Cited by 113Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

A Review of the Default Mode Network in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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Harikumar, Amritha, Evans, David W., Dougherty, Chase C., Carpenter, Kimberly L.H., Michael, Andrew M.·2021·Brain Connectivity

Abstract

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been widely used to examine the relationships between brain function and phenotypic features in neurodevelopmental disorders. Techniques such as resting-state functional connectivity (FC) have enabled the identification of the primary networks of the brain. One fMRI network, in particular, the default mode network (DMN), has been implicated in social-cognitive deficits in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attentional deficits in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Given the significant clinical and genetic overlap between ASD and ADHD, surprisingly, no reviews have compared the clinical, developmental, and genetic correlates of DMN in ASD and ADHD and here we address this knowledge gap. We find that, compared with matched controls, ASD studies show a mixed pattern of both stronger and weaker FC in the DMN and ADHD studies mostly show stronger FC. Factors such as age, intelligence quotient, medication status, and heredity affect DMN FC in both ASD and ADHD. We also note that most DMN studies make ASD versus ADHD group comparisons and fail to consider ASD+ADHD comorbidity. We conclude, by identifying areas for improvement and by discussing the importance of using transdiagnostic approaches such as the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) to fully account for the phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity and overlap of ASD and ADHD.

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Crossref · 10.1089/brain.2020.0865

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  • Neuroimaging and polygenic studies demonstrate shared alterations in fronto-striatal and default-mode networks, and overlapping risk loci such as FOXP1 and CNTNAP2 in ADHD and ASD.

    “Neuroimaging and polygenic studies demonstrate shared alterations in fronto-striatal and default-mode networks, and overlapping risk loci such as FOXP1 and CNTNAP2”

    From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [45]

    The Abstract (page unavailable) reports altered default-mode-network connectivity in both ASD and ADHD, although it describes mixed stronger and weaker connectivity in ASD and mostly stronger connectivity in ADHD. The Genetic Studies and the DMN section (page unavailable) discusses genetic overlap but says DMN-related genetic research has mostly involved ADHD; our copy does not substantiate shared fronto-striatal alterations or identify FOXP1 and CNTNAP2 as overlapping risk loci. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  1. Harikumar A. 2018. The default mode network in autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a comparative study. Doctoral dissertation. San Diego, CA: San Diego State University

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Authors
Harikumar, A., Evans, D. W., Dougherty, C. C., Carpenter, K. L. H., & Michael, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (US)
  • Bucknell University (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • Duke University (US)
Corresponding author
Harikumar, Amritha
Venue
Brain Connectivity
Published
2021-05
Volume
11
Issue
4
Pages
253-263
ISSN
  • 2158-0014 (ISSN-L)
  • 2158-0022
OpenAlex
W3120906006
Cited by
113
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 1
FWCI
8.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Connectivity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P50HD093074)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Keywords
default mode network, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, resting-state functional connectivity, social cognition deficits, attention deficits, neurodevelopmental disorders, genetic overlap, transdiagnostic approach, Research Domain Criteria, phenotypic heterogeneity
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Default Mode Network, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Brain, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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