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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 954-963 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2016 |
Keywords
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging
- Medial prefrontal cortex
- Mentalizing network
- Sex differences
- Superior temporal sulcus
- Temporo-parietal junction
- Theory of mind
Cite this
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Atypical Neural Activity in Males But Not Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder. / Kirkovski, Melissa; Enticott, Peter G.; Hughes, Matthew Edward; Rossell, Susan L.; Fitzgerald, Paul B.
In: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol. 46, No. 3, 01.03.2016, p. 954-963.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Atypical Neural Activity in Males But Not Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder
AU - Kirkovski, Melissa
AU - Enticott, Peter G.
AU - Hughes, Matthew Edward
AU - Rossell, Susan L.
AU - Fitzgerald, Paul B.
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Autism spectrum disorder
KW - Functional magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Medial prefrontal cortex
KW - Mentalizing network
KW - Sex differences
KW - Superior temporal sulcus
KW - Temporo-parietal junction
KW - Theory of mind
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84957850768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-015-2639-7
DO - 10.1007/s10803-015-2639-7
M3 - Article
VL - 46
SP - 954
EP - 963
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
SN - 0162-3257
IS - 3
ER -