Whole-brain functional hypoconnectivity as an endophenotype of autism in adolescents.
Change log
Authors
Abstract
Endophenotypes are heritable and quantifiable markers that may assist in the identification of the complex genetic underpinnings of psychiatric conditions. Here we examined global hypoconnectivity as an endophenotype of autism spectrum conditions (ASCs). We studied well-matched groups of adolescent males with autism, genetically-related siblings of individuals with autism, and typically-developing control participants. We parcellated the brain into 258 regions and used complex-network analysis to detect a robust hypoconnectivity endophenotype in our participant group. We observed that whole-brain functional connectivity was highest in controls, intermediate in siblings, and lowest in ASC, in task and rest conditions. We identified additional, local endophenotype effects in specific networks including the visual processing and default mode networks. Our analyses are the first to show that whole-brain functional hypoconnectivity is an endophenotype of autism in adolescence, and may thus underlie the heritable similarities seen in adolescents with ASC and their relatives.
Description
Keywords
Journal Title
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
2213-1582
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G0001354)
Medical Research Council (G0701919)
Wellcome Trust (093875/Z/10/Z)