Functional connectivity patterns differ as a function of co-occurring attentional problems in preschoolers with autism
These findings provide evidence that neurodevelopmental and behavioral differences in children with ASD and co-occurring AP emerge very early in life, before a reliable diagnosis of ADHD is typically made. Specifically, these results demonstrate that early inattention symptoms are associated with unique connectivity patterns in executive circuitry as early as the first years of life in toddlers and preschoolers with ASD, likely contributing to the phenotypic and neural heterogeneity recognized in autism. Thus, our results underscore the importance of considering co-occurring conditions early in developmental research and clinical care, as further understanding these trajectories can inform early interventions during the critical time period when they have the greatest potential for positive impact.
Authors
- Michaela Cordova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6860-5159)
- Annika Carola Linke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9303-7827)
- Lindsay Olson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9819-3749)
- Bosi Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0117-9757)
- Judy Mahmalji
- Inna Fishman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5873-2365)
- Adriana Ríos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1754-0457)
- Alex Boxberger
Institutions
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- San Diego State University (US)
- University of California San Diego (US)
- New York University (US)
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Published
- 2025-10-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-025-09650-4
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.43
Funders
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Autism Speaks
- San Diego State University
- National Institutes of Health
- University of California, San Diego
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities