# The association between motor coordination impairment and altered functional connectivity among autistic children

## TL;DR

This study explores how brain connectivity differences in autistic children relate to motor coordination problems.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific brain networks linked to motor coordination impairments in autism using functional MRI data.

## Key findings

- Reduced connectivity in the right cerebellar crus II correlates with worse general coordination and movement control in autistic children.
- Weaker connectivity between cerebellar and frontal-temporal-parietal networks is linked to coordination difficulties.
- Stronger connectivity between cerebellar and insular networks is associated with better fine motor skills.

## Abstract

Motor coordination impairment among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has recently gained increasing attention. However, the relationship between functional connectivity (FC) alterations and motor coordination impairment among ASD remains inconclusive.

We evaluated motor coordination function using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) and acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans from 23 autistic individuals and 25 typically developing (TD) controls (6–10 years old). Within- and between-network FC was estimated using group independent component analysis (ICA) and group comparison was addressed using two-sample t-tests. Relationships between abnormal FC and motor coordination among ASD were investigated with multiple linear regression, with age, gender, and intelligence quotient (IQ) considered as covariates.

In the ASD group, 1) FC within the right cerebellar crus II was negatively correlated to the score of general coordination (β = −.566, p = 0.035) and control during movement (β = −0.529, p = 0.026); 2) FC between the cerebellar network and frontal-temporal-parietal network was negatively correlated to the score of general coordination (β = −2.610, p = 0.006); 3) Increased FC between the cerebellar network and insular network was associated with a higher score of fine motor/handwriting (β = −0.529, p = 0.026).

We confirmed the role of the insular network in interoception and motor processing among ASD, which was related to impaired information integrating, relaying, and visual feedback during movement. A significant relationship between the cerebellar network and frontal-temporal-parietal network in motor coordination indicated that a deficit in the planning of movements may contribute to atypical motor skills. The study gained an understanding of neuroimaging traits among ASD children and may provide evidence for the design of the motor-related intervention.