Reduced local functional connectivity correlates with atypical performances in children with autism spectrum disorder

To characterize local functional connectivity (FC) differences in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developed (TD) children, and to analyze the correlation between local FC and the atypical behavior in autistic children. Thirty children with ASD and 25 TD children were recruited. Participants underwent rs-fMRI scans, and regional homogeneity (ReHo) of specific brain regions was measured. Performance was assessed using the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Gesell Development Diagnosis Scale (GDDS). Children with ASD demonstrated reduced ReHo in the right occipital lobe lingual, left postcentral, and left precuneus compared with TD children. Within the ASD group, the ABC total score was negatively related to ReHo values in both the left postcentral and left precuneus. The ReHo value in the left postcentral was negatively correlated with ABC scores related to sensory and body/object use, while the ReHo value in the left precuneus was negatively correlated with scores related to social skills and self-help. The mean Developmental Quotient (DQ) of GDDS was positively correlated with the ReHo value in the right occipital lobe lingual. Besides, the ReHo value in this region was positively correlated with the DQ of adaptive behavior. The ReHo value in the left postcentral was positively correlated with the DQ of fine motor skills (p < 0.05 for all). Children with ASD exhibit reduced local FC in specific brain regions, which are associated with specific performances in autism. These findings may provide a novel insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms of ASD.