Functional MRI connectivity of children with autism and low verbal and cognitive performance

• DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0248-y
• Publication Date: 2018-12-27T04:24:14Z
• Authors: Terisa P. Gabrielsen; Jeff S. Anderson; Kevin G. Stephenson; Jonathan Beck; Jace B. King; Ryan Kellems; David N. Top; Nicholas C. C. Ru...; Emily Anderberg; Rebecca A. Lundwall; Blake Hansen; Mikle South
• Keywords: Neurotypical; Neurocognitive

Functional neuroimaging research in autism spectrum disorder has reported patterns of decreased long-range, within-network, and interhemispheric connectivity. Research also increased corticostriatal connectivity between-network for default attentional networks. Past studies have excluded individuals with low verbal cognitive performance (LVCP), so more significantly affected not yet been studied. This represents a critical gap our understanding brain function across the spectrum. Using behavioral support procedures adapted from Nordahl, et al. (J Neurodev Disord 8:20–20, 2016), we completed non-sedated structural functional MRI scans 56 children ages 7–17, including LVCP (n = 17, mean IQ 54), higher (HVCP, n 20, 106), neurotypical (NT, 19, 111). Preparation included detailed intake questionnaires, video modeling, anxiety reduction techniques, active noise-canceling headphones, in-scan presentation Inscapes movie paradigm Vanderwal (Neuroimage 122:222–32, 2015). A high temporal resolution multiband echoplanar fMRI protocol analyzed motion-free time series data, extracted concatenated volumes to mitigate influence motion artifact. All participants had > 200 scanning. Analyses were corrected multiple comparisons. showed within-network default, salience, auditory, frontoparietal networks (LVCP < HVCP) HVCP=NT). Between-network was than NT between dorsal attention Lower associated within network study demonstrates that moderate levels support, readily available information about similarities differences can be further initial suggested segmentation integration individuals. Further imaging larger samples will add origins effects on behavior.