Atypical lexicosemantic function of extrastriate cortex in autism spectrum disorder: Evidence from functional and effective connectivity

► Semantic decision activates visual cortex in autism, but not in controls. ► Visual cortex shows strong connectivity with frontal regions in autism. ► Left inferior frontal and temporo-occipital regions are overconnected in autism. ► Visual cortex is part of an integrated circuit for semantic processing in autism. ► Intrinsic overconnectivity in autism contrasts with task-driven underconnectivity.