Intrinsic Structural Connectivity of the Default Mode Network and Behavioral Correlates of Executive Function and Social Skills in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2022 Feb 10

PMID 35141816

Authors

Jessica Blume

Chanaka Kahathuduwa

Ann Mastergeorge

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Brain connectivity of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is heterogenous, as are the behavioral manifestations. The current study investigated brain-behavior relationships in the context of social skills and executive function profiles with data from the Autism Brain Imaging Database Exchange II. We calculated connectivity measures from diffusion tensor imaging using Bayesian estimation and probabilistic tractography. Subsequently, we performed structural equation modeling by regressing three latent factors, yielded from an exploratory factor analysis, onto total default mode network (DMN) connectivity. Both social regulation processing and self-directed cognitive processing factors moderately, negatively correlated with total DMN connectivity. Our findings indicate social regulation processing difficulties in youth with ASD may be attributable to impaired connectivity between the anterior and posterior DMN.

Citing Articles

Enhancing autism spectrum disorder classification in children through the integration of traditional statistics and classical machine learning techniques in EEG analysis.

Rogala J, Zygierewicz J, Malinowska U, Cygan H, Stawicka E, Kobus A Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):21748.

PMID: 38066046 PMC: 10709647. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49048-7.

Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Family and School Environment.

Gentil-Gutierrez A, Santamaria-Pelaez M, Minguez-Minguez L, Fernandez-Solana J, Gonzalez-Bernal J, Gonzalez-Santos J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(13).

PMID: 35805490 PMC: 9265688. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137834.

References

Abbott A, Linke A, Nair A, Jahedi A, Alba L, Keown C . Repetitive behaviors in autism are linked to imbalance of corticostriatal connectivity: a functional connectivity MRI study. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2017; 13(1):32-42. PMC: 5793718. DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsx129. View

Alexander A, Lee J, Lazar M, Field A . Diffusion tensor imaging of the brain. Neurotherapeutics. 2007; 4(3):316-29. PMC: 2041910. DOI: 10.1016/j.nurt.2007.05.011. View

Assaf M, Jagannathan K, Calhoun V, Miller L, Stevens M, Sahl R . Abnormal functional connectivity of default mode sub-networks in autism spectrum disorder patients. Neuroimage. 2010; 53(1):247-56. PMC: 3058935. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.05.067. View

Bednarz H, Trapani J, Kana R . Metacognition and behavioral regulation predict distinct aspects of social functioning in autism spectrum disorder. Child Neuropsychol. 2020; 26(7):953-981. DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2020.1745166. View

Behrens T, Berg H, Jbabdi S, Rushworth M, Woolrich M . Probabilistic diffusion tractography with multiple fibre orientations: What can we gain?. Neuroimage. 2006; 34(1):144-55. PMC: 7116582. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.09.018. View

Behrens T, Woolrich M, Jenkinson M, Johansen-Berg H, Nunes R, Clare S . Characterization and propagation of uncertainty in diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Magn Reson Med. 2003; 50(5):1077-88. DOI: 10.1002/mrm.10609. View

Belmonte M, Allen G, Beckel-Mitchener A, Boulanger L, Carper R, Webb S . Autism and abnormal development of brain connectivity. J Neurosci. 2004; 24(42):9228-31. PMC: 6730085. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3340-04.2004. View

Berkovits L, Eisenhower A, Blacher J . Emotion Regulation in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016; 47(1):68-79. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2922-2. View

Bertollo J, Yerys B . More Than IQ: Executive Function Explains Adaptive Behavior Above and Beyond Nonverbal IQ in Youth With Autism and Lower IQ. Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2019; 124(3):191-205. PMC: 6815227. DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-124.3.191. View

10.

Bieleninik L, Posserud M, Geretsegger M, Thompson G, Elefant C, Gold C . Tracing the temporal stability of autism spectrum diagnosis and severity as measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017; 12(9):e0183160. PMC: 5608197. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183160. View

11.

Blijd-Hoogewys E, Bezemer M, van Geert P . Executive functioning in children with ASD: an analysis of the BRIEF. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014; 44(12):3089-100. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2176-9. View

12.

Calhoun V, Adali T, Pearlson G, Pekar J . A method for making group inferences from functional MRI data using independent component analysis. Hum Brain Mapp. 2001; 14(3):140-51. PMC: 6871952. DOI: 10.1002/hbm.1048. View

13.

Chang C, Glover G . Relationship between respiration, end-tidal CO2, and BOLD signals in resting-state fMRI. Neuroimage. 2009; 47(4):1381-93. PMC: 2721281. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.04.048. View

14.

Chang Y, Owen J, Desai S, Hill S, Arnett A, Harris J . Autism and sensory processing disorders: shared white matter disruption in sensory pathways but divergent connectivity in social-emotional pathways. PLoS One. 2014; 9(7):e103038. PMC: 4116166. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103038. View

15.

Christ S, Stichter J, OConnor K, Bodner K, Moffitt A, Herzog M . Social Skills Intervention Participation and Associated Improvements in Executive Function Performance. Autism Res Treat. 2017; 2017:5843851. PMC: 5623786. DOI: 10.1155/2017/5843851. View

16.

de Vries M, Geurts H . Influence of Autism Traits and Executive Functioning on Quality of Life in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015; 45(9):2734-43. PMC: 4553152. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2438-1. View

17.

Dubey I, Georgescu A, Hommelsen M, Vogeley K, Ropar D, F de C Hamilton A . Distinct neural correlates of social and object reward seeking motivation. Eur J Neurosci. 2020; 52(9):4214-4229. DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14888. View

18.

Failla M, Peters B, Karbasforoushan H, Foss-Feig J, Schauder K, Heflin B . Intrainsular connectivity and somatosensory responsiveness in young children with ASD. Mol Autism. 2017; 8:25. PMC: 5470196. DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0143-y. View

19.

Freeman L, Locke J, Rotheram-Fuller E, Mandell D . Brief Report: Examining Executive and Social Functioning in Elementary-Aged Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2017; 47(6):1890-1895. PMC: 5536167. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3079-3. View

20.

Gardiner E, Iarocci G . Everyday executive function predicts adaptive and internalizing behavior among children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res. 2017; 11(2):284-295. DOI: 10.1002/aur.1877. View