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Molecular Autism
Published in: Molecular Autism 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Abnormal lateralization of functional connectivity between language and default mode regions in autism

Authors: Jared A Nielsen, Brandon A Zielinski, P Thomas Fletcher, Andrew L Alexander, Nicholas Lange, Erin D Bigler, Janet E Lainhart, Jeffrey S Anderson

Published in: Molecular Autism | Issue 1/2014

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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.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Abnormal lateralization of functional connectivity between language and default mode regions in autism
Authors
Jared A Nielsen
Brandon A Zielinski
P Thomas Fletcher
Andrew L Alexander
Nicholas Lange
Erin D Bigler
Janet E Lainhart
Jeffrey S Anderson
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Autism / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 2040-2392
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-5-8

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