Figure 5.

Focal neural activity, brain network activity and whole-brain dynamics. We investigated the mechanisms by which local neural activity affected the whole-brain neural dynamics. A, In the pure ADHD group, the neural timescale of the left inferior parietal sulcus (IPS) was correlated with that of the dorsal attention network (DAN), the parent network of the IPS, which was associated with the frequency of the A–[C/D–E/F]–B transition. B, A mediation analysis showed that the short neural timescale of the left IPS increased the frequency of the A–C–F–B transition by reducing the neural timescale of the DAN. C, In the ASD+ADHD children, the intrinsic neural timescale of the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) was correlated with that of the frontoparietal control network (FPCN), the parental network of the SFG, which was related to the A–C–F–B transition frequency. D, A mediation analysis demonstrated that the shorter neural timescale of the left SFG enhanced the A–C–F–B transition frequency by decreasing the neural timescale of the FPCN. E, The autistic behavior in the pure ASD children was explained by the atypical reduction in the A–C/D–B transition frequency. F, In the ASD+ADHD children, their ASD symptom was correlated with the atypical decrease in the A–C/D–B transition frequency. Their ADHD-like cognitive instability was induced by the atypically frequent A–C–F–B transition, which was triggered by the unstable activities of FPCN and left SFG. G, The hyperactivity of the pure ADHD children was underpinned by the atypically frequent A–[C/D–E/F]–B transition, which was attributable to the fluctuating activity of the FPCN and left IPS.