Patterns of Cerebellar Connectivity with Intrinsic Connectivity Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Haley M Bednarz; Rajesh K Kana

doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04168-w

Patterns of Cerebellar Connectivity with Intrinsic Connectivity Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorders

J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Nov;49(11):4498-4514. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04168-w.

Authors

Haley M Bednarz¹, Rajesh K Kana²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, CIRC 235G, 1719 6th Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0021, USA.
² Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, CIRC 235G, 1719 6th Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0021, USA. rkana@uab.edu.

PMID: 31473949
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04168-w

Abstract

There is growing evidence of altered connectivity in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) between the cerebellum and cortex. Three intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) are especially important to cognitive processing in ASD: the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), and salience networks (SNs). The goal of this study was to compare resting-state functional connectivity between the cerebellum and the DMN, ECN, and SN in ASD and typically developing children (n = 74, ages 7-12 years). Children with ASD showed stronger connectivity between the ventral DMN and left cerebellar lobules I-IV. No meaningful relationships were observed between ICN-cerebellar functional connectivity and ASD symptoms. These results suggest that the cerebellum contributes to altered network connectivity in ASD.

Keywords: Autism; Cerebellum; Default mode; Executive; Salience.

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology*
Case-Control Studies
Cerebellum / physiopathology*
Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
Child
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Motivation
Neural Pathways / physiopathology
Neuroimaging