Dynamic functional connectivity in the right temporoparietal junction captures variations in male autistic trait expression / Laura BRAVO BALSA in Autism Research, 17-4 (April 2024)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 17-4 (April 2024) . - p.702-715 Titre : Dynamic functional connectivity in the right temporoparietal junction captures variations in male autistic trait expression Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Laura BRAVO BALSA, Auteur ; Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur ; Carmel MEVORACH, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.702-715 Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Abstract Autistic individuals can experience difficulties with attention reorienting and Theory of Mind (ToM), which are closely associated with anterior and posterior subdivisions of the right temporoparietal junction. While the link between these processes remains unclear, it is likely subserved by a dynamic crosstalk between these two subdivisions. We, therefore, examined the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) between the anterior and posterior temporoparietal junction, as a biological marker of attention and ToM, to test its contribution to the manifestation of autistic trait expression in Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). Two studies were conducted, exploratory (14 ASC, 15 TD) and replication (29 ASC, 29 TD), using resting-state fMRI data and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange repository. Dynamic Independent Component Analysis was performed in both datasets using the CONN toolbox. An additional sliding-window analysis was performed in the replication study to explore different connectivity states (from highly negatively to highly positively correlated). Dynamic FC was reduced in ASC compared to TD adults in both the exploratory and replication datasets and was associated with increased SRS scores (especially in ASC). Regression analyses revealed that decreased SRS autistic expression was predicted by engagement of highly negatively correlated states, while engagement of highly positively correlated states predicted increased expression. These findings provided consistent evidence that the difficulties observed in ASC are associated with altered patterns of dFC between brain regions subserving attention reorienting and ToM processes and may serve as a biomarker of autistic trait expression. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3117 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=526 [article] Dynamic functional connectivity in the right temporoparietal junction captures variations in male autistic trait expression [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Laura BRAVO BALSA, Auteur ; Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur ; Carmel MEVORACH, Auteur . - p.702-715. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 17-4 (April 2024) . - p.702-715 Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Abstract Autistic individuals can experience difficulties with attention reorienting and Theory of Mind (ToM), which are closely associated with anterior and posterior subdivisions of the right temporoparietal junction. While the link between these processes remains unclear, it is likely subserved by a dynamic crosstalk between these two subdivisions. We, therefore, examined the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) between the anterior and posterior temporoparietal junction, as a biological marker of attention and ToM, to test its contribution to the manifestation of autistic trait expression in Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). Two studies were conducted, exploratory (14 ASC, 15 TD) and replication (29 ASC, 29 TD), using resting-state fMRI data and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange repository. Dynamic Independent Component Analysis was performed in both datasets using the CONN toolbox. An additional sliding-window analysis was performed in the replication study to explore different connectivity states (from highly negatively to highly positively correlated). Dynamic FC was reduced in ASC compared to TD adults in both the exploratory and replication datasets and was associated with increased SRS scores (especially in ASC). Regression analyses revealed that decreased SRS autistic expression was predicted by engagement of highly negatively correlated states, while engagement of highly positively correlated states predicted increased expression. These findings provided consistent evidence that the difficulties observed in ASC are associated with altered patterns of dFC between brain regions subserving attention reorienting and ToM processes and may serve as a biomarker of autistic trait expression. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3117 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=526

