analysis. One subtype was defined by increased FC within resting-state networks and decreased FC across networks compared to the other subtype. A separate FC pattern distinguished ASD from controls, particularly within default mode, cingulo-opercular, sensorimotor, and occipital networks. There was no significant interaction between subtypes and diagnostic groups. Finally, analysis of FC patterns with behavioural measures of IQ, social responsiveness and ASD severity showed unique brain-behaviour relations in each subtype, and a continuum of brain-behavior relations from ASD to controls within one subtype. These results demonstrate that distinct clusters of FC patterns exist in both ASD and controls, and that FC subtypes can reveal unique information about brain-behaviour relationships.Author SummaryAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, with high variation in the types of severity of impairments in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviours. Neuroimaging studies have shown complex patterns of communication between brain regions, or functional connectivity (FC), in ASD. Here, we defined two distinct FC patterns and relationships between FC and behaviour in participants with and without ASD. One subtype was defined by increased FC within distinct networks of brain regions, and decreased FC between networks compared to the other subtype. A separate FC pattern distinguished ASD from controls. The interaction between subtypes and diagnostic groups was not significant. Analysis of FC patterns with behavioural measures revealed unique information about brain-behaviour relations in each subtype.

scholarly journals Functional connectivity-based subtypes of individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 344-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda K. Easson ◽  
Zainab Fatima ◽  
Anthony R. McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Responsiveness ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Subtype A ◽  
Brain Behavior

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by impairments in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Neuroimaging studies have shown complex patterns and functional connectivity (FC) in ASD, with no clear consensus on brain-behavior relationships or shared patterns of FC with typically developing controls. Here, we used a dimensional approach to characterize two distinct clusters of FC patterns across both ASD participants and controls using k-means clustering. Using multivariate statistical analyses, a categorical approach was taken to characterize differences in FC between subtypes and between diagnostic groups. One subtype was defined by increased FC within resting-state networks and decreased FC across networks compared with the other subtype. A separate FC pattern distinguished ASD from controls, particularly within default mode, cingulo-opercular, sensorimotor, and occipital networks. There was no significant interaction between subtypes and diagnostic groups. Finally, a dimensional analysis of FC patterns with behavioral measures of IQ, social responsiveness, and ASD severity showed unique brain-behavior relations in each subtype and a continuum of brain-behavior relations from ASD to controls within one subtype. These results demonstrate that distinct clusters of FC patterns exist across ASD and controls, and that FC subtypes can reveal unique information about brain-behavior relationships.

scholarly journals Sex-dependent and sex-independent brain resting-state functional connectivity in children with autism spectrum disorder

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Di ◽  
Bharat B Biswal
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽  
Main Effects

Background: Males are more likely to suffer from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than females. As to whether females with ASD have similar brain alterations remain an open question. The current study aimed to examine sex-dependent as well as sex-independent alterations in resting-state functional connectivity in individuals with ASD compared with typically developing (TD) individuals. Method: Resting-state functional MRI data were acquired from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE). Subjects between 6 to 20 years of age were included for analysis. After matching the intelligence quotient between groups for each dataset, and removing subjects due to excessive head motion, the resulting effective sample contained 28 females with ASD, 49 TD females, 129 males with ASD, and 141 TD males, with a two (diagnosis) by two (sex) design. Functional connectivity among 153 regions of interest (ROIs) comprising the whole brain was computed. Two by two analysis of variance was used to identify connectivity that showed diagnosis by sex interaction or main effects of diagnosis. Results: The main effects of diagnosis were found mainly between visual cortex and other brain regions, indicating sex-independent connectivity alterations. We also observed two connections whose connectivity showed diagnosis by sex interaction between the precuneus and medial cerebellum as well as the precunes and dorsal frontal cortex. While males with ASD showed higher connectivity in these connections compared with TD males, females with ASD had lower connectivity than their counterparts. Conclusions: Both sex-dependent and sex-independent functional connectivity alterations are present in ASD.

scholarly journals An Autism Spectrum Disorder Adaptive Identification Based on the Elimination of Brain Connections: A Proof of Long-Range Underconnectivity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima zahra Benabdallah ◽  
Ahmed Drissi El Maliani ◽  
Dounia Lotfi ◽  
Rachid Jennane ◽  
Mohammed El hassouni
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Brain Imaging Data

Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is theoretically characterized by alterations in functional connectivity between brain regions. Many works presented approaches to determine informative patterns that help to predict autism from typical development. However, most of the proposed pipelines are not specifically designed for the autism problem, i.e they do not corroborate with autism theories about functional connectivity. In this paper, we propose a framework that takes into account the properties of local connectivity and long range under-connectivity in the autistic brain. The originality of the proposed approach is to adopt elimination as a technique in order to well emerge the autistic brain connectivity alterations, and show how they contribute to differentiate ASD from controls. Experimental results conducted on the large multi-site Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) show that our approach provides accurate prediction up to 70% and succeeds to prove the existence of deficits in the long-range connectivity in the ASD subjects brains.

scholarly journals Hypo- and hyper-connectivity in default mode network related to social impairment in tweens with autism spectrum disorder

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Matthysen ◽  
Daniele Marinazzo ◽  
Roma Siugzdaite
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Connectivity Pattern ◽  
Resting State Networks ◽  
Default Mode

Background. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, marked by impairment in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Accumulating data suggests that alterations in functional connectivity might contribute to these deficits. Whereas functional connectivity in resting state fMRI is expressed by several resting-state networks, for this study we examined several of them, but our particular interest was in the default mode network (DMN), given its age dependent alteration of functional connectivity and its relation to social communication. Methods. Since the studies investigating young children (6-8 years) with autism have found hypo-connectivity in DMN and studies on adolescents (12-16 years old) with autism have found hyper-connectivity in the DMN, we were interested in connectivity pattern during the age of 8 to 12, so we investigated the role of altered intrinsic connectivity in 16 children (mean age 9.75 ±1.6 years) with autism spectrum disorder compared to 16 typically developing controls in the DMN and other resting-state networks. Results. Results show that, compared to controls, the group with autism spectrum disorder showed signs of both hypo- and hyper-connectivity in different regions of the resting-state networks related to social communication. Conclusion. That suggests that transition period from childhood to adolescence carries the complexity of functional connectivity from both age groups. Regions that showed differences in functional connectivity were discussed in relation to social communication difficulties.

scholarly journals Role of Oligodendrocytes and Myelin in the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 951
Author(s):  
Alma Y. Galvez-Contreras ◽  
David Zarate-Lopez ◽  
Ana L. Torres-Chavez ◽  
Oscar Gonzalez-Perez
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Matter Production

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an early neurodevelopmental disorder that involves deficits in interpersonal communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Although ASD pathophysiology is still uncertain, alterations in the abnormal development of the frontal lobe, limbic areas, and putamen generate an imbalance between inhibition and excitation of neuronal activity. Interestingly, recent findings suggest that a disruption in neuronal connectivity is associated with neural alterations in white matter production and myelination in diverse brain regions of patients with ASD. This review is aimed to summarize the most recent evidence that supports the notion that abnormalities in the oligodendrocyte generation and axonal myelination in specific brain regions are involved in the pathophysiology of ASD. Fundamental molecular mediators of these pathological processes are also examined. Determining the role of alterations in oligodendrogenesis and myelination is a fundamental step to understand the pathophysiology of ASD and identify possible therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Priming the Pathway: Combining Oxytocin and Behavioral Intervention to Improve Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Kuhl Meltzoff Stavropoulos ◽  
Elizabeth Baker
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Restricted Interests ◽  
Children With Asd

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social-communication deficits and the presence of restricted interests and/or repetitive behaviors. There are currently no psychopharmacological agents approved to treat core symptoms of ASD. As such, behavioral interventions are the most effective method for improving symptoms. In the current chapter, we propose that administering the neuropeptide oxytocin in conjunction with evidence-based behavioral interventions may lead to improved outcomes in social-communication for children with ASD. From a mechanistic perspective, we hypothesize that oxytocin may “prime” social reward circuitry in the brain, thereby allowing behavioral interventions designed to increase social motivation/initiation to be more effective. Extant literature related to theories of ASD, oxytocin administration in children with ASD, and behavioral intervention outcomes are reviewed, and considerations for individual characteristics (e.g., genetics, oxytocin availability, age, behavioral profile, etc.) that may affect efficacy are discussed.

