MEG resting state alpha and beta band functional connectivity in male children with autism and sensory processing dysfunction

Abstract

Objective. Sensory processing dysfunction (SPD) not only affects most individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but at least 5% of children without ASD also experience SPD. Our understanding of the relationship between sensory dysfunction and resting state brain activity is still emerging. The objective of this study was to examine group differences and behavioral associations with resting state alpha and beta oscillatory activity in ASD, SPD, and typically developing control (TDC) groups. Approach. This study compared long-range resting state functional connectivity of neural oscillatory behavior in 60 male children aged 8–12 years with (ASD; N = 18), those with (SPD; N = 18) who did not meet ASD criteria, and typically developing control participants (TDC; N = 24) using magnetoencephalography. Functional connectivity analyses were performed in the alpha and beta frequency bands, which are known to be implicated in sensory information processing. Group differences in functional connectivity and associations between sensory abilities and functional connectivity were examined. Main results. Distinct patterns of functional connectivity differences between ASD and SPD groups were found only in the beta band, but not in the alpha band. In both alpha and beta bands, ASD and SPD cohorts differed from the TDC cohort. Distinct patterns of associations between imaginary coherence and performance-based measures of sensory processing and verbal abilities were identified across groups. Significance. These findings demonstrate distinct long-range alpha and beta band phase-lagged neural synchrony alterations in SPD and ASD that are associated with sensory processing abilities in male children. These measures could serve as potential candidate neurophysiological markers for ASD and SPD at the group level, and may provide mechanistic insights relevant to biomarker development.