Psychosocial deficits across autism and schizotypal spectra are interactively modulated by excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission / Talitha C. FORD in Autism, 24-2 (February 2020)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 24-2 (February 2020) . - p.364-373 Titre : Psychosocial deficits across autism and schizotypal spectra are interactively modulated by excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Talitha C. FORD, Auteur ; David P. CREWTHER, Auteur ; Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.364-373 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Gaba  autism  glutamate  magnetic resonance spectroscopy  schizophrenia  social behavior  social cognition Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Continued human and animal research has strengthened evidence for aberrant excitatory-inhibitory neural processes underlying autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorder psychopathology, particularly psychosocial functioning, in clinical and nonclinical populations. We investigated the extent to which autistic traits and schizotypal dimensions were modulated by the interactive relationship between excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA neurotransmitter concentrations in the social processing area of the superior temporal cortex using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In total, 38 non-clinical participants (20 females; age range = 18-35 years, mean (standard deviation) = 23.22 (5.52)) completed the autism spectrum quotient and schizotypal personality questionnaire, and underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify glutamate and GABA concentrations in the right and left superior temporal cortex. Regression analyses revealed that glutamate and GABA interactively modulated autistic social skills and schizotypal interpersonal features (pcorr < 0.05), such that those with high right superior temporal cortex glutamate but low GABA concentrations exhibited poorer social and interpersonal skills. These findings evidence an excitation-inhibition imbalance that is specific to psychosocial features across the autism and schizophrenia spectra. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361319866030 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=415 [article] Psychosocial deficits across autism and schizotypal spectra are interactively modulated by excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Talitha C. FORD, Auteur ; David P. CREWTHER, Auteur ; Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur . - p.364-373. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 24-2 (February 2020) . - p.364-373 Mots-clés : Gaba  autism  glutamate  magnetic resonance spectroscopy  schizophrenia  social behavior  social cognition Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Continued human and animal research has strengthened evidence for aberrant excitatory-inhibitory neural processes underlying autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorder psychopathology, particularly psychosocial functioning, in clinical and nonclinical populations. We investigated the extent to which autistic traits and schizotypal dimensions were modulated by the interactive relationship between excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA neurotransmitter concentrations in the social processing area of the superior temporal cortex using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In total, 38 non-clinical participants (20 females; age range = 18-35 years, mean (standard deviation) = 23.22 (5.52)) completed the autism spectrum quotient and schizotypal personality questionnaire, and underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify glutamate and GABA concentrations in the right and left superior temporal cortex. Regression analyses revealed that glutamate and GABA interactively modulated autistic social skills and schizotypal interpersonal features (pcorr < 0.05), such that those with high right superior temporal cortex glutamate but low GABA concentrations exhibited poorer social and interpersonal skills. These findings evidence an excitation-inhibition imbalance that is specific to psychosocial features across the autism and schizophrenia spectra. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361319866030 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=415

Superior temporal sulcus folding, functional network connectivity, and autistic-like traits in a non-clinical population / Igor NENADI? in Molecular Autism, 15 (2024)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 15 (2024) . - 44p. Titre : Superior temporal sulcus folding, functional network connectivity, and autistic-like traits in a non-clinical population Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Igor NENADI?, Auteur ; Yvonne SCHRÖDER, Auteur ; Jonas HOFFMANN, Auteur ; Ulrika EVERMANN, Auteur ; Julia-Katharina PFARR, Auteur ; Aliénor BERGMANN, Auteur ; Daniela Michelle HOHMANN, Auteur ; Boris KEIL, Auteur ; Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur ; Sanna STROTH, Auteur ; Inge KAMP-BECKER, Auteur ; Andreas JANSEN, Auteur ; Sarah GREZELLSCHAK, Auteur ; Tina MELLER, Auteur Article en page(s) : 44p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Humans  Male  Female  Adult  Temporal Lobe/diagnostic imaging  Magnetic Resonance Imaging  Young Adult  Autistic Disorder/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology  Adolescent  Middle Aged  Nerve Net/diagnostic imaging  Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology  Brain Mapping/methods  Phenotype  Autism quotient (AQ)  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)  Cortical surface complexity  Interpersonal  Subclinical Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Autistic-like traits (ALT) are prevalent across the general population and might be linked to some facets of a broader autism spectrum disorder (ASD) phenotype. Recent studies suggest an association of these traits with both genetic and brain structural markers in non-autistic