title: Visuospatial processing and the function of prefrontal-parietal networks in autism spectrum disorders: a functional MRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals with autism spectrum disorders typically have normal visuospatial abilities but impaired executive functioning, particularly in abilities related to working memory and attention. The aim of this study was to elucidate the functioning of frontoparietal networks underlying spatial working memory processes during mental rotation in persons with autism spectrum disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven adolescent males with normal IQ with an autism spectrum disorder and nine age- and IQ-matched male comparison subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scans while performing a mental rotation task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The autism spectrum disorders group showed less activation in lateral and medial premotor cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus, and caudate nucleus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of less activation in prefrontal regions but not in parietal regions supports a model of dysfunction of frontostriatal networks in autism spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Silk
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rinehart
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tonge
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: O'Boyle
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cunnington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis