Subtly altered topological asymmetry of brain structural covariance networks in autism spectrum disorder across 43 datasets from the ENIGMA consortium

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Zhiqiang Sha - , Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (Author)
  • Daan van Rooij - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Evdokia Anagnostou - , Bloorview Research Institute (Author)
  • Celso Arango - , Complutense University (Author)
  • Guillaume Auzias - , Aix-Marseille Université (Author)
  • Marlene Behrmann - , Carnegie Mellon University (Author)
  • Boris Bernhardt - , McGill University Health Centre (Author)
  • Sven Bolte - , Karolinska Institutet, Region Stockholm, Curtin University (Author)
  • Geraldo F. Busatto - , Universidade de São Paulo (Author)
  • Sara Calderoni - , University of Pisa (Author)
  • Rosa Calvo - , University of Barcelona (Author)
  • Eileen Daly - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Christine Deruelle - , Aix-Marseille Université (Author)
  • Meiyu Duan - , Jilin University (Author)
  • Fabio Luis Souza Duran - , Universidade de São Paulo (Author)
  • Sarah Durston - , Utrecht University (Author)
  • Christine Ecker - , University Hospital Frankfurt, King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Stefan Ehrlich - , Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Damien Fair - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Jennifer Fedor - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Jacqueline Fitzgerald - , Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • Dorothea L. Floris - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Barbara Franke - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Christine M. Freitag - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Louise Gallagher - , Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • David C. Glahn - , Harvard University, Olin Neuropsychiatric Research Center (Author)
  • Shlomi Haar - , Imperial College London (Author)
  • Liesbeth Hoekstra - , Radboud University Nijmegen, Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Centre (Author)
  • Neda Jahanshad - , Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California (Author)
  • Maria Jalbrzikowski - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Joost Janssen - , Complutense University (Author)
  • Joseph A. King - , Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Luisa Lazaro - , University of Barcelona (Author)
  • Beatriz Luna - , University of Pittsburgh (Author)
  • Jane McGrath - , Trinity College Dublin (Author)
  • Sarah E. Medland - , Queensland Institute of Medical Research (Author)
  • Filippo Muratori - , University of Pisa (Author)
  • Declan G.M. Murphy - , King's College London (KCL), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Janina Neufeld - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Kirsten O’Hearn - , Wake Forest University (Author)
  • Bob Oranje - , Utrecht University (Author)
  • Mara Parellada - , Complutense University (Author)
  • Jose C. Pariente - , August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (Author)
  • Merel C. Postema - , Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (Author)
  • Karl Lundin Remnelius - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Alessandra Retico - , National Institute for Nuclear Physics (Author)
  • Pedro Gomes Penteado Rosa - , Universidade de São Paulo (Author)
  • Katya Rubia - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Devon Shook - , Utrecht University (Author)
  • Kristiina Tammimies - , Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm County Council (Author)
  • Margot J. Taylor - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Michela Tosetti - , University of Pisa (Author)
  • Gregory L. Wallace - , George Washington University (GWU) (Author)
  • Fengfeng Zhou - , Jilin University (Author)
  • Paul M. Thompson - , Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California (Author)
  • Simon E. Fisher - , Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Jan K. Buitelaar - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Clyde Francks - , Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)

Abstract

Small average differences in the left-right asymmetry of cerebral cortical thickness have been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing controls, affecting widespread cortical regions. The possible impacts of these regional alterations in terms of structural network effects have not previously been characterized. Inter-regional morphological covariance analysis can capture network connectivity between different cortical areas at the macroscale level. Here, we used cortical thickness data from 1455 individuals with ASD and 1560 controls, across 43 independent datasets of the ENIGMA consortium’s ASD Working Group, to assess hemispheric asymmetries of intra-individual structural covariance networks, using graph theory-based topological metrics. Compared with typical features of small-world architecture in controls, the ASD sample showed significantly altered average asymmetry of networks involving the fusiform, rostral middle frontal, and medial orbitofrontal cortex, involving higher randomization of the corresponding right-hemispheric networks in ASD. A network involving the superior frontal cortex showed decreased right-hemisphere randomization. Based on comparisons with meta-analyzed functional neuroimaging data, the altered connectivity asymmetry particularly affected networks that subserve executive functions, language-related and sensorimotor processes. These findings provide a network-level characterization of altered left-right brain asymmetry in ASD, based on a large combined sample. Altered asymmetrical brain development in ASD may be partly propagated among spatially distant regions through structural connectivity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2114-2125
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular psychiatry
Volume27
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 35136228
ORCID /0000-0002-2864-5578/work/160950420
ORCID /0000-0003-2132-4445/work/160950857