Functional Connectivity of the Caudal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Is Decreased in Autism

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 17;11(3):e0151879. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151879. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is frequently reported to have functionally distinct sub-regions that play key roles in different intrinsic networks. However, the contribution of the ACC, which is connected to several cortical areas and the limbic system, to autism is not clearly understood, although it may be involved in dysfunctions across several distinct but related functional domains. By comparing resting-state fMRI data from persons with autism and healthy controls, we sought to identify the abnormalities in the functional connectivity (FC) of ACC sub-regions in autism. The analyses found autism-related reductions in FC between the left caudal ACC and the right rolandic operculum, insula, postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and the middle temporal gyrus. The FC (z-scores) between the left caudal ACC and the right insula was negatively correlated with the Stereotyped Behaviors and Restricted Interests scores of the autism group. These findings suggest that the caudal ACC is recruited selectively in the pathomechanism of autism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Autistic Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Net / physiopathology*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program, no. 2012CB517901), the Special Health Industry Research of China (Research on technology and standards of autism diagnose and control, no. 201302002), the National Sci-tech Support Plan of China (Epidemiological investigation on child and adolescent mental disorders in China).