Functional connectivity of the posterior cingulate cortex in autism spectrum disorder

• Published in: Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging Vol. 342; p. 111848
• Main Authors: Kornisch, Myriam, Gonzalez, Claudia, Ikuta, Toshikazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anterior cingulate cortex; Autism spectrum disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnostic imaging; Autism Spectrum Disorder - physiopathology; Child; Executive functions; Female; Functional connectivity; Gyrus Cinguli - diagnostic imaging; Gyrus Cinguli - physiopathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Neural Pathways - diagnostic imaging; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; Posterior cingulate cortex; Repetitive and restricted behaviors; Resting-state fMRI; Functional connectivity; Anterior cingulate cortex; Resting-state fMRI; Executive functions; Repetitive and restricted behaviors; Autism spectrum disorder; Posterior cingulate cortex
• ISSN: 0925-4927; 1872-7506; 1872-7506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2024.111848

•The posterior cingulate cortex showed reduced connectivity with the anterior cingulate cortex for individuals with autism spectrum disorder compared to a control group.•The functional connectivity changes involving the posterior cingulate cortex and anterior cingulate cortex may be a potential neurobiological biomarker for the observed repetitive and restricted behaviors in autism spectrum disorder.•The findings of the current study support previous data indicating a neurobiological basis of autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional connectivity of the posterior cingulate cortex in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) brain scans of adolescents diagnosed with ASD and a neurotypical control group. The Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) consortium was utilized to acquire data from the University of Michigan (145 subjects) and data from the New York University (183 subjects). The posterior cingulate cortex showed reduced connectivity with the anterior cingulate cortex for the ASD group compared to the control group. These two brain regions have previously both been linked to ASD symptomology. Specifically, the posterior cingulate cortex has been associated with behavioral control and executive functions, which appear to be responsible for the repetitive and restricted behaviors (RRB) in ASD. Our findings support previous data indicating a neurobiological basis of the disorder, and the specific functional connectivity changes involving the posterior cingulate cortex and anterior cingulate cortex may be a potential neurobiological biomarker for the observed RRBs in ASD.