Differences in brain connectivity have been linked to several neurodevelopmental disorders, but scientists are still struggling to determine what changes are common or unique to each condition. A new study analyzing brain scans from more than 2,100 people reveals a pattern of disrupted neural connections common to autism, ADHD and schizophrenia. This study also identifies distinct molecular and cellular features of each disease, providing insight into how complex psychiatric disorders arise from overlapping yet distinct biological mechanisms.
Neurodevelopmental disorders and psychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia, are typically studied as separate disorders. Each disease has its own diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and treatment strategies. However, research over the past decade has revealed that they may share genetic influences and biological pathways. Understanding these common mechanisms can help scientists go beyond traditional diagnostic boundaries and uncover the underlying brain systems that contribute to multiple diseases.
To address this challenge, a research team led by Professor Fengchun Wu of the Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China, along with Professor Kai Wu of the School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, conducted a large-scale analysis of brain imaging data to investigate common disease-specific neural mechanisms. By combining advanced computational analysis and molecular data, the team aimed to uncover the brain connectivity patterns associated with these symptoms. Their findings were published on February 4, 2026, in the journal Volume 9. the study.
One promising way to investigate these disorders is to study how different parts of the brain communicate with each other. Functional connectivity (coordinated activity between brain regions) plays a central role in cognition, emotion, and behavior. However, brain signals vary widely from person to person, making it difficult to identify consistent patterns across individuals with complex mental illnesses.
To overcome this challenge, researchers analyzed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 2,176 participants, including those diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, and schizophrenia, as well as healthy controls. They used a computational approach called heterogeneous matrix factorization to extract patterns of brain activity that are shared between individuals. These shared signals were used to build functional connectivity networks that reveal how different brain regions interact.
This analysis revealed common abnormal connectivity patterns linking deep regulatory systems such as the cerebellum and subcortical networks with higher cortical areas involved in perception, attention, and decision-making. This finding suggests that disruption of communication between basic control structures and complex cognitive networks may represent a common neural feature underlying several neurodevelopmental disorders.
At the same time, the analysis revealed clear differences between the disorders. Autism and ADHD showed similar connectivity structures, but in opposite directions. That is, connectivity decreased in ASD, whereas connectivity increased in ADHD. In contrast, schizophrenia showed more widespread and heterogeneous disruptions across brain networks. These disease-specific deviations are also associated with differences in symptom severity, suggesting that connectivity patterns reflect meaningful biological variation rather than random changes.
To further understand the biological basis of these patterns, researchers linked changes in connectivity to molecular and cellular properties of the brain. The shared connectivity patterns were associated with genes involved in synaptic organization, lipid metabolism, and cellular structural processes. On the other hand, disease-specific connectivity deviations are associated with different neurotransmitter systems and cellular pathways, indicating that different molecular mechanisms may shape the unique features of each disease.
“Understanding both the common and individual neurological features of these disorders will help us better understand how complex psychiatric disorders develop.” said Professor Wu.Our findings suggest that common disruptions in brain networks may form a biological basis across diagnostic categories. ”
This study also demonstrates the ability to integrate large-scale brain imaging data and molecular information. According to Professor Wu, such an approach could help bridge the gap between brain-level observations and the underlying biological mechanisms. ”By combining neuroimaging with molecular and cellular data, we can build a multiscale understanding of brain diseases.” he said.
Although more research is needed, this finding could help researchers identify biological markers that improve early detection of neurodevelopmental conditions. Over time, these studies could also reshape how scientists classify mental illnesses, shifting the focus from symptom-based categories to common biological systems that influence brain health across the lifespan.
sauce:
Science and Technology Review Publishing
Reference magazines:
Diao, Y. Others. (2026). Multiscale annotation of specific neurobiological features shared among major neurodevelopmental disorders, recognizing heterogeneity. the study. DOI: 10.34133/research.1115. https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.1115
