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Abstract #3950

Functional connectivity changes of Dentate Nucleus in Autism Spectrum Disorders: a resting-state fMRI study.

Giusy Olivito 1,2 , Maria Leggio 1,2 , Fiorenzo Laghi 3 , Roberto Baiocco 3 , Anna Maria Tedesco 1 , Silvia Clausi 1 , Chiara Mastropasqua 4 , Marco Molinari 5 , Mara Cercignani 4,6 , and Marco Bozzali 4

1 Ataxia Research Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy, Italy, 2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy, Italy, 3 Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy, Italy, 4 Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy, Italy, 5 Neurological and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, Department  A, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy, Italy, 6 Clinical Imaging Science Center (CISC), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom

The cerebellum has emerged as one of the regions affected in Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The cerebro-cerebellar disconnection could in part underlie autistic symptoms, mainly involving Theory of Mind (ToM) processes. In the present study we demonstrate the usefulness of resting-state fMRI in detecting changes in functional connectivity (FC) between the cerebellar dentate nucleus, the sole cerebellar output channel, and cerebral cortex regions by comparing ASD patients and tipically developing subjects. Using a seed-based approach, we found altered FC in ASDs patients between DN and regions of the Default Mode Network, known to be related to social deficits seen in ASD.

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