Abstract
While there is almost universal agreement amongst researchers that autism is associated with alterations in brain connectivity, the precise nature of these alterations continues to be debated. Theoretical and empirical work is beginning to reveal that autism is associated with a complex functional phenotype characterized by both hypo- and hyperconnectivity of large-scale brain systems. It is not yet understood why such conflicting patterns of brain connectivity are observed across different studies, and the factors contributing to these heterogeneous findings have not been identified. Develoopmental changes in functional connectivity have received inadequate attention to date. We propose that discrepancies between findings of autism related hypo-connectivity and hyper-connectivity might be reconciled by taking developmental changes into account. We review neuroimaging studies of autism, with an emphasis on functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of intrinsic functional connectivity in children, adolescents and adults. The consistent pattern emerging across several studies is that while intrinsic functional connectivity in adolescents and adults with autism is generally reduced compared with age-matched controls, functional connectivity in younger children with the disorder appears to be increased. We suggest that by placing recent empirical findings within a developmental framework, and explicitly characterizing age and pubertal stage in future work, it may be possible to resolve conflicting findings of hypo- and hyperconnectivity in the extant literature and arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the neurobiology of autism.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Issue number | JUL |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 22 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Brain development
- FMRI
- Functional connectivity
- Puberty
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Neurology
- Biological Psychiatry
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Cite this
Reconceptualizing functional brain connectivity in autism from a developmental perspective. / Uddin, Lucina Q; Supekar, Kaustubh; Menon, Vinod.
In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, No. JUL, 22.07.2013.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Reconceptualizing functional brain connectivity in autism from a developmental perspective
AU - Uddin, Lucina Q
AU - Supekar, Kaustubh
AU - Menon, Vinod
PY - 2013/7/22
Y1 - 2013/7/22
N2 - While there is almost universal agreement amongst researchers that autism is associated with alterations in brain connectivity, the precise nature of these alterations continues to be debated. Theoretical and empirical work is beginning to reveal that autism is associated with a complex functional phenotype characterized by both hypo- and hyperconnectivity of large-scale brain systems. It is not yet understood why such conflicting patterns of brain connectivity are observed across different studies, and the factors contributing to these heterogeneous findings have not been identified. Develoopmental changes in functional connectivity have received inadequate attention to date. We propose that discrepancies between findings of autism related hypo-connectivity and hyper-connectivity might be reconciled by taking developmental changes into account. We review neuroimaging studies of autism, with an emphasis on functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of intrinsic functional connectivity in children, adolescents and adults. The consistent pattern emerging across several studies is that while intrinsic functional connectivity in adolescents and adults with autism is generally reduced compared with age-matched controls, functional connectivity in younger children with the disorder appears to be increased. We suggest that by placing recent empirical findings within a developmental framework, and explicitly characterizing age and pubertal stage in future work, it may be possible to resolve conflicting findings of hypo- and hyperconnectivity in the extant literature and arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the neurobiology of autism.
AB - While there is almost universal agreement amongst researchers that autism is associated with alterations in brain connectivity, the precise nature of these alterations continues to be debated. Theoretical and empirical work is beginning to reveal that autism is associated with a complex functional phenotype characterized by both hypo- and hyperconnectivity of large-scale brain systems. It is not yet understood why such conflicting patterns of brain connectivity are observed across different studies, and the factors contributing to these heterogeneous findings have not been identified. Develoopmental changes in functional connectivity have received inadequate attention to date. We propose that discrepancies between findings of autism related hypo-connectivity and hyper-connectivity might be reconciled by taking developmental changes into account. We review neuroimaging studies of autism, with an emphasis on functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of intrinsic functional connectivity in children, adolescents and adults. The consistent pattern emerging across several studies is that while intrinsic functional connectivity in adolescents and adults with autism is generally reduced compared with age-matched controls, functional connectivity in younger children with the disorder appears to be increased. We suggest that by placing recent empirical findings within a developmental framework, and explicitly characterizing age and pubertal stage in future work, it may be possible to resolve conflicting findings of hypo- and hyperconnectivity in the extant literature and arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the neurobiology of autism.
KW - Autism spectrum disorders
KW - Brain development
KW - FMRI
KW - Functional connectivity
KW - Puberty
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84933670488&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84933670488&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00458
DO - 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00458
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84933670488
JO - Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
JF - Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
SN - 1662-5161
IS - JUL
ER -