Figure 5.

Relationship of axonal features to developmental events. Changes in axons and inhibitory neurotransmission affect network dynamics in ASD. ACC exhibits local overconnectivity in ASD, which combined with changes in the ratio of inhibitory neurons in LPFC can tip the balance of excitation and inhibition. OFC exhibits weak local connectivity in ASD due to thinning of the myelin, which may affect conduction velocity. Overall, prefrontal areas exhibit weakening in their long-distance connections. This connectivity pattern is supported by structural and functional data. Black lines indicate typical connectivity and purple lines indicate connectivity in ASD. The thickness of the line indicates the strength of a connection.