Salience Network Connectivity in Autism Is Related to Brain and Behavioral Markers of Sensory Overresponsivity

Abstract

Objective The salience network, an intrinsic brain network thought to modulate attention to internal versus external stimuli, has been consistently found to be atypical in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, little is known about how this altered resting-state connectivity relates to brain activity during information processing, which has important implications for understanding sensory over-responsivity (SOR), a common and impairing condition in ASD related to difficulty downregulating brain responses to sensory stimuli. This study examined how SOR in youth with ASD relates to atypical salience network connectivity and whether these atypicalities are associated with abnormal brain response to basic sensory information. Method Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine how parent-rated SOR symptoms related to salience network connectivity in 61 youth (age 8–17; 28 ASD, 33 IQ-matched typically developing). Correlations between resting-state salience network connectivity and brain response to mildly aversive tactile and auditory stimuli were examined. Results SOR in youth with ASD was related to increased resting-state functional connectivity between salience network nodes and brain regions implicated in primary sensory processing and attention. Further, the strength of this connectivity at rest was related to extent of brain activity in response to auditory and tactile stimuli. Conclusion Results support an association between intrinsic brain connectivity and specific atypical brain responses during information processing. Additionally, findings suggest that basic sensory information is overly salient to individuals with SOR, leading to over-attribution of attention to this information. Implications for intervention include incorporating sensory coping strategies into social interventions for individuals with SOR.

The locus coeruleus–norepinephrine system as pacemaker of attention – a developmental mechanism of derailed attentional function in autism spectrum disorder

“…Atypical connectivity and deviating activation of the AI were observed during social and non‐social oddball tasks (Odriozola et al ., ). In children and adolescents with ASD, resting‐state connectivity between the salience network and other attentional networks was positively correlated with sensory over‐responsivity (Green et al ., ). Children with ASD exhibited reduced activation of the ACC, TPJ, inferior frontal gyrus and anterior middle frontal gyrus during a change detection task (Gomot et al ., ).…”

Differential neural circuitry behind autism subtypes with imbalanced social-communicative and restricted repetitive behavior symptoms

“…The anterior salience network has also been identified in prior case-control studies. In younger cohorts, anterior salience areas are hyperconnected 50,51 , while in older cohorts, hypoconnectivity is observed 52 . While age could be a factor in explaining the discrepant findings from prior work, it likely cannot explain the SC=RRB hyperconnectivity finding.…”

PAC1R Genotype to Phenotype Correlations in Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Volumetric studies have revealed enlarged amygdalae earlier in childhood in ASD relative to typically-developing children [Schumann, 2004]. fMRI studies have revealed decreased or increased activation during social-emotional tasks and aberrant functional connectivity of the amygdala in individuals with ASD compared to typically-developing controls [Baron-Cohen et al, 2000;Green, Hernandez, Bookheimer, & Dapretti, 2016;Guo et al, 2016;Kliemann, Dziobek, Hatri, Baudewig, & Heekeren, 2012]. Although the source of abnormalities in amygdala processing in ASD is not currently well understood, these studies clearly implicate alteration of amygdala circuitry, structure, and function in ASD.…”