Stevens, DaleHartman, Braxton Lorne2025-07-232025-07-232025-01-152025-07-23https://hdl.handle.net/10315/43002Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behaviours. We used resting-state functional connectivity fMRI to investigate three intrinsic brain networks which subserve domains of behaviour known to be impacted in ASD; the antagonistic “default” and “dorsal attention” networks – which subserve internally and externally directed cognition, respectively – and the “frontoparietal control” network which flexibly couples with either default or dorsal attention networks in order to dynamically direct the locus of attention. Using a novel method to compare the hierarchical organization of networks between groups, we found atypical organization of the three networks in ASD, including a fractionation of the frontoparietal control network and attenuation of the anticorrelation between default and dorsal attention networks. These results suggest that ASD is associated with atypical hierarchical organization of large-scale intrinsic brain networks, potentially contributing to cognitive and behavioral symptoms.Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.NeurosciencesAtypical Relations Between Default, Dorsal Attention, and Frontoparietal Control Networks in Autism Spectrum DisorderElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2025-07-23