Deficits in social communication in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been documented using neuroimaging techniques such as functional MRI over the past decade. More recently, functional connectivity MRI has revealed altered connectivity in face processing, mentalizing, and mirroring brain networks, networks involved in the social brain in ASD. However, to our knowledge, previous studies have not examined these three networks concurrently. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the functional connectivity of the face processing, mentalizing, and mirroring networks (within each network and across networks) in ASD during an action-intention task in which participants were asked to determine the means and intention of a model's actions. We examined: a) within-network connectivity of each network using an ROI-to-ROI analysis; b) connectivity of each network hub to the rest of the brain using a seed-to-voxel analysis; c) the between-network connectivity of each network hub using ROI-to-ROI analysis; and d) brain-behavior relationships by correlating autism symptoms with brain connectivity. Task-fMRI data were used from 21 participants with ASD and 20 typically developing participants. The ASD group consistently showed significantly greater connectivity between networks and between hub regions to the rest of the brain. Hyperconnectivity in ASD may entail more and widespread resource utilization for accomplishing action-intention judgment.

中文翻译：

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行动意图判断过程中自闭症中社交脑网络的超连通性。

自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的社交沟通不足已在过去十年中使用神经影像技术（如功能性MRI）得到了证明。最近，功能连通性MRI显示面部处理，思维化和镜像大脑网络（涉及ASD中社交大脑的网络）的连通性已改变。但是，据我们所知，以前的研究并未同时检查这三个网络。本研究的目的是在行动意图任务中调查参与者在ASD中进行面部处理，心理分析和镜像网络（在每个网络内以及跨网络）的功能连接性，在该行动中，要求参与者确定模型的动作。我们检查了：a）使用ROI到ROI分析的每个网络的网络内连接；b）使用种子到体素分析将每个网络集线器连接到大脑的其余部分；c）使用ROI到ROI分析的每个网络集线器的网络间连通性；d）通过将自闭症症状与大脑连通性相关联来建立大脑与行为的关系。使用21名ASD参与者和20名典型发展参与者的Task-fMRI数据。ASD组始终显示出网络之间以及中心区域与大脑其余部分之间的连通性显着提高。ASD中的超连通性可能需要更多且广泛的资源利用来完成行动意图判断。d）通过将自闭症症状与大脑连通性相关联来建立大脑与行为之间的关系。使用21名ASD参与者和20名典型发展参与者的Task-fMRI数据。ASD组始终显示出网络之间以及中心区域与大脑其余部分之间的连通性显着提高。ASD中的超连通性可能需要更多且广泛的资源利用来完成行动意图判断。d）通过将自闭症症状与大脑连通性相关联来建立大脑与行为之间的关系。使用21名ASD参与者和20名典型发展参与者的Task-fMRI数据。ASD组始终显示出网络之间以及中心区域与大脑其余部分之间的连通性显着提高。ASD中的超连通性可能需要更多且广泛的资源利用来完成行动意图判断。