title: Atypical Neural Activity in Males But Not Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPj) are highly involved in social understanding, a core area of impairment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We used fMRI to investigate sex differences in the neural correlates of social understanding in 27 high-functioning adults with ASD and 23 matched controls. There were no differences in neural activity in the mPFC or rTPj between groups during social processing. Whole brain analysis revealed decreased activity in the posterior superior temporal sulcus in males with ASD compared to control males while processing social information. This pattern was not observed in the female sub-sample. The current study indicates that sex mediates the neurobiology of ASD, particularly with respect to processing social information.
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. melissa.kirkovski@deakin.edu.au.|Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, Building BC, Level 5, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. melissa.kirkovski@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirkovski
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, Building BC, Level 5, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Enticott
authors.affiliation: Brain and Psychological Science Research Centre, Faculty Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|Brain and Psychological Science Research Centre, Faculty Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rossell
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Medial prefrontal cortex; Mentalizing network; Sex differences; Superior temporal sulcus; Temporo-parietal junction; Theory of mind