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

Brain and Behavior

Kay Jann²  Leanna M. Hernandez¹  Devora Beck-Pancer¹  Rosemary McCarron¹  Robert X. Smith²  Mirella Dapretto¹ 

[1] Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California;Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California

关键词: arterial spin labeling;    autism spectrum disorder;    cerebral blood flow;    default mode network;    dorsal ACC;    functional connectivity;   

DOI  :  10.1002/brb3.358

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Background

Neuroimaging studies can shed light on the neurobiological underpinnings of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Studies of the resting brain have shown both altered baseline metabolism from PET/SPECT and altered functional connectivity (FC) of intrinsic brain networks based on resting-state fMRI. To date, however, no study has investigated these two physiological parameters of resting brain function jointly, or explored the relationship between these measures and ASD symptom severity.

Methods

Here, we used pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling with 3D background-suppressed GRASE to assess resting cerebral blood flow (CBF) and FC in 17 youth with ASD and 22 matched typically developing (TD) children.

Results

A pattern of altered resting perfusion was found in ASD versus TD children including frontotemporal hyperperfusion and hypoperfusion in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. We found increased local FC in the anterior module of the default mode network (DMN) accompanied by decreased CBF in the same area. In our cohort, both alterations were associated with greater social impairments as assessed with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-total T scores). While FC was correlated with CBF in TD children, this association between FC and baseline perfusion was disrupted in children with ASD. Furthermore, there was reduced long-range FC between anterior and posterior modules of the DMN in children with ASD.

Conclusion

Taken together, the findings of this study – the first to jointly assess resting CBF and FC in ASD – highlight new avenues for identifying novel imaging markers of ASD symptomatology.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.