Autism Characterised By Structural And Functional Overconnectivity Flashcards
What is structural and functional over connectivity
Structural = how the brain structures e.g axon allows for better connectivity Functional = brain at rest
What is fractional anisotropy
A measure of connectivity in the brain, tracks water movement across neural axons, more directionally dependent movement, more axons running through white matter, more structurally connected
What did solos (2016) do
Examined FA in those with ASD vs without
Conducted MRI scans every 6 months until 3 years old
What did solso et al (2016) find?
An interaction between ASD diagnosis and FA level
What does solso (2016) show
Over connectivity in the brains of ASD sufferers in early years (under 3)
What’s a criticism of Solso (2016)
Didn’t track connectivity in same people after 3 years so don’t know how connectivity changed with development here
What did Orekova (2014) do
Used high density EEG to measure alpha band connectivity in 14 month old infants
This is a measure of functional connectivity- 2 electrodes as 2 brain regions allows u to measure correlation of activity
What did orekova (2014) find
Increased alpha band activity at 14 months was correlated with stereotyped ASD respective behaviours at 3 years old
What does orekova (2014) show
Over connectivity in brains of those with ASD diagnosis in early years
Orekova (2014) criticism
Not longitudinal so don’t know how connectivity developed with age
What did Catani (2016) do
Used DTMRI to measure white matter networks in adult males with ASD
What did catani (2016) find
Reduced FA in frontal lobe pathways
What does catani (2016) show
ASD may be characterised by structured under connectivity in adulthood
What’s a criticism of catani (2016)
Only looked at adult males so don’t know trends in connectivity in ASD females
What did Chen (2014) do
Used rsFMRI in adulthood ASD to measure functional under connectivity
