title: Abnormal lateralization of functional connectivity between language and default mode regions in autism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lateralization of brain structure and function occurs in typical development, and abnormal lateralization is present in various neuropsychiatric disorders. Autism is characterized by a lack of left lateralization in structure and function of regions involved in language, such as Broca and Wernicke areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging from a large publicly available sample (n = 964), we tested whether abnormal functional lateralization in autism exists preferentially in language regions or in a more diffuse pattern across networks of lateralized brain regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The autism group exhibited significantly reduced left lateralization in a few connections involving language regions and regions from the default mode network, but results were not significant throughout left- and right-lateralized networks. There is a trend that suggests the lack of left lateralization in a connection involving Wernicke area and the posterior cingulate cortex associates with more severe autism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal language lateralization in autism may be due to abnormal language development rather than to a deficit in hemispheric specialization of the entire brain.
authors: Jared A
authors: JA
authors: Nielsen
authors: Brandon A
authors: BA
authors: Zielinski
authors: P Thomas
authors: PT
authors: Fletcher
authors: Andrew L
authors: AL
authors: Alexander
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Lange
authors: Erin D
authors: ED
authors: Bigler
authors: Janet E
authors: JE
authors: Lainhart
authors: Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, 20 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. andersonjeffs@gmail.com.
authors: Jeffrey S
authors: JS
authors: Anderson