title: Abnormal cerebral effective connectivity during explicit emotional processing in adults with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Several recent studies suggest that autism may result from abnormal communication between brain regions. We directly assessed this hypothesis by testing the presence of abnormalities in a model of the functional cerebral network engaged during explicit emotion processing in adults with high functioning autism or Asperger syndrome. Comparison of structural equation models revealed abnormal patterns of effective connectivity, with the prefrontal cortex as a key site of dysfunction. These findings provide evidence that abnormal long-range connectivity between structures of the 'social brain' could explain the socio-emotional troubles that characterize the autistic pathology.
authors.affiliation: Mediterranean Institute of Cognitive Neurosciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de la Méditerranée, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France. wicker@incm.cnrs-mrs.fr
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wicker
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fonlupt
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tardif
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gepner
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deruelle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult