Functional disconnectivity of the medial temporal lobe in Asperger's syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that may be caused by abnormal connectivity between brain regions constituting neurocognitive networks for specific aspects of social cognition.


METHODS
We used three-way multidimensional scaling of regionally parcellated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to explore the hypothesis of abnormal functional connectivity in people with ASD. Thirteen high-functioning individuals with Asperger's syndrome and 13 healthy volunteers were scanned during incidental processing of fearful facial expressions.


RESULTS
Using permutation tests for inference, we found evidence for significant abnormality of functional integration of amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus (p < .05, false discovery rate [FDR] corrected) in people with Asperger's syndrome. There were less salient abnormalities in functional connectivity of anterior cingulate, inferior occipital, and inferior frontal cortex, but there was no significant difference between groups in whole brain functional connectivity.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude there is evidence that functional connectivity of medial temporal lobe structures specifically is abnormal in people with Asperger's syndrome during fearful face processing.
Welchew
David E
DE
Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Ashwin
Chris
C
Berkouk
Karim
K
Salvador
Raymond
R
Suckling
John
J
Baron-Cohen
Simon
S
Bullmore
Ed
E
D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005149:Facial Expression; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen