Brain function distinguishes female carriers and non-carriers of familial risk for autism.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by high population-level heritability and a three-to-one male-to-female ratio that occurs independent of sex linkage. Prior research in a mixed-sex pediatric sample identified neural signatures of familial risk elicited by passive viewing of point light motion displays, suggesting the possibility that both resilience and risk of autism might be associated with brain responses to biological motion. To confirm a relationship between these signatures and inherited risk of autism, we tested them in families enriched for genetic loading through undiagnosed ("carrier") females.

Methods

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined brain responses to passive viewing of point light displays-depicting biological ve

SUBMITTER: Eggebrecht AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7574590 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature