Atypical functional connectome hierarchy in autism

Seok-Jun Hong (), Reinder Vos de Wael, Richard A. I. Bethlehem, Sara Lariviere, Casey Paquola, Sofie L. Valk, Michael P. Milham, Adriana Di Martino, Daniel S. Margulies, Jonathan Smallwood and Boris C. Bernhardt ()
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Seok-Jun Hong: McGill University
Reinder Vos de Wael: McGill University
Richard A. I. Bethlehem: University of Cambridge
Sara Lariviere: McGill University
Casey Paquola: McGill University
Sofie L. Valk: Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University
Michael P. Milham: Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute
Adriana Di Martino: Autism Center, Child Mind Institute
Daniel S. Margulies: Frontlab, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, UPMC UMRS 1127, Inserm U 1127
Jonathan Smallwood: University of York
Boris C. Bernhardt: McGill University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract One paradox of autism is the co-occurrence of deficits in sensory and higher-order socio-cognitive processing. Here, we examined whether these phenotypical patterns may relate to an overarching system-level imbalance—specifically a disruption in macroscale hierarchy affecting integration and segregation of unimodal and transmodal networks. Combining connectome gradient and stepwise connectivity analysis based on task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we demonstrated atypical connectivity transitions between sensory and higher-order default mode regions in a large cohort of individuals with autism relative to typically-developing controls. Further analyses indicated that reduced differentiation related to perturbed stepwise connectivity from sensory towards transmodal areas, as well as atypical long-range rich-club connectivity. Supervised pattern learning revealed that hierarchical features predicted deficits in social cognition and low-level behavioral symptoms, but not communication-related symptoms. Our findings provide new evidence for imbalances in network hierarchy in autism, which offers a parsimonious reference frame to consolidate its diverse features.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08944-1

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