{
  "abstract": "Functionally inter-connected large-scale brain networks regulated by multiple neurotransmitter systems underpin complex human behaviour. A wide range of alterations in this neurofunctional landscape have been associated with autism. However, this evidence is mostly derived from cross-sectional analyses and thus assumes that any differences are ‘static’. Indeed, large sample sizes are required to identify reproducible baseline differences in functional connectivity between autistic and non-autistic individuals. Instead, we propose that what is different in autism is not necessarily the baseline functional connectivity of resting-state networks, but rather their responsivity or regulation by neurotransmitter systems. We tested this hypothesis using a uniform analytical framework to capture the modulation of functional connectivity by single doses of pharmacological probes targeting three major neurotransmitter systems implicated in autism, namely gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA), serotonin (5HT) and μ-opioid systems. Every drug challenge altered resting-state network connectivity differentially in the autistic compared to the non-autistic group. However, regardless of the neurotransmitter system probed, drug challenge elicited increases in between-network connectivity in autistic participants but minimal or decreased between-network connectivity in their non-autistic peers. There was no group difference in the responsivity of within-network connectivity. Thus, there is altered responsivity of neurotransmitter systems in the autistic brain. This has important implications for pharmacotherapy in autism because these neurotransmitter systems are the targets of several medications commonly prescribed to manage mental health conditions that frequently co-occur in autism. Investigating if these drug-induced ‘shifts’ in functional connectivity can help provide better targeted clinical interventions will be an important next translational step.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK",
    "King's College London",
    "Department of Early Life Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK",
    "School of Computer Science, Faculty of Science and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK",
    "Northumbria University",
    "Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal",
    "University of Coimbra",
    "South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy, London, UK",
    "South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy",
    "Department of Psychology, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK",
    "N=You Neurodevelopmental Precision Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care, Division of Woman-Child, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands",
    "Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Ting Kok, Hong Kong",
    "Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Ting Kok, Hong Kong",
    "The Education University of Hong Kong",
    "MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, UK",
    "NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Maudsley, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, London, UK"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 19,
  "authors": [
    {
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        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Tobias P. Whelan",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-9497-5961"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        0,
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Lucas G. S. França",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0853-1319"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mihail Dimitrov",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0760-5905"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Charlotte M. Pretzsch",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2761-6628"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Hester Velthuis",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9219-3687"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        0,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Andreia Carvalho Pereira",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4418-2638"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Claire L. Ellis",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1064-2395"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Glynis Ivin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9,
        1
      ],
      "name": "James L. Findon",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8062-5972"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Robert Wichers",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6630-8038"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Francesca M. Ponteduro",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1244-3090"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Johanna Kangas",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3756-3670"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Naoise Mulcrone"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        11,
        12,
        13
      ],
      "name": "Nichol M. L. Wong",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0050-7736"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Dafnis Batallé",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2097-979X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        14,
        15,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Nicolaas A.J. Puts",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1024-1927"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Eileen Daly",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3625-3467"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        14,
        15,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Declan Murphy",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6664-7451"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        14,
        15,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Grainne Mary McAlonan",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4466-2343"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f3c4599qy4btx.bib",
  "cited_by": 5,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41398-026-04371-1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "f3c4599qy4btx",
  "issns": [
    "2158-3188"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04371-1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-026-04371-1_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": "Springer Nature",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f3c4599qy4btx.ris",
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    {
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04371-1"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2805|Functional Brain Connectivity Studies",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
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  ],
  "title": "Autistic neural ‘shiftability’: the distinct pharmacological landscape of the autistic brain",
  "title_text": "Autistic neural ‘shiftability’: the distinct pharmacological landscape of the autistic brain",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T13:20:56Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f3c4599qy4btx",
  "venue": "Translational Psychiatry",
  "versions": []
}