Resting-state brain activity in Chinese boys with low functioning autism spectrum disorder
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(2018) 17:47 Li et al. Ann Gen Psychiatry https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-018-0217-z
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PRIMARY RESEARCH
Resting‑state brain activity in Chinese boys with low functioning autism spectrum disorder Gaizhi Li1,3, Kathryn Rossbach2, Wenqing Jiang3 and Yasong Du3*
Abstract Background: This study aimed to explore the resting-state fMRI changes in Chinese boys with low functioning autism spectrum disorder (LFASD) and the correlation with clinical symptoms. Methods: The current study acquired resting-state fMRI data from 15 Chinese boys with LFASD and 15 typically developing (TD) boys to examine the local brain activity using the regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) indexes; the researchers also examined these measures and their possible relationships with clinical symptoms using the autism behavior checklist. Results: Results indicated that boys with LFASD exhibited increased ReHo in the right precuneus and inferior parietal gyrus (IPG), increased ALFF in right middle temporal gyrus, angular gyrus and IPG. However, no correlation was found between the ALFF/ReHo score and clinical symptoms in the LFASD group. Conclusions: Some of the brain regions had ReHo/ALFF values that were higher in the boys with LFASD than the TD group and these differentiated brain areas in boys with LFASD were all on the right cerebrum, which supported ‘atypical rightward asymmetry’ in boys with LFASD. Keywords: Low functioning autism spectrum disorder, Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, Regional homogeneity, Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, Autism behavior checklist Introduction Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors [1]. Long distance under-connectivity and local over-connectivity in individuals with autism have been reported by many studies [2, 3]. Research indicates that the regional connectivity differences found between samples with ASD and typically developing (TD) control groups should be examined carefully as high variability among ASD subjects may be contributing to these apparent differences.
*Correspondence: [email protected] 3 Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No 600 Wanping Nan Road, Xuhui, Shanghai 200030, China Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Resting-state fMRI is a method of functional brain imaging that can be used to evaluate regional interactions that occur when a subject is not performing an explicit task [4]. Resting-state data obtained through the scans can be analyzed using a variety of methods. ReHo and ALFF are two methods widely used for characterizing local spontaneous activity of RS-fMRI data. ReHo measures the local synchronization of the time series of neighboring voxels, whereas ALFF/fALFF measures the amplitude of time series fluctuations at each voxel [5–7]. Many studies have been comp
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