Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder
ObjectiveRepetitive and restricted behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but effective treatment approaches are still lacking. Executive function (EF) has been identified as a promising target, as research increasingly shows a link between EF deficits and the occurre...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1508077/full |
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| author | Xiangyu Zheng Xinyue Wang Ruochen Song Junbin Tian Li Yang |
| author_facet | Xiangyu Zheng Xinyue Wang Ruochen Song Junbin Tian Li Yang |
| author_sort | Xiangyu Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveRepetitive and restricted behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but effective treatment approaches are still lacking. Executive function (EF) has been identified as a promising target, as research increasingly shows a link between EF deficits and the occurrence of RRBs. However, the neural mechanisms that connect the two remain unclear. Since the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a role in both EF and RRBs, its functional connectivity dynamics could offer valuable insights into this relationship.MethodsThis study analyzed data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) II database to explore brain function in 93 boys with ASD and 110 typically developing (TD) boys. Time-varying functional connectivity was analyzed between eight OFC subregions and other brain areas. By employing linear regression, the study assessed how atypical connectivity dynamics and EF influence RRBs. Additionally, mediation analysis with bootstrapping was used to determine how EF mediates the relationship between atypical connectivity and RRBs.ResultsWe found significant differences in the variance of FC between ASD and TD groups, specifically in the OFC subregion in L-prefrontal and the left amygdala (t = 5.00, FDR q < 0.01). Regression analyses revealed that increased variance of this FC and EF significantly impacted RRBs, with inhibition, emotional control, and monitor showing strong associations (standardized β = 0.60 to 0.62, p < 0.01), which also had significant indirect effects on the relationship between the above dynamic FC and RRBs, which accounted for 59% of the total effect.ConclusionThis study highlights the critical role of EFs as a key mechanism in addressing RRBs in ASD. Specifically, it points out that EFs mediate the influence of atypical time-varying interactions within the OFC-amygdala circuit on RRBs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-403627319cef4d16b895e3f2d7ba2eeb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-403627319cef4d16b895e3f2d7ba2eeb2025-01-15T06:10:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2025-01-011810.3389/fnins.2024.15080771508077Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorderXiangyu Zheng0Xinyue Wang1Ruochen Song2Junbin Tian3Li Yang4Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, ChinaPeking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, ChinaPeking University Health Science Center (Peking University), Beijing, ChinaPeking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, ChinaPeking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, ChinaObjectiveRepetitive and restricted behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but effective treatment approaches are still lacking. Executive function (EF) has been identified as a promising target, as research increasingly shows a link between EF deficits and the occurrence of RRBs. However, the neural mechanisms that connect the two remain unclear. Since the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a role in both EF and RRBs, its functional connectivity dynamics could offer valuable insights into this relationship.MethodsThis study analyzed data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) II database to explore brain function in 93 boys with ASD and 110 typically developing (TD) boys. Time-varying functional connectivity was analyzed between eight OFC subregions and other brain areas. By employing linear regression, the study assessed how atypical connectivity dynamics and EF influence RRBs. Additionally, mediation analysis with bootstrapping was used to determine how EF mediates the relationship between atypical connectivity and RRBs.ResultsWe found significant differences in the variance of FC between ASD and TD groups, specifically in the OFC subregion in L-prefrontal and the left amygdala (t = 5.00, FDR q < 0.01). Regression analyses revealed that increased variance of this FC and EF significantly impacted RRBs, with inhibition, emotional control, and monitor showing strong associations (standardized β = 0.60 to 0.62, p < 0.01), which also had significant indirect effects on the relationship between the above dynamic FC and RRBs, which accounted for 59% of the total effect.ConclusionThis study highlights the critical role of EFs as a key mechanism in addressing RRBs in ASD. Specifically, it points out that EFs mediate the influence of atypical time-varying interactions within the OFC-amygdala circuit on RRBs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1508077/fullexecutive functiontime-varying functional connectivityrepetitive and restricted behaviorsorbitofrontal cortexautism spectrum disorder |
| spellingShingle | Xiangyu Zheng Xinyue Wang Ruochen Song Junbin Tian Li Yang Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder Frontiers in Neuroscience executive function time-varying functional connectivity repetitive and restricted behaviors orbitofrontal cortex autism spectrum disorder |
| title | Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_full | Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_fullStr | Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_short | Executive function, limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_sort | executive function limbic circuit dynamics and repetitive and restricted behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder |
| topic | executive function time-varying functional connectivity repetitive and restricted behaviors orbitofrontal cortex autism spectrum disorder |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1508077/full |
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