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Title
Frontoparietal connectivity, Sensory Features, and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Publication Date
2023-03
Early Online Version
Open Access
Yes
Abstract
<p><b>Objectives</b> Because atypical global neural connectivity has been documented in autistic youth, but only limited data are available regarding the association between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), sensory features (SF), and neural connectivity between frontal and parietal brain regions, these links were investigated in a sample of male autistic children and adolescents.</p>
<p><b>Methods</b> Forty-one autistic males aged between 6 and 18 years and their mothers were recruited as volunteer participants from Queensland, Australia. Participants underwent 3 min of eyes-closed and 3 min of eyes-opened electroencephalography (EEG) under resting conditions. EEG connectivity was investigated using Granger causality between frontal and parietal regions in alpha (8–13 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) bands.</p>
<p><b>Results</b> There was a significant (p < .01) positive correlation between SF and GAD. GAD was associated with some characteristics of SF in the sample population. Additionally, there was a significant (p < .01) inverse correlation between directional frontoparietal connectivity and SF during the eyes-closed condition, specifically in relation to avoiding stimuli and sensitivity to the environment.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions</b> Reduced frontoparietal connectivity in association with higher anxiety and SF may demonstrate reduced relaxation due to greater sensitivity to sensory input.</p>
<p><b>Methods</b> Forty-one autistic males aged between 6 and 18 years and their mothers were recruited as volunteer participants from Queensland, Australia. Participants underwent 3 min of eyes-closed and 3 min of eyes-opened electroencephalography (EEG) under resting conditions. EEG connectivity was investigated using Granger causality between frontal and parietal regions in alpha (8–13 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) bands.</p>
<p><b>Results</b> There was a significant (p < .01) positive correlation between SF and GAD. GAD was associated with some characteristics of SF in the sample population. Additionally, there was a significant (p < .01) inverse correlation between directional frontoparietal connectivity and SF during the eyes-closed condition, specifically in relation to avoiding stimuli and sensitivity to the environment.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions</b> Reduced frontoparietal connectivity in association with higher anxiety and SF may demonstrate reduced relaxation due to greater sensitivity to sensory input.</p>
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, v.7, p. 14-26
Publisher
Springer Cham
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
2022-08-05
Place of Publication
Switzerland
ISSN
2366-7540
2366-7532
File(s)
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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