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Cortical Underconnectivity Hypothesis in Autism: Evidence from Functional Connectivity MRI

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Comprehensive Guide to Autism

Abstract

Functional connectivity is a technique that measures synchrony of blood-flow-based MRI images between distinct brain regions to infer underlying connectivity relationships. Quantitative measurements of such functional connectivity have now been performed in over 50 primary reports, acquired both during cognitive tasks and in a no-task “resting state.” With several notable exceptions, most studies confirm decreased functional connectivity in autism, particularly in association cortical brain areas functionally related to introspection, internal narrative, language, and social function. Negatively correlated brain regions appear less negatively correlated in autism and cortical-subcortical functional connectivity may be increased in autism. Abnormalities in functional connectivity are most evident in younger children and adolescents, with decreasing abnormality with the age of the individual into early adulthood. Functional connectivity abnormalities are correlated with disease severity in multiple studies and may allow sensitive and specific classification of autism. Evolving methodological issues that may contribute to differences in results among studies and open questions for future research are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, University of Utah, 1A71 School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Jeffrey S. Anderson

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  1. Jeffrey S. Anderson
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Correspondence to Jeffrey S. Anderson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, Faculty of Science & Technology, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Nutritional Sciences Division and Genomics Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

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Anderson, J.S. (2014). Cortical Underconnectivity Hypothesis in Autism: Evidence from Functional Connectivity MRI. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V., Martin, C. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Autism. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_81

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_81

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4787-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4788-7

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