Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypical connectivity lateralization of functional networks. However, previous studies have not directly investigated if differences in specialization between ASD and typically developing (TD) peers are present in infancy, leaving the timing of onset of these differences relatively unknown. We studied the hemispheric asymmetries of connectivity in children with ASD and infants later meeting the diagnostic criteria for ASD. Analyses were performed in 733 children with ASD and TD peers and in 71 infants at high risk (HR) or normal risk (NR) for ASD, with data collected at 1 month and 9 months of age. Comparing children with ASD (n = 301) to TDs (n = 432), four regions demonstrated group differences in connectivity: posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), posterior superior temporal gyrus, extrastriate cortex, and anterior prefrontal cortex. At 1 month, none of these regions exhibited group differences between ASD (n = 10), HR-nonASD (n = 15), or NR (n = 18) infants. However, by 9 months, the PCC and extrastriate exhibited atypical connectivity in ASD (n = 11) and HR-nonASD infants (n = 24) compared to NR infants (n = 22). Connectivity did not correlate with symptoms in either sample. Our results demonstrate that differences in network asymmetries associated with ASD risk are observable prior to the age of a reliable clinical diagnosis.

中文翻译：

---

与自闭症谱系障碍相关的非典型内在半球相互作用存在于生命的第一年

自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 的特点是功能网络的非典型连接侧化。然而，先前的研究并未直接调查 ASD 和典型发育 (TD) 同龄人之间的专业化差异是否存在于婴儿期，从而使这些差异发生的时间相对未知。我们研究了 ASD 儿童和后来符合 ASD 诊断标准的婴儿的大脑半球连接不对称性。对 733 名患有 ASD 和 TD 的儿童以及 71 名处于 ASD 高风险 (HR) 或正常风险 (NR) 的婴儿进行了分析，数据在 1 个月和 9 个月大时收集。将 ASD (n = 301) 与 TD (n = 432) 的儿童进行比较，四个区域在连通性方面表现出组间差异：后扣带皮层 (PCC)、后颞上回、纹外皮层和前额叶皮层。在 1 个月时，这些区域均未表现出 ASD (n = 10)、HR-nonASD (n = 15) 或 NR (n = 18) 婴儿之间的组差异。然而，到 9 个月时，与 NR 婴儿 (n = 22) 相比，ASD (n = 11) 和 HR-非 ASD 婴儿 (n = 24) 的 PCC 和纹外表现出非典型连接。连接性与任一样本中的症状均不相关。我们的研究结果表明，在可靠的临床诊断年龄之前，与 ASD 风险相关的网络不对称差异是可以观察到的。与 NR 婴儿（n = 22）相比，ASD（n = 11）和 HR-非 ASD 婴儿（n = 24）的 PCC 和纹外表现出非典型连接。连接性与任一样本中的症状均不相关。我们的研究结果表明，在可靠的临床诊断年龄之前，与 ASD 风险相关的网络不对称差异是可以观察到的。与 NR 婴儿（n = 22）相比，ASD（n = 11）和 HR-非 ASD 婴儿（n = 24）的 PCC 和纹外表现出非典型连接。连接性与任一样本中的症状均不相关。我们的研究结果表明，在可靠的临床诊断年龄之前，与 ASD 风险相关的网络不对称差异是可以观察到的。