51
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Prince EB, Kim ES, Wall CA, Gisin E, Goodwin MS, Simmons ES, Chawarska K, Shic F. The relationship between autism symptoms and arousal level in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder, as measured by electrodermal activity. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2017; 21:504-508. [PMID: 27289132 PMCID: PMC5812779 DOI: 10.1177/1362361316648816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Electrodermal activity was examined as a measure of physiological arousal within a naturalistic play context in 2-year-old toddlers ( N = 27) with and without autism spectrum disorder. Toddlers with autism spectrum disorder were found to have greater increases in skin conductance level than their typical peers in response to administered play activities. In the autism spectrum disorder group, a positive relationship was observed between restrictive and repetitive behaviors and skin conductance level increases in response to mechanical toys, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for passive toys. This preliminary study is the first to examine electrodermal activity levels in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder during play-based, naturalistic settings, and it highlights the potential for electrodermal activity as a measure of individual variability within autism spectrum disorder and early development.
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52
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Sharma A, Khosla A, Khosla M, M. YR. Skin conductance response patterns of face processing in children with autism spectrum disorder. ADVANCES IN AUTISM 2017. [DOI: 10.1108/aia-09-2016-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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53
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Helminen TM, Leppänen JM, Eriksson K, Luoma A, Hietanen JK, Kylliäinen A. Atypical physiological orienting to direct gaze in low-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2017; 10:810-820. [PMID: 28244277 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Reduced use of eye contact is a prominent feature in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It has been proposed that direct gaze does not capture the attention of individuals with ASD. Experimental evidence is, however, mainly restricted to relatively high-functioning school-aged children or adults with ASD. This study investigated whether 2-5-year-old low-functioning children with severe ASD differ from control children in orienting to gaze stimuli, as measured with the heart rate deceleration response. Responses were measured to computerized presentations of dynamic shifts of gaze direction either toward (direct) or away (averted) from the observing child. The results showed a significant group by gaze direction interaction effect on heart rate responses (permuted P = .004), reflecting a stronger orienting response to direct versus averted gaze in typically developing (N = 17) and developmentally delayed (N = 16) children but not in children with ASD (N = 12). The lack of enhanced orienting response to direct gaze in the ASD group was not caused by a lack of looking at the eye region, as confirmed by eye tracking. The results suggest that direct gaze is not a socially salient, attention-grabbing signal for low-functioning children with ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 810-820. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terhi M Helminen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Kai Eriksson
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Tampere Center for Child Health Research, School of Medicine, 33014 University of Tampere, and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Arto Luoma
- School of Management, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari K Hietanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland
| | - Anneli Kylliäinen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland
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54
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Betancourt MA, Dethorne LS, Karahalios K, Kim JG. Skin Conductance as an
In Situ
Marker for Emotional Arousal in Children with Neurodevelopmental Communication Impairments. ACM TRANSACTIONS ON ACCESSIBLE COMPUTING 2017. [DOI: 10.1145/3035536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Even though electrodermal activity has been widely used in the study of psychological states and processes for over 130 years, the use of such technology
in situ,
within the context of daily activities, remains a major challenge. Recent technological advancements have led to the development of wearable biosensors that noninvasively measure electrical conductance across the skin. These biosensors represent a new approach for skin conductance assessment, as a proxy for emotional arousal, in children with neurodevelopmental communication impairments who are often described as having difficulties with emotional regulation, expressing thoughts and feelings, and present a higher prevalence of challenging behaviors. Here we provide an overview of skin conductance and explore the benefits of recent technological advancements for applied research and clinical practice. We draw on user experience from two experimental interventions involving eight children with neurodevelopmental impairments. In both cases investigators monitored phasic and tonic EDA measures
in situ
using wearable biosensors. We share the behavioral and technical challenges experienced across these two experimental contexts, and propose associated considerations for future use. Specifically, sensor functioning, synchronization, and data preprocessing/analysis difficulties, as well as behavioral findings related to developmental differences, sensor tolerance over time, and sensor placement are discussed.
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55
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Direct eye contact enhances mirroring of others’ movements: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Neuropsychologia 2017; 95:111-118. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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56
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Two hypotheses, gaze aversion and gaze indifference, are commonly cited to explain a diagnostic hallmark of autism: reduced attention to others' eyes. The two posit different areas of atypical brain function, different pathogenic models of disability, and different possible treatments. Evidence for and against each hypothesis is mixed but has thus far focused on older children and adults. The authors evaluated both mechanistic hypotheses in two sets of experiments at the time of initial diagnosis. METHOD Eye-tracking data were collected in 86 2-year-olds: 26 with autism, tested at initial diagnosis; 38 matched typically developing children; and 22 matched developmentally delayed children. In two experiments, the authors measured response to direct and implicit cueing to look at the eyes. RESULTS When directly cued to look at the eyes, 2-year-olds with autism did not look away faster than did typically developing children; their latency varied neither categorically nor dimensionally by degree of eye cueing. Moreover, direct cueing had a stronger sustained effect on their amount of eye-looking than on that of typically developing children. When presented with implicit social cues for eye-looking, 2-year-olds with autism neither shifted their gaze away nor more subtly averted their gaze to peripheral locations. CONCLUSIONS The results falsify the gaze aversion hypothesis; instead, at the time of initial diagnosis, diminished eye-looking in autism is consistent with passive insensitivity to the social signals in others' eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Moriuchi
- Psychology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30022, USA,Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA
| | - Ami Klin
- Psychology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30022, USA,Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA,Division of Autism & Related Disabilities, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30022, USA,Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30022, USA
| | - Warren Jones
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA,Division of Autism & Related Disabilities, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30022, USA,Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30022, USA
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57
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BUJNAKOVA I, ONDREJKA I, MESTANIK M, VISNOVCOVA Z, MESTANIKOVA A, HRTANEK I, FLESKOVA D, CALKOVSKA A, TONHAJZEROVA I. Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Associated With Autonomic Underarousal. Physiol Res 2016; 65:S673-S682. [PMID: 28006949 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.933528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder, associated with autonomic dysregulation. However, the pathomechanism leading to autonomic abnormalities is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity during baseline in homogenous group of autistic children using electrodermal activity (EDA), as an index of sympathetic activity and short-term heart rate variability (HRV) reflecting predominantly cardiac vagal control. Fifteen ASD boys and 15 healthy age-matched boys at the age of 7-15 years were examined. The continuous EDA and ECG were recorded during resting phase in a supine position. Evaluated parameters: EDA amplitude (µS), RR interval, spectral power, peak frequency and power spectral density in low (LF-HRV: 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF-HRV: 0.15-0.4 Hz) bands of HRV spectral analysis. In ASD group we found significantly shortened RR intervals (729±20 ms vs. 843±30 ms, p=0.005), lower mean EDA (0.66±0.13 µS vs. 1.66±0.42 µS, p=0.033), reduced spectral activity and power spectral density in HF-HRV compared to controls (2.93±0.12 ms2 vs. 3.38±0.10 ms2, p=0.01; 4.12±0.10 ms2/Hz vs. 4.56±0.11 ms2/Hz, p=0.008, respectively). We suggest that impairment in resting autonomic regulation associated with ASD could represent an important pathomechanism leading to potential cardiovascular complications in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - I. TONHAJZEROVA
- Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
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58
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Abstract
Although a growing body of research indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit selective deficits in their ability to recognize facial identities and expressions, the source of their face impairment is, as yet, undetermined. In this paper, we consider three possible accounts of the autism face deficit: (1) the holistic hypothesis, (2) the local perceptual bias hypothesis and (3) the eye avoidance hypothesis. A review of the literature indicates that contrary to the holistic hypothesis, there is little evidence to suggest that individuals with autism do perceive faces holistically. The local perceptual bias account also fails to explain the selective advantage that ASD individuals demonstrate for objects and their selective disadvantage for faces. The eye avoidance hypothesis provides a plausible explanation of face recognition deficits where individuals with ASD avoid the eye region because it is perceived as socially threatening. Direct eye contact elicits a increased physiological response as indicated by heightened skin conductance and amygdala activity. For individuals with autism, avoiding the eyes is an adaptive strategy, however, this approach interferes with the ability to process facial cues of identity, expressions and intentions, exacerbating the social challenges for persons with ASD.
