Sex Differences in Functional Connectivity Between Resting State Brain Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Vânia Tavares*, Luís Afonso Fernandes, Marília Antunes, Hugo Ferreira, Diana Prata

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    8 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Functional brain connectivity (FBC) has previously been examined in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between-resting-state networks (RSNs) using a highly sensitive and reproducible hypothesis-free approach. However, results have been inconsistent and sex differences have only recently been taken into consideration using this approach. We estimated main effects of diagnosis and sex and a diagnosis by sex interaction on between-RSNs FBC in 83 ASD (40 females/43 males) and 85 typically developing controls (TC; 43 females/42 males). We found increased connectivity between the default mode (DM) and (a) the executive control networks in ASD (vs. TC); (b) the cerebellum networks in males (vs. females); and (c) female-specific altered connectivity involving visual, language and basal ganglia (BG) networks in ASD—in suggestive compatibility with ASD cognitive and neuroscientific theories.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
    DOIs
    Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2021

    Keywords

    • Autism spectrum disorder
    • Functional connectivity
    • Functional magnetic resonance imaging
    • Independent component analysis
    • Resting-state networks

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