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Reduced State Flexibility but Increased Connectivity Variability in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from Dynamic Functional Connectivity
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Saba Gholami   , Sara Motamed * , Elham Askari |
| Department of Computer Engineering, FSh.C., Islamic Azad University, Fouman, Iran , sara.motamed@iau.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (48 Views) |
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is consistently associated with abnormal functional connectivity; resting-state fMRI data were obtained from the ABIDE dataset. Dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) was obtained in an autism-specific subnetwork consisting of 17 regions identified from previous static connectivity analyses. Time-varying connectivity matrices were estimated using a sliding window approach, and recurrent connectivity states were identified using a hidden Markov model. Dynamic measures included state occupancy rate, mean dwell time, and edge-level connectivity variability. Compared with controls, individuals with ASD showed a significant decrease in the occupancy of highly integrated connectivity states (ASD: 28.6 ± 7.4% vs. control: 36.9 ± 8.1%, p < 0.001) and longer dwell times in poorly integrated connectivity states (ASD: 42.3 ± 10.2 vs. control: 31.7 ± 9.5 s, p = 0.002). In contrast, edge-level connectivity variability was significantly increased in ASD, particularly in default mode-limbic connections. Importantly, increased connectivity variability in the default mode network significantly predicted ADOS total scores (β = 0.41), (p = 0.001). These findings suggest a dissociation between reduced network state flexibility and increased moment-to-moment connectivity variability in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
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| Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, dynamic functional connectivity, network flexibility, connectivity variability, resting-state fMRI. |
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Full-Text [PDF 651 kb]
(139 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Other
Received: 2025/12/21 | Accepted: 2026/05/8 | Published: 2026/05/8
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