Default mode network in young male adults with autism spectrum disorder: Relationship with autism spectrum traits

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.

Download Full-text

Seeing and communicating: photography and young male adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Visual Communication ◽

10.1177/1470357220917432 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 147035722091743

Author(s):

Uschi Klein

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Social Life ◽

Young Male ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Adults With Autism ◽

Daily Lives ◽

The World ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Research Findings

Digital photography is deeply embedded in people’s daily lives, as camera phones and digital compact cameras are widely used in social and cultural settings. People have an increased agency and choice over what they want to photograph, where and when; many people carry their smartphones everywhere and share their images instantly via social media platforms. Within the recent scholarship on everyday photography, however, little attention has been paid to the photographic practices of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one of many marginalized groups whose photography has not been explored. This article addresses this shortfall. Drawing on a qualitative, image-based investigation, the author turns to phenomenology to examine four young male ASD adults’ unique ways of seeing and being-in-the-world as expressed through the use of their camera. Their involvement indicates that ASD people have the potential to have a powerful voice in how society conceives of what autism is and what it means to live with ASD. A case study discussion of key research findings presents examples of the pictures taken in the sphere of participants’ everyday lives, revealing that the camera acts as an extension of experience and perception, a mediator and filter. Photography enables the four male ASD individuals’ being-in-the-world and exposes the social life of this marginalized group. The article offers a significant contribution to the field of visual communication and sensory experience.

Download Full-text

Partially impaired functional connectivity states between right anterior insula and default mode network in autism spectrum disorder

Human Brain Mapping ◽

10.1002/hbm.24447 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 1264-1275 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Xiaonan Guo ◽

Xujun Duan ◽

John Suckling ◽

Heng Chen ◽

Wei Liao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Anterior Insula ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Default Mode

Download Full-text

Altered resting perfusion and functional connectivity of default mode network in youth with autism spectrum disorder

Brain and Behavior ◽

10.1002/brb3.358 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Kay Jann ◽

Leanna M. Hernandez ◽

Devora Beck‐Pancer ◽

Rosemary McCarron ◽

Robert X. Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Default Mode

Download Full-text

Beta-adrenergic antagonism modulates functional connectivity in the default mode network of individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder

Brain Imaging and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s11682-016-9604-8 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1278-1289 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

John P. Hegarty ◽

Bradley J. Ferguson ◽

Rachel M. Zamzow ◽

Landon J. Rohowetz ◽

Jeffrey D. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Beta Adrenergic ◽

Default Mode

Download Full-text

Functional Connectivity Analysis of Default Mode Network in Magnetoencephalography: A comparison between autism spectrum disorder and typical development

Japanese Journal of Physiological Psychology and Psychophysiology ◽

10.5674/jjppp.1305si ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 41-49

Author(s):

Atsuhito TOYOMAKI ◽

Hayato WATANABE ◽

Kazuyori YAGYU ◽

Harumitsu MUROHASHI

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Typical Development ◽

Connectivity Analysis ◽

Default Mode ◽

Functional Connectivity Analysis

Download Full-text

Alterations in Social Brain Network Topology at Rest in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1206436/v1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Narae Yoon ◽

Youngmin Huh ◽

Hyekyoung Lee ◽

Johanna Inhyang Kim ◽

Jung Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Network Topology ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Brain Network ◽

Preschool Age ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Typical Development ◽

Default Mode

Abstract BackgroundUnderconnectivity in the resting brain is not consistent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, it is known that the default mode network is mainly decreased in childhood ASD. This study investigated the brain network topology as the changes in the connection strength and network efficiency in childhood ASD, including the early developmental stages.MethodsIn this study, 31 ASD children aged 2–11 years were compared with 31 age and sex-matched children showing typical development. We explored the functional connectivity based on graph filtration by assessing the single linkage distance and global and nodal efficiencies using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The relationship between functional connectivity and clinical scores was also analyzed.ResultsUnderconnectivities within the posterior default mode network subregions and between the inferior parietal lobule and inferior frontal/superior temporal regions were observed in the ASD group. These areas significantly correlated with the clinical phenotypes. The global, local, and nodal network efficiencies were lower in children with ASD than in those with typical development. In the preschool-age children (2–6 years) with ASD, the anterior-posterior connectivity of the default mode network and cerebellar connectivity were reduced.ConclusionsThe observed topological reorganization, underconnectivity, and disrupted efficiency in the default mode network subregions and social function-related regions could be significant biomarkers of childhood ASD.

Download Full-text