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59
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Lydon S, Healy O, Reed P, Mulhern T, Hughes BM, Goodwin MS. A systematic review of physiological reactivity to stimuli in autism. Dev Neurorehabil 2016; 19:335-355. [PMID: 25356589 DOI: 10.3109/17518423.2014.971975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The prevalence of abnormal behavioural responses to a variety of stimuli among individuals with autism has led researchers to examine whether physiological reactivity (PR) is typical in this population. This article reviewed studies assessing PR to sensory, social and emotional, and stressor stimuli in individuals with autism. METHODS Systematic searches of electronic databases identified 57 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Studies were analysed to determine: (a) participant characteristics; (b) physiological measures used; (c) PR to sensory, social and emotional or stressor stimuli; (d) the relation between PR and behavioural or psychological variables and (e) baseline physiological activity. A novel measure of methodological quality suitable for use with non-randomized, non-interventional, psychophysiological studies was also developed and applied. RESULTS Individuals with autism were found to respond differently than typically developing controls in 78.6%, 66.7% and 71.4% of sensory, social and emotional, and stressor stimulus classes, respectively. However, this extant literature is characterized by variable and inconsistent findings, which do not appear to be accounted for by varying methodological quality, making it difficult to determine what specific factors differentiate individuals with autism who present with atypical PR from those who do not. CONCLUSIONS Despite this uncertainty, individual differences in PR are clearly present in autism, suggesting additional research is needed to determine the variables relating to PR among those with ASD and to examine the possible existence of physiological subtype responders in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinéad Lydon
- a School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Olive Healy
- a School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Phil Reed
- b Department of Psychology , Swansea University , Swansea , UK
| | - Teresa Mulhern
- c School of Psychology, National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland , and
| | - Brian M Hughes
- c School of Psychology, National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland , and
| | - Matthew S Goodwin
- d Department of Health Sciences , Northeastern University , Boston , MA , USA
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60
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Kleberg JL, Thorup E, Falck-Ytter T. Reduced visual disengagement but intact phasic alerting in young children with autism. Autism Res 2016; 10:539-545. [PMID: 27696688 PMCID: PMC5396274 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Children with autism may have difficulties with visual disengagement-that is, inhibiting current fixations and orienting to new stimuli in the periphery. These difficulties may limit these children's ability to flexibly monitor the environment, regulate their internal states, and interact with others. In typical development, visual disengagement is influenced by a phasic alerting network that increases the processing speed of the visual system after salient events. The role of the phasic alerting effect in the putative atypical disengagement performance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not known. Here, we compared visual disengagement in six-year-old children with autism (N = 18) and typically developing children (N = 17) matched for age and nonverbal IQ. We manipulated phasic alerting during a visual disengagement task by adding spatially nonpredictive sounds shortly before the onset of the visual peripheral targets. Children with ASD showed evidence of delayed disengagement compared to the control group. Sounds facilitated visual disengagement similarly in both groups, suggesting typical modulation by phasic alerting in ASD in the context of this task. These results support the view that atypical visual disengagement in ASD is related to other factors than atypicalities in the alerting network. Autism Res 2017, 10: 539-545. © 2016 The Authors Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Autism Research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emilia Thorup
- From the Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Terje Falck-Ytter
- From the Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Karolinska institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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61
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Autonomic Arousal Response Habituation to Social Stimuli Among Children with Asd. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46:3688-3699. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2908-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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62
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Kleberg JL, Thorup E, Falck-Ytter T. Visual orienting in children with autism: Hyper-responsiveness to human eyes presented after a brief alerting audio-signal, but hyporesponsiveness to eyes presented without sound. Autism Res 2016; 10:246-250. [PMID: 27454075 PMCID: PMC5324587 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been associated with reduced orienting to social stimuli such as eyes, but the results are inconsistent. It is not known whether atypicalities in phasic alerting could play a role in putative altered social orienting in ASD. Here, we show that in unisensory (visual) trials, children with ASD are slower to orient to eyes (among distractors) than controls matched for age, sex, and nonverbal IQ. However, in another condition where a brief spatially nonpredictive sound was presented just before the visual targets, this group effect was reversed. Our results indicate that orienting to social versus nonsocial stimuli is differently modulated by phasic alerting mechanisms in young children with ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 246-250. © 2016 The Authors Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Autism Research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emilia Thorup
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Terje Falck-Ytter
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Karolinska institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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63
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Ferguson BJ, Marler S, Altstein LL, Lee EB, Akers J, Sohl K, McLaughlin A, Hartnett K, Kille B, Mazurek M, Macklin EA, McDonnell E, Barstow M, Bauman ML, Margolis KG, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Beversdorf DQ. Psychophysiological Associations with Gastrointestinal Symptomatology in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2016; 10:276-288. [PMID: 27321113 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbances, which also may impact behavior. Alterations in autonomic nervous system functioning are also frequently observed in ASD. The relationship between these findings in ASD is not known. We examined the relationship between gastrointestinal symptomatology, examining upper and lower gastrointestinal tract symptomatology separately, and autonomic nervous system functioning, as assessed by heart rate variability and skin conductance level, in a sample of 120 individuals with ASD. Relationships with co-occurring medical and psychiatric symptoms were also examined. While the number of participants with significant upper gastrointestinal tract problems was small in this sample, 42.5% of participants met criteria for functional constipation, a disorder of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Heart rate variability, a measure of parasympathetic modulation of cardiac activity, was found to be positively associated with lower gastrointestinal tract symptomatology at baseline. This relationship was particularly strong for participants with co-occurring diagnoses of anxiety disorder and for those with a history of regressive ASD or loss of previously acquired skills. These findings suggest that autonomic function and gastrointestinal problems are intertwined in children with ASD; although it is not possible to assess causality in this data set. Future work should examine the impact of treatment of gastrointestinal problems on autonomic function and anxiety, as well as the impact of anxiety treatment on gastrointestinal problems. Clinicians should be aware that gastrointestinal problems, anxiety, and autonomic dysfunction may cluster in children with ASD and should be addressed in a multidisciplinary treatment plan. Autism Res 2017, 10: 276-288. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley J Ferguson
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri.,The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri
| | - Sarah Marler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | | | - Evon Batey Lee
- Departments of Pediatrics, Psychology, and Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University
| | - Jill Akers
- The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri
| | - Kristin Sohl
- The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri.,Department of Child Health, University of Missouri
| | | | | | - Briana Kille
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
| | - Micah Mazurek
- The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri.,Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri
| | - Eric A Macklin
- Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center.,Harvard Medical School
| | | | | | | | - Kara Gross Margolis
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Columbia University
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele
- Department of Psychiatry and Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Columbia University.,New York State Psychiatric Institute; New York Presbyterian Hospital Center for Autism and the Developing Brain
| | - David Q Beversdorf
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri.,The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri.,William and Nancy Thompson Chair in Radiology, Departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
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64
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Guillon Q, Rogé B, Afzali MH, Baduel S, Kruck J, Hadjikhani N. Intact perception but abnormal orientation towards face-like objects in young children with ASD. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22119. [PMID: 26912096 PMCID: PMC4766445 DOI: 10.1038/srep22119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
There is ample behavioral evidence of diminished orientation towards faces as well as the presence of face perception impairments in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the underlying mechanisms of these deficits are still unclear. We used face-like object stimuli that have been shown to evoke pareidolia in typically developing (TD) individuals to test the effect of a global face-like configuration on orientation and perceptual processes in young children with ASD and age-matched TD controls. We show that TD children were more likely to look first towards upright face-like objects than children with ASD, showing that a global face-like configuration elicit a stronger orientation bias in TD children as compared to children with ASD. However, once they were looking at the stimuli, both groups spent more time exploring the upright face-like object, suggesting that they both perceived it as a face. Our results are in agreement with abnormal social orienting in ASD, possibly due to an abnormal tuning of the subcortical pathway, leading to poor orienting and attention towards faces. Our results also indicate that young children with ASD can perceive a generic face holistically, such as face-like objects, further demonstrating holistic processing of faces in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Guillon
- URI Octogone, University of Toulouse, 5 Allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Bernadette Rogé
- URI Octogone, University of Toulouse, 5 Allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) 1, Rue Descartes, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Mohammad H Afzali
- URI Octogone, University of Toulouse, 5 Allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Sophie Baduel
- URI Octogone, University of Toulouse, 5 Allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Jeanne Kruck
- URI Octogone, University of Toulouse, 5 Allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Nouchine Hadjikhani
- URI Octogone, University of Toulouse, 5 Allée Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.,Harvard Medical School/MGH/MIT, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Building 75, 3rd Avenue, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.,Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Center, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
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65
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Song Y, Hakoda Y, Sang B. A selective impairment in extracting fearful information from another's eyes in Autism. Autism Res 2016; 9:1002-11. [PMID: 26777988 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yongning Song
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University; China
| | - Yuji Hakoda