individuals, showing similar spatial location of findings observed in ASD and thus suggesting a potential neurobiological continuum. METHODS: In this study, we first tested an association of ALTs (assessed with the AQ questionnaire) with cortical complexity, a cortical surface marker of early neurodevelopment, and then the association with disrupted functional connectivity. We analysed structural T1-weighted and resting-state functional MRI scans in 250 psychiatrically healthy individuals without a history of early developmental disorders, in a first step using the CAT12 toolbox for cortical complexity analysis and in a second step we used regional cortical complexity findings to apply the CONN toolbox for seed-based functional connectivity analysis. RESULTS: Our findings show a significant negative correlation of both AQ total and AQ attention switching subscores with left superior temporal sulcus (STS) cortical folding complexity, with the former being significantly correlated with STS to left lateral occipital cortex connectivity, while the latter showed significant positive correlation of STS to left inferior/middle frontal gyrus connectivity (n = 233; all p < 0.05, FWE cluster-level corrected). Additional analyses also revealed a significant correlation of AQ attention to detail subscores with STS to left lateral occipital cortex connectivity. LIMITATIONS: Phenotyping might affect association results (e.g. choice of inventories); in addition, our study was limited to subclinical expressions of autistic-like traits. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide further evidence for biological correlates of ALT even in the absence of clinical ASD, while establishing a link between structural variation of early developmental origin and functional connectivity. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-024-00623-3 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=538 [article] Superior temporal sulcus folding, functional network connectivity, and autistic-like traits in a non-clinical population [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Igor NENADI?, Auteur ; Yvonne SCHRÖDER, Auteur ; Jonas HOFFMANN, Auteur ; Ulrika EVERMANN, Auteur ; Julia-Katharina PFARR, Auteur ; Aliénor BERGMANN, Auteur ; Daniela Michelle HOHMANN, Auteur ; Boris KEIL, Auteur ; Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur ; Sanna STROTH, Auteur ; Inge KAMP-BECKER, Auteur ; Andreas JANSEN, Auteur ; Sarah GREZELLSCHAK, Auteur ; Tina MELLER, Auteur . - 44p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 15 (2024) . - 44p. Mots-clés : Humans  Male  Female  Adult  Temporal Lobe/diagnostic imaging  Magnetic Resonance Imaging  Young Adult  Autistic Disorder/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology  Adolescent  Middle Aged  Nerve Net/diagnostic imaging  Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology  Brain Mapping/methods  Phenotype  Autism quotient (AQ)  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)  Cortical surface complexity  Interpersonal  Subclinical Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Autistic-like traits (ALT) are prevalent across the general population and might be linked to some facets of a broader autism spectrum disorder (ASD) phenotype. Recent studies suggest an association of these traits with both genetic and brain structural markers in non-autistic individuals, showing similar spatial location of findings observed in ASD and thus suggesting a potential neurobiological continuum. METHODS: In this study, we first tested an association of ALTs (assessed with the AQ questionnaire) with cortical complexity, a cortical surface marker of early neurodevelopment, and then the association with disrupted functional connectivity. We analysed structural T1-weighted and resting-state functional MRI scans in 250 psychiatrically healthy individuals without a history of early developmental disorders, in a first step using the CAT12 toolbox for cortical complexity analysis and in a second step we used regional cortical complexity findings to apply the CONN toolbox for seed-based functional connectivity analysis. RESULTS: Our findings show a significant negative correlation of both AQ total and AQ attention switching subscores with left superior temporal sulcus (STS) cortical folding complexity, with the former being significantly correlated with STS to left lateral occipital cortex connectivity, while the latter showed significant positive correlation of STS to left inferior/middle frontal gyrus connectivity (n = 233; all p < 0.05, FWE cluster-level corrected). Additional analyses also revealed a significant correlation of AQ attention to detail subscores with STS to left lateral occipital cortex connectivity. LIMITATIONS: Phenotyping might affect association results (e.g. choice of inventories); in addition, our study was limited to subclinical expressions of autistic-like traits. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide further evidence for biological correlates of ALT even in the absence of clinical ASD, while establishing a link between structural variation of early developmental origin and functional connectivity. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-024-00623-3 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=538

