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Cerebro-Cerebellar Functional Connectivity is Associated with Cerebellar Excitation–Inhibition Balance in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 48, pages 3460–3473 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Atypical functional connectivity (FC) and an imbalance of excitation-to-inhibition (E/I) have been previously reported in cerebro-cerebellar circuits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current investigation used resting state fMRI and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to examine the relationships between E/I (glutamate + glutamine/GABA) and FC of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterolateral cerebellar hemisphere from 14 adolescents/adults with ASD and 12 age/sex/IQ-matched controls. In this pilot sample, cerebro-cerebellar FC was positively associated with cerebellar E/I and listening comprehension abilities in individuals with ASD but not controls. Additionally, a subgroup of individuals with ASD and low FC (n = 5) exhibited reduced E/I and impaired listening comprehension. Thus, altered functional coherence of cerebro-cerebellar circuits in ASD may be related with a cerebellar E/I imbalance.

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Acknowledgments

This investigation was supported by a pilot grant from the University of Missouri Brain Imaging Center, the University of Missouri School of Medicine Mission Enhancement Fund, and crowdsourced funding from the community. We would like to thank Dr. Lori Thombs for her statistical consultation and the many research assistants that were integral to the completion of this work. We would like to especially thank the participants and their families that contributed to this investigation and the support from the University of Missouri Brain Imaging Center and Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

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Author notes

  1. John P. Hegarty II

    Present address: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

  2. Dylan J. Weber

    Present address: School of Dentistry at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    John P. Hegarty II & David Q. Beversdorf

  2. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Dylan J. Weber & David Q. Beversdorf

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Carmen M. Cirstea

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    David Q. Beversdorf

  5. Department of Neurology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    David Q. Beversdorf

  6. Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    David Q. Beversdorf

  7. Autism and Developmental Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    John P. Hegarty II

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Contributions

JH conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination and drafted the manuscript; DW participated in the coordination of the study and performed the outlined measurements; CS participated in the design and analysis/interpretation of the neuroimaging data and helped draft the manuscript; and DB participated in the study design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to John P. Hegarty II.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Hegarty, J.P., Weber, D.J., Cirstea, C.M. et al. Cerebro-Cerebellar Functional Connectivity is Associated with Cerebellar Excitation–Inhibition Balance in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 3460–3473 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3613-y

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