- Faculty of Human Development and Education; Kyoto Women's University; Kyoto Japan
| | - Biao Sang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University; China
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66
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Panju S, Brian J, Dupuis A, Anagnostou E, Kushki A. Atypical sympathetic arousal in children with autism spectrum disorder and its association with anxiety symptomatology. Mol Autism 2015; 6:64. [PMID: 26693000 PMCID: PMC4676885 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-015-0057-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with autonomic atypicalities, although the nature of these differences remains largely unknown. Moreover, existing literature suggests large variability in autonomic function in ASD, motivating the need to examine the existence of subgroups that exhibit more homogeneous autonomic features. Methods Electrodermal activity (EDA), a non-invasive physiological indicator of autonomic activity, was measured in typically developing children (n = 33) and those with ASD (n = 38) as participants performed tasks that elicit anxiety, attention, response inhibition, and social cognition processes. The ASD group was divided into low- (n = 18) and high-anxiety (n = 20) participants, and the groups were compared to mean EDA level and electrodermal reactions frequency (EDR). Results The ASD group had a significantly blunted mean EDA response to the anxiety tasks (p < 0.004). The EDR response to all tasks, except response inhibition, was also blunted in the ASD group (p < 0.04). For this group, EDR frequency during the anxiety and social cognition tasks was negatively correlated with behavioral scores in the domains that were probed by each task (p < 0.002). The high-anxiety ASD group showed significantly decreased mean EDA compared to both the low-anxiety ASD group (p = 0.02) and the typically developing control group (p = 0.04). The high-anxiety ASD group also had significantly more severe symptoms than the low-anxiety ASD group on domains related to anxiety, attention, rule breaking, aggression, obsessions and compulsions, and depression. Conclusions Our results suggest atypical autonomic function in children with ASD, specifically with respect to sympathetic activity. Moreover, anxiety symptomatology defined subgroups with distinct physiological and behavioral profiles. Overall, the results add to the body of literature supporting autonomic dysfunction in ASD and highlight the role of anxiety and autonomic features in explaining the variability in the autism spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakeena Panju
- Division of Engineering Science, University of Toronto, 35 St. George Street, M5S 1A4 Toronto, Canada ; Bloorview Research Institute, 150 Kilgour Road, M4G 1R8 Toronto, Canada
| | - Jessica Brian
- Bloorview Research Institute, 150 Kilgour Road, M4G 1R8 Toronto, Canada
| | - Annie Dupuis
- The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, M5G 1X8 Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Azadeh Kushki
- Bloorview Research Institute, 150 Kilgour Road, M4G 1R8 Toronto, Canada ; The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, M5S 3G9 Toronto, Canada
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67
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Baker JK, Fenning RM, Howland MA, Baucom BR, Moffitt J, Erath SA. Brief Report: A Pilot Study of Parent-Child Biobehavioral Synchrony in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2015; 45:4140-6. [PMID: 26183724 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2528-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The theory of biobehavioral synchrony proposes that the predictive power of parent-child attunement likely lies in the manner with which behaviors are aligned with relevant biological processes. Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may challenge the formation of behavioral and physiological synchrony, but maintenance of such parent-child attunement could prove beneficial. The present study is the first to examine parent-child physiological synchrony in ASD. Parent and child electrodermal activity (EDA) was measured continuously during naturalistic free play. Parent-child EDA synchrony (positive covariation) was positively correlated with observed parent-child emotional attunement. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that child ASD symptoms moderated the association between parent EDA and child EDA, such that EDA synchrony was stronger for children with lower ASD symptom levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason K Baker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Center for Autism, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA.
| | - Rachel M Fenning
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Center for Autism, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | - Mariann A Howland
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Center for Autism, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | | | - Jacquelyn Moffitt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Center for Autism, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
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Neuhaus E, Bernier RA, Beauchaine TP. Children with Autism Show Altered Autonomic Adaptation to Novel and Familiar Social Partners. Autism Res 2015; 9:579-91. [PMID: 26305051 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Social deficits are fundamental to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and a growing body of research implicates altered functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), including both sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. However, few studies have explored both branches concurrently in ASD, particularly within the context of social interaction. The current study investigates patterns of change in indices of sympathetic (pre-ejection period; PEP) and parasympathetic (respiratory sinus arrhythmia; RSA) cardiac influence as boys (ages 8-11 years) with (N = 18) and without (N = 18) ASD engage in dyadic social interaction with novel and familiar social partners. Groups showed similar patterns of autonomic change during interaction with the novel partner, but differed in heart rate, PEP, and RSA reactivity while interacting with a familiar partner. Boys without ASD evinced decreasing sympathetic and increasing parasympathetic influence, whereas boys with ASD increased in sympathetic influence. Boys without ASD also demonstrated more consistent ANS responses across partners than those with ASD, with parasympathetic responding differentiating familiar and novel interaction partners. Finally, PEP slopes with a familiar partner correlated with boys' social skills. Implications include the importance of considering autonomic state during clinical assessment and treatment