Drs. Bednarz and Kana publish "Patterns of Cerebellar Connectivity with Intrinsic Connectivity Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorders"

Neuroanatomical and functional abnormalities of the cerebellum have been reported relatively widely in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The cerebellum is considered to modulate information processing and its connections with the cortex impacts wide-ranging functions. In a new functional MRI study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Bednarz and Kana examined the connectivity of the cerebellum with different networks in the cortex (e.g., executive network, salience network, and default mode network) in children with ASD using resting state functional MRI. Data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE-II) Database was used for this study. The main finding was significant hyperconnectivity between cerebellum and cortical networks in children with ASD relative to typically developing children. The findings of this study underscores the importance of connectivity models of autism, and the need for investigating cerebro-cerebellar connectivity.

read the study here