Functional Organization of the Action Observation Network in Autism: A Graph Theory Approach

PloS One
Kaat AlaertsNicole Wenderoth

Abstract

The ability to recognize, understand and interpret other's actions and emotions has been linked to the mirror system or action-observation-network (AON). Although variations in these abilities are prevalent in the neuro-typical population, persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have deficits in the social domain and exhibit alterations in this neural network. Here, we examined functional network properties of the AON using graph theory measures and region-to-region functional connectivity analyses of resting-state fMRI-data from adolescents and young adults with ASD and typical controls (TC). Overall, our graph theory analyses provided convergent evidence that the network integrity of the AON is altered in ASD, and that reductions in network efficiency relate to reductions in overall network density (i.e., decreased overall connection strength). Compared to TC, individuals with ASD showed significant reductions in network efficiency and increased shortest path lengths and centrality. Importantly, when adjusting for overall differences in network density between ASD and TC groups, participants with ASD continued to display reductions in network integrity, suggesting that also network-level organizational properti...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 3, 2017·Scientific Reports·Minji LeeSeong-Whan Lee
Aug 2, 2020·Brain Imaging and Behavior·Liting ChenShuixing Zhang
Oct 1, 2016·Journal of Neuroscience Research·Marina A Pavlova
Jan 1, 2020·Molecular Autism·Greta Krasimirova TodorovaFrank Earl Pollick
Mar 29, 2020·Journal of Neurology·Antonio CarotenutoMarios Politis

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Software Mentioned

Matlab
Statistica
CONN
ABIDE Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange ( ABIDE )
prime

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