Vulnerability analysis of structural brain connectome of subjects with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Connection problems that rise from the alterations of synaptic formation and regulations are hypothesized to the underlying motive of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Among known functions of autism risk genes, many portion of functions are involved in the production of proteins that regulate the formation of synapses. Here, we present a study that systematically investigated nodal differences of the connectome of subjects with ASD using vulnerability analysis method. We calculated vulnerability index to identify left precuneous cortex, right anterior putamen, left middle temporal gyrus posterior division, and left medial planum temporal as critical nodes that are unique in the ASD group. The identified critical components were well matched with previously known ASD-related brain regions. Also, critical components showed distinct correlations with other graph measures, and this topological characteristics of critical components were well matched with biophysiological functions of critical components. This result suggests that altered regional connectome can be understood in the information flow perspective.