Evaluating Functional Connectivity Alterations in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Network-Based Statistics

[EN] The study of resting-state functional brain networks is a powerful tool to understand the neurological bases of a variety of disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this work, we have studied the differences in functional brain connectivity between a group of 74 ASD subjects and a...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pascual-Belda, A, Díaz-Parra, Antonio, Moratal, David|||0000-0002-2825-3646
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repositorio:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/121391
Acceso en línea:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/121391
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Autism Spectrum Disorder
Functional MRI,resting-state
Brain connectivity
Complex networks
Network-Based Statistic
Overconnectivity
Underconnectivity
TECNOLOGIA ELECTRONICA
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] The study of resting-state functional brain networks is a powerful tool to understand the neurological bases of a variety of disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this work, we have studied the differences in functional brain connectivity between a group of 74 ASD subjects and a group of 82 typical-development (TD) subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We have used a network approach whereby the brain is divided into discrete regions or nodes that interact with each other through connections or edges. Functional brain networks were estimated using the Pearson's correlation coefficient and compared by means of the Network-Based Statistic (NBS) method. The obtained results reveal a combination of both overconnectivity and underconnectivity, with the presence of networks in which the connectivity levels differ significantly between ASD and TD groups. The alterations mainly affect the temporal and frontal lobe, as well as the limbic system, especially those regions related with social interaction and emotion management functions. These results are concordant with the clinical profile of the disorder and can contribute to the elucidation of its neurological basis, encouraging the development of new clinical approaches.