Brain Scans Find Two Connectivity Patterns in Some Autism Cases, Most Fit Neither

A study led by Alessandro Gozzi at the Italian Institute of Technology in Rovereto identified two dominant subtypes of autism distinguished by opposing patterns of brain connectivity. @NewScientist reported that the work examined 20 strains of mice, each carrying a mutation in a different gene associated with autism in humans.

fMRI scans showed hypoconnectivity in 11 strains and hyperconnectivity in nine.

In the hypoconnectivity mice the mutated genes interacted with proteins involved in synapses, while in the hyperconnectivity mice the genes interacted with proteins involved in gene regulation and the immune system. The researchers then analyzed fMRI data from 940 autistic people and 1036 age-matched controls.

Twenty-four percent of the autistic participants showed hypoconnectivity and 17 percent showed hyperconnectivity.

Fifty-nine percent did not fit either category. Gozzi stated that the findings demonstrate different dominant subtypes of autism associated with different biology. He added that the study does not claim only these two subtypes exist.

Autism prevalence is estimated at 780 individuals per 100,000 people. Natalie Sauerwald at the Flatiron Institute in New York said the study helps explain the heterogeneity of the condition and the biology behind it. The work was published in Nature Neuroscience with the DOI 10.1038/s41593-026-02287-z.