Dataset Information

Altered structural balance of resting-state networks in autism.

ABSTRACT: What makes a network complex, in addition to its size, is the interconnected interactions between elements, disruption of which inevitably results in dysfunction. Likewise, the brain networks' complexity arises from interactions beyond pair connections, as it is simplistic to assume that in complex networks state of a link is independently determined only according to its two constituting nodes. This is particularly of note in genetically complex brain impairments, such as the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which has a surprising heterogeneity in manifestations with no clear-cut neuropathology. Accordingly, structural balance theory (SBT) affirms that in real-world signed networks, a link is remarkably influenced by each of its two nodes' interactions with the third node within a triadic interrelationship. Thus, it is plausible to ask whether ASD is associated with altered structural balance resulting from atypical triadic interactions. In other words, it is the abnormal interplay of positive and negative interactions that matters in ASD, besides and beyond hypo (hyper) pair connectivity. To address this question, we explore triadic interactions based on SBT in the weighted signed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging networks of participants with ASD relative to healthy controls (CON). We demonstrate that balanced triads are overrepresented in the ASD and CON networks while unbalanced triads are underrepresented, providing first-time empirical evidence for the strong notion of structural balance on the brain networks. We further analyze the frequency and energy distributions of different triads and suggest an alternative description for the reduced functional integration and segregation in the ASD brain networks. Moreover, results reveal that the scale of change in the whole-brain networks' energy is more narrow in the ASD networks during development. Last but not least, we observe that energy of the salience network and the default mode network are lower in ASD, which may be a reflection of the difficulty in dynamic switching and flexible behaviors. Altogether, these results provide insight into the atypical structural balance of the ASD brain (sub) networks. It also highlights the potential value of SBT as a new perspective in functional connectivity studies, especially in the case of neurodevelopmental disorders.

SUBMITTER: Moradimanesh Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7820028 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Altered structural balance of resting-state networks in autism.

Moradimanesh Z Z Khosrowabadi R R Eshaghi Gordji M M Jafari G R GR

Scientific reports 20210121 1

What makes a network complex, in addition to its size, is the interconnected interactions between elements, disruption of which inevitably results in dysfunction. Likewise, the brain networks' complexity arises from interactions beyond pair connections, as it is simplistic to assume that in complex networks state of a link is independently determined only according to its two constituting nodes. This is particularly of note in genetically complex brain impairments, such as the autism spectrum di ...[more]

PMID: 33479287

Similar Datasets

Project description:Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra leading to dysfunctional cortico-striato-thalamic-cortical loops. In addition to the characteristic motor symptoms, PD patients often show cognitive impairments, affective changes and other non-motor symptoms, suggesting system-wide effects on brain function. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging and graph-theory based analysis methods to investigate altered whole-brain intrinsic functional connectivity in PD patients (n = 37) compared to healthy controls (n = 20). Global network properties indicated less efficient processing in PD. Analysis of brain network modules pointed to increased connectivity within the sensorimotor network, but decreased interaction of the visual network with other brain modules. We found lower connectivity mainly between the cuneus and the ventral caudate, medial orbitofrontal cortex and the temporal lobe. To identify regions of altered connectivity, we mapped the degree of intrinsic functional connectivity both on ROI- and on voxel-level across the brain. Compared to healthy controls, PD patients showed lower connectedness in the medial and middle orbitofrontal cortex. The degree of connectivity was also decreased in the occipital lobe (cuneus and calcarine), but increased in the superior parietal cortex, posterior cingulate gyrus, supramarginal gyrus and supplementary motor area. Our results on global network and module properties indicated that PD manifests as a disconnection syndrome. This was most apparent in the visual network module. The higher connectedness within the sensorimotor module in PD patients may be related to compensation mechanism in order to overcome the functional deficit of the striato-cortical motor loops or to loss of mutual inhibition between brain networks. Abnormal connectivity in the visual network may be related to adaptation and compensation processes as a consequence of altered motor function. Our analysis approach proved sensitive for detecting disease-related localized effects as well as changes in network functions on intermediate and global scale.

Dataset Information

Altered structural balance of resting-state networks in autism.

Publications

Altered structural balance of resting-state networks in autism.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets