Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Nov 2013)

Resting state fMRI reveals a default mode dissociation between retrosplenial and medial prefrontal subnetworks in ASD despite motion scrubbing

  • Tuomo eStarck,
  • Tuomo eStarck,
  • Juha eNikkinen,
  • Jukka eRahko,
  • Jukka eRemes,
  • Jukka eRemes,
  • Tuula eHurtig,
  • Helena eHaapsamo,
  • Katja eJussila,
  • Sanna eKuusikko-Gauffin,
  • Marja-Leena eMattila,
  • Eira eJansson-Verkasalo,
  • David L. Pauls,
  • Hanna eEbeling,
  • Irma eMoilanen,
  • Osmo eTervonen,
  • Osmo eTervonen,
  • Vesa J Kiviniemi,
  • Vesa J Kiviniemi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00802
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

Read online

In resting state fMRI studies of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) decreased frontal-posterior functional connectivity is a persistent finding. However, the picture of the default mode network hypoconnectivity remains incomplete. In addition, the functional connectivity analyses have been shown to be susceptible even to subtle motion. Default mode network (DMN) hypoconnectivity in ASD has been specifically called for re-evaluation with stringent motion correction, which we aimed to conduct by so-called scrubbing. A rich set of default mode subnetworks can be obtained with high dimensional group independent component analysis (ICA) which can potentially provide more detailed view of the connectivity alterations. We compared the DMN connectivity in high-functioning adolescents with ASDs to typically developing controls using ICA dual-regression with decompositions from typical to high dimensionality. Dual-regression analysis within DMN subnetworks did not reveal alterations but connectivity between anterior and posterior DMN subnetworks was decreased in ASD. The results were very similar with and without motion scrubbing thus indicating the efficacy of the conventional motion correction methods combined with ICA dual-regression. Specific dissociation between DMN subnetworks was revealed on high ICA dimensionality, where networks centered at the medial prefrontal cortex and retrosplenial cortex showed weakened coupling in adolescents with ASDs compared to typically developing control participants. Generally the results speak for disruption in the anterior-posterior DMN interplay on the network level whereas local functional connectivity in DMN seems relatively unaltered.

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