The distribution of autistic traits across the autism spectrum: evidence for discontinuous dimensional subpopulations underlying the autism continuum / Ahmad ABU-AKEL in Molecular Autism, 10 (2019)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 10 (2019) . - 24p. Titre : The distribution of autistic traits across the autism spectrum: evidence for discontinuous dimensional subpopulations underlying the autism continuum Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur ; Carrie ALLISON, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur ; D. HEINKE, Auteur Article en page(s) : 24p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background: A considerable amount of research has discussed whether autism and psychiatric/neurodevelopmental conditions in general are best described categorically or dimensionally. In recent years, finite mixture models have been increasingly applied to mixed populations of autistic and non-autistic individuals to answer this question. However, the use of such methods with mixed populations may not be appropriate for two reasons: First, subgroups within mixed populations are often skewed and thus violate mixture models assumptions, which are based on weighted sum of Gaussian distributions. Second, these analyses have, to our knowledge, been solely applied to enriched samples, where the prevalence of the clinical condition within the study sample far exceeds epidemiological estimates. Method: We employed a dual Weibull mixture model to examine the distribution of the Autism Spectrum Quotient scores of a mixed sample of autistic and non-autistic adults (N = 4717; autism = 811), as well as of a derived sample (from the enriched sample; N = 3973; autism = 67) that reflects the current prevalence of autism within the general population. Results: In a mixed autistic and non-autistic population, our model provided a better description of the underlying structure of autistic traits than traditional finite Gaussian mixture models and performed well when applied to a sample that reflected the prevalence of autism in the general population. The model yielded results, which are consistent with predictions of current theories advocating for the co-existence of a mixed categorical and dimensional architecture within the autism spectrum. Conclusion: The results provide insight into the continuum nature of the distribution of autistic traits, support the complementary role of both categorical and dimensional approaches to autism spectrum condition, and underscore the importance of analyzing samples that reflect the epidemiological prevalence of the condition. Owing to its flexibility to represent a wide variety of distributions, the Weibull distribution might be better suited for latent structure studies, within enriched and prevalence-true samples. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-019-0275-3 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=402 [article] The distribution of autistic traits across the autism spectrum: evidence for discontinuous dimensional subpopulations underlying the autism continuum [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Ahmad ABU-AKEL, Auteur ; Carrie ALLISON, Auteur ; Simon BARON-COHEN, Auteur ; D. HEINKE, Auteur . - 24p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 10 (2019) . - 24p. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background: A considerable amount of research has discussed whether autism and psychiatric/neurodevelopmental conditions in general are best described categorically or dimensionally. In recent years, finite mixture models have been increasingly applied to mixed populations of autistic and non-autistic individuals to answer this question. However, the use of such methods with mixed populations may not be appropriate for two reasons: First, subgroups within mixed populations are often skewed and thus violate mixture models assumptions, which are based on weighted sum of Gaussian distributions. Second, these analyses have, to our knowledge, been solely applied to enriched samples, where the prevalence of the clinical condition within the study sample far exceeds epidemiological estimates. Method: We employed a dual Weibull mixture model to examine the distribution of the Autism Spectrum Quotient scores of a mixed sample of autistic and non-autistic adults (N = 4717; autism = 811), as well as of a derived sample (from the enriched sample; N = 3973; autism = 67) that reflects the current prevalence of autism within the general population. Results: In a mixed autistic and non-autistic population, our model provided a better description of the underlying structure of autistic traits than traditional finite Gaussian mixture models and performed well when applied to a sample that reflected the prevalence of autism in the general population. The model yielded results, which are consistent with predictions of current theories advocating for the co-existence of a mixed categorical and dimensional architecture within the autism spectrum. Conclusion: The results provide insight into the continuum nature of the distribution of autistic traits, support the complementary role of both categorical and dimensional approaches to autism spectrum condition, and underscore the importance of analyzing samples that reflect the epidemiological prevalence of the condition. Owing to its flexibility to represent a wide variety of distributions, the Weibull distribution might be better suited for latent structure studies, within enriched and prevalence-true samples. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-019-0275-3 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=402

---

1 (1 - 4 / 4)