Sex Differences in Dynamic Functional Connectivity of Amygdala Subregions in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Motivation: The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the sex differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remain unclear. Goal(s): This study aims to investigate these differences in dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) among amygdala subregions and the entire brain in children and adolescents with ASD. Approach: We analyzed data from the ABIDE dataset, examining dFC variability between amygdala subregions and other brain voxels. Results: Male ASD participants exhibited significantly increased dFC values in the left basolateral amygdala compared to male healthy controls, with notable correlations between dFC values and ADOS scores in the fusiform gyrus and hippocampus, while no significant changes were found in females. Impact: This research highlights the importance of considering sex differences in ASD, revealing that increased dFC variability in males may be linked to their specific social and emotional challenges, thereby informing targeted interventions and enhancing our understanding of ASD's neurobiological mechanisms.