Altered connectivity between cerebellum, visual and sensory-motor networks in autism spectrum disorder: results from the EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project

Oldehinkel, M., Mennes, M., Marquand, A., Charman, T., Tillmann, J., Ecker, C., Dell'Acqua, F., Brandeis, D., Banaschewski, T., Baumeister, S., Moessnang, C., Baron-Cohen, S., Holt, R., Bӧlte, S., Durston, S., Kundu, P., Lombardo, M. V., Spooren, W. and Zwiers, M. P. (2019) Altered connectivity between cerebellum, visual and sensory-motor networks in autism spectrum disorder: results from the EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 4 (3). pp. 260-270. ISSN 2451-9022 doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.11.010

Abstract/Summary

BACKGROUND:Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging–based studies on functional connectivity inautism spectrum disorder (ASD) have generated inconsistent results. Interpretation offindings is further hamperedby small samples and a focus on a limited number of networks, with networks underlying sensory processingbeing largely underexamined. We aimed to comprehensively characterize ASD-related alterations within andbetween 20 well-characterized resting-state networks using baseline data from the EU-AIMS (European AutismInterventions—A Multicentre Study for Developing New Medications) Longitudinal European Autism Project.METHODS:Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data was available for 265 individuals with ASD(7.5–30.3 years; 73.2% male) and 218 typically developing individuals (6.9–29.8 years; 64.2% male), all with IQ.70.We compared functional connectivity within 20 networks—obtained using independent component analysis—between the ASD and typically developing groups, and related functional connectivity within these networks tocontinuous (overall) autism trait severity scores derived from the Social Responsiveness Scale Second Editionacross all participants. Furthermore, we investigated case-control differences and autism trait–related alterations inbetween-network connectivity.RESULTS:Higher autism traits were associated with increased connectivity within salience, medial motor, andorbitofrontal networks. However, we did not replicate previously reported case-control differences within thesenetworks. The between-network analysis did reveal case-control differences showing on average 1) decreasedconnectivity of the visual association network with somatosensory, medial, and lateral motor networks, and 2)increased connectivity of the cerebellum with these sensory and motor networks in ASD compared with typicallydeveloping subjects.CONCLUSIONS:We demonstrate ASD-related alterations in within- and between-network connectivity. Thebetween-network alterations broadly affect connectivity between cerebellum, visual, and sensory-motor networks,potentially underlying impairments in multisensory and visual-motor integration frequently observed in ASD.