Nielsen, Jared AZielinski, Brandon AFletcher, P ThomasAlexander, Andrew LLange, NicholasBigler, Erin DLainhart, Janet EAnderson, Jeffrey S2014-03-112014Nielsen, Jared A, Brandon A Zielinski, P Thomas Fletcher, Andrew L Alexander, Nicholas Lange, Erin D Bigler, Janet E Lainhart, and Jeffrey S Anderson. 2014. “Abnormal lateralization of functional connectivity between language and default mode regions in autism.” Molecular Autism 5 (1): 8. doi:10.1186/2040-2392-5-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-5-8.2040-2392http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11879853Background: Lateralization of brain structure and function occurs in typical development, and abnormal lateralization is present in various neuropsychiatric disorders. Autism is characterized by a lack of left lateralization in structure and function of regions involved in language, such as Broca and Wernicke areas. Methods: Using functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging from a large publicly available sample (n = 964), we tested whether abnormal functional lateralization in autism exists preferentially in language regions or in a more diffuse pattern across networks of lateralized brain regions. Results: The autism group exhibited significantly reduced left lateralization in a few connections involving language regions and regions from the default mode network, but results were not significant throughout left- and right-lateralized networks. There is a trend that suggests the lack of left lateralization in a connection involving Wernicke area and the posterior cingulate cortex associates with more severe autism. Conclusions: Abnormal language lateralization in autism may be due to abnormal language development rather than to a deficit in hemispheric specialization of the entire brain.en-USbrain lateralizationbrain asymmetryautismautism spectrum disorderlanguagefunctional magnetic resonance imagingfunctional connectivityJournal Article2014-03-1110.1186/2040-2392-5-8