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Introduction <p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder, which is associated with changes of brain function. However, literature is lacking in information about differences of central mechanism between high-functioning ASD (HF-ASD) and low-functioning ASD (LF-ASD). This study aimed to explore common and distinct changes of regional resting-state brain activity between HF-ASD and LF-ASD compared to typically developing (TD) children.</p> Methods <p>Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired form 23 HF-ASD, 23 LF-ASD and 26 TD children. Based on the processed data, regional homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) were calculated and compared between the groups of HF-ASD, LF-ASD and TD. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was conducted to evaluate the capacity of altered brain regions in distinguishing HF-ASD, LF-ASD and TD children. Relationships between altered brain region and clinical measures in ASD were evaluated by <i>Pearson</i> correlation analysis.</p> Results <p>Compared with TD group, HF-ASD group showed decreased ReHo values in the right hippocampus, left postcentral gyrus and increased ReHo values in the left orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus, right calcarine fissure. LF-ASD group demonstrated decreased ReHo values in the right fusiform gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus and increased ReHo values in the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus. HF-ASD group exhibited increased ReHo values in the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and decreased ReHo values in the left middle temporal gyrus. In addition, compared with TD group, HF-ASD group had decreased fALFF values in the left rolandic operculum and increased fALFF values in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus. In LF-ASD group, decreased fALFF values were found in the left middle temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus and increased fALFF values were identified in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, left paracentral lobule, left cuneus, right precentral gyrus. No significant difference was found in fALFF values between HF-ASD and LF-ASD groups. Both ReHo and fALFF values showed satisfactory results in distinguishing HF-ASD and LF-ASD from TD children, as well as distinguishing HF-ASD from LF-ASD children. The ReHo values in left inferior temporal gyrus and fALFF values in right middle temporal gyrus were positively correlated with the adaptive behavior scores of Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS).</p> Conclusion <p>More serious functional abnormalities in the temporal regions and fusiform gyrus may be relevant to the pathophysiology of LF-ASD, while increased brain activity in the prefrontal regions may be related to the development of HF-ASD. These findings serve as objective indicators to assist in the clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis of distinct subtypes of ASD. In the future, it may also contribute to the development and selection of clinical interventions and personalized rehabilitation plans for different subtypes of ASD, as well as the prediction of clinical symptoms and efficacy.</p>

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Common and distinct changes of regional resting-state brain activity between high- and low-functioning autism spectrum disorder

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月24日

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  • Hong Xu,
  • Min Li,
  • Ling Zhang,
  • Wenxin Zhang,
  • Yanli Jiang,
  • Min Zhu,
  • Xia Chi

摘要

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder, which is associated with changes of brain function. However, literature is lacking in information about differences of central mechanism between high-functioning ASD (HF-ASD) and low-functioning ASD (LF-ASD). This study aimed to explore common and distinct changes of regional resting-state brain activity between HF-ASD and LF-ASD compared to typically developing (TD) children.

Methods

Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired form 23 HF-ASD, 23 LF-ASD and 26 TD children. Based on the processed data, regional homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) were calculated and compared between the groups of HF-ASD, LF-ASD and TD. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was conducted to evaluate the capacity of altered brain regions in distinguishing HF-ASD, LF-ASD and TD children. Relationships between altered brain region and clinical measures in ASD were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis.

Results

Compared with TD group, HF-ASD group showed decreased ReHo values in the right hippocampus, left postcentral gyrus and increased ReHo values in the left orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus, right calcarine fissure. LF-ASD group demonstrated decreased ReHo values in the right fusiform gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus and increased ReHo values in the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus. HF-ASD group exhibited increased ReHo values in the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and decreased ReHo values in the left middle temporal gyrus. In addition, compared with TD group, HF-ASD group had decreased fALFF values in the left rolandic operculum and increased fALFF values in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus. In LF-ASD group, decreased fALFF values were found in the left middle temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus and increased fALFF values were identified in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, left paracentral lobule, left cuneus, right precentral gyrus. No significant difference was found in fALFF values between HF-ASD and LF-ASD groups. Both ReHo and fALFF values showed satisfactory results in distinguishing HF-ASD and LF-ASD from TD children, as well as distinguishing HF-ASD from LF-ASD children. The ReHo values in left inferior temporal gyrus and fALFF values in right middle temporal gyrus were positively correlated with the adaptive behavior scores of Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS).

Conclusion

More serious functional abnormalities in the temporal regions and fusiform gyrus may be relevant to the pathophysiology of LF-ASD, while increased brain activity in the prefrontal regions may be related to the development of HF-ASD. These findings serve as objective indicators to assist in the clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis of distinct subtypes of ASD. In the future, it may also contribute to the development and selection of clinical interventions and personalized rehabilitation plans for different subtypes of ASD, as well as the prediction of clinical symptoms and efficacy.