Sex Differences in the Default Mode Network with Regard to Autism Spectrum Traits: A Resting State fMRI Study.
Sex Differences in the Default Mode Network with Regard to Autism Spectrum Traits: A Resting State fMRI Study.
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DOI：
10.1371/journal.pone.0143126
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发表时间：
2015
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Kosaka H
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Jung M;Mody M;Saito DN;Tomoda A;Okazawa H;Wada Y;Kosaka H
自闭症谱系特征存在于一个连续体中，男性比女性更常见，但这种性别差异的基础尚不清楚。为此，本研究借鉴了极端男性大脑理论，调查性别差异和默认模式网络（DMN）之间的关系，两者都被认为与自闭症谱系特征有关。对42名女性（平均年龄±标准差，22.4 ± 4.2岁）和43名男性（平均年龄±标准差，23.8 ± 3.9岁）进行静息态功能磁共振成像（MRI）。使用不同分析的组合（即，独立成分分析（伊卡）、低频波动分数幅度（fALFF）、区域同质性（ReHo）和基于种子的分析），我们检查了DMN的性别差异以及与自闭症谱系特征的关系，这些特征是通过自闭症谱系商（AQ）评分测量的。我们发现女性和男性受试者在DMN脑区之间存在显着差异，基于种子的分析揭示了男性前内侧前额叶皮层种子（aMPFC）和AQ分数的默认模式静息状态功能连接之间的显着负相关。然而，在女性中，DMN性别差异与自闭症谱系特征之间没有关系。我们的研究结果可能会提供重要的洞察力，男性与女性相比，可以作为自闭症谱系特征程度的潜在生物标志物，与极端男性大脑理论相一致。
Autism spectrum traits exist on a continuum and are more common in males than in females, but the basis for this sex difference is unclear. To this end, the present study draws on the extreme male brain theory, investigating the relationship between sex difference and the default mode network (DMN), both known to be associated with autism spectrum traits. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out in 42 females (mean age ± standard deviation, 22.4 ± 4.2 years) and 43 males (mean age ± standard deviation, 23.8 ± 3.9 years) with typical development. Using a combination of different analyses (viz., independent component analysis (ICA), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and seed-based analyses), we examined sex differences in the DMN and the relationship to autism spectrum traits as measured by autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) scores. We found significant differences between female and male subjects in DMN brain regions, with seed-based analysis revealing a significant negative correlation between default-mode resting state functional connectivity of the anterior medial prefrontal cortex seed (aMPFC) and AQ scores in males. However, there were no relationships between DMN sex differences and autism spectrum traits in females. Our findings may provide important insight into the skewed balance of functional connectivity in males compared to females that could serve as a potential biomarker of the degree of autism spectrum traits in line with the extreme male brain theory.