Superior temporal sulcus folding, functional network connectivity, and autistic-like traits in a non-clinical population.
Igor Nenadić, Yvonne Schröder, Jonas Hoffmann and 11 others
PMID 39380071WHAT IT FOUND
In 250 healthy adults, higher self-reported autistic-like traits were related to brain folding differences and to how brain regions involved in social perception worked together at rest.
This is a brain finding, not a diagnosis or treatment effect.
Key findings
01Higher total autistic-like traits and higher attention switching scores were related to lower cortical complexity in the left superior temporal sulcus.
02Higher communication scores were related to higher cortical complexity in the right posterior cingulate.
03Resting-state links from the posterior superior temporal sulcus varied by trait facet: total traits and attention to detail showed lower occipital links, attention switching showed higher frontal links, and communication showed lower cuneal links.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The participants were healthy adults without psychiatric diagnoses, so the study does not describe people with autism spectrum disorder. The sample had high estimated IQ scores, with a mean of 116.87, so it may not represent autistic patients or other clinical groups. The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot show whether trait differences, brain folding, or connectivity changes came first. Autistic-like traits were measured only with the self-report AQ, not with a clinical assessment, and some AQ subscores have been criticised in recent questionnaire studies. No behavioural tests of social communication, eye gaze, or interaction were collected, so the brain links were not tied to clinical function. Seventeen participants were excluded from the resting-state analysis for missing data or scan quality problems.
Declared interests
Philipps-Universität Marburg is listed as the funder. No other funding or conflict statement is included in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence of a brain marker for autism or a target for therapy. The study was done in healthy adults without psychiatric diagnoses and reported links between brain measures and self-reported autistic-like traits. It did not test patients, behaviour, or treatment.