Co-occurrence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 332-351
Author(s):  
Saashi A. Bedford ◽  
Michelle Hunsche ◽  
Connor M. Kerns
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Communication Deficits

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and, similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), restricted and repetitive behaviors. The restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors and interests that are characteristic of ASD often resemble the obsessions and compulsions of OCD, which can make it difficult to distinguish or differentiate the two conditions. A common challenge in diagnosing comorbid ASD and OCD is the apparent overlap in symptoms between the two disorders. This chapter discusses the differentiation between OCD and ASD, the assessment and diagnosis of OCD within the context of ASD, and the treatment of this presentation of OCD.

scholarly journals Effects of Creative Movement Therapies on Social Communication, Behavioral-Affective, Sensorimotor, Cognitive, and Functional Participation Skills of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidhi Amonkar ◽  
Wan-Chun Su ◽  
Anjana N. Bhat ◽  
Sudha M. Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Martial Arts ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Creative Movement

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting multiple developmental domains including social communication, behavioral-affective, sensorimotor, and cognitive systems. There is growing evidence for the use of holistic, whole-body, Creative Movement Therapies (CMT) such as music, dance, yoga, theater, and martial arts in addressing the multisystem impairments in ASD. We conducted a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative review of the evidence to date on the effects of CMT on multiple systems in individuals with ASD. The strongest evidence, both in terms of quantity and quality, exists for music and martial arts-based interventions followed by yoga and theater, with very limited research on dance-based approaches. Our review of 72 studies (N = 1,939 participants) across participants with ASD ranging from 3 to 65 years of age suggests that at present there is consistent evidence from high quality studies for small-to-large sized improvements in social communication skills following music and martial arts therapies and medium-to-large improvements in motor and cognitive skills following yoga and martial arts training, with insufficient evidence to date for gains in affective, sensory, and functional participation domains following CMT. Although promising, our review serves as a call for more rigorous high-quality research to assess the multisystem effects of CMT in ASD. Based on the existing literature, we discuss implications of our findings for autism researchers and also provide evidence-based guidelines for clinicians to incorporate CMT approaches in their plan of care for individuals with ASD.

scholarly journals Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder With Functional Graph Discriminative Network

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingcong Li ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Jiahui Pan ◽  
Zhenfu Wen
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Graph Representation ◽  
Restricted Interests ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Functional Graph ◽  
Communication Impairments

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a specific brain disease that causes communication impairments and restricted interests. Functional connectivity analysis methodology is widely used in neuroscience research and shows much potential in discriminating ASD patients from healthy controls. However, due to heterogeneity of ASD patients, the performance of conventional functional connectivity classification methods is relatively poor. Graph neural network is an effective graph representation method to model structured data like functional connectivity. In this paper, we proposed a functional graph discriminative network (FGDN) for ASD classification. On the basis of pre-built graph templates, the proposed FGDN is able to effectively distinguish ASD patient from health controls. Moreover, we studied the size of training set for effective training, inter-site predictions, and discriminative brain regions. Discriminative brain regions were determined by the proposed model to investigate its applicability and biomarkers for ASD identification. For functional connectivity classification and analysis, FGDN is not only an effective tool for ASD identification but also a potential technique in neuroscience research.

scholarly journals Transcriptional subtyping explains phenotypic variability in genetic subtypes of autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 1353-1361
Author(s):  
Sandy Trinh ◽  
Anne Arnett ◽  
Evangeline Kurtz-Nelson ◽  
Jennifer Beighley ◽  
Marta Picoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Phenotypic Heterogeneity ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Genetic Subtypes

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and presence of restricted, repetitive behaviors, and interests. However, individuals with ASD vary significantly in their challenges and abilities in these and other developmental domains. Gene discovery in ASD has accelerated in the past decade, and genetic subtyping has yielded preliminary evidence of utility in parsing phenotypic heterogeneity through genomic subtypes. Recent advances in transcriptomics have provided additional dimensions with which to refine genetic subtyping efforts. In the current study, we investigate phenotypic differences among transcriptional subtypes defined by neurobiological spatiotemporal co-expression patterns. Of the four transcriptional subtypes examined, participants with mutations to genes typically expressed highly in all brain regions prenatally, and those with differential postnatal cerebellar expression relative to other brain regions, showed lower cognitive and adaptive skills, higher severity of social communication deficits, and later acquisition of speech and motor milestones, compared to those with mutations to genes highly expressed during the postnatal period across brain regions. These findings suggest higher-order characterization of genetic subtypes based on neurobiological expression patterns may be a promising approach to parsing phenotypic heterogeneity among those with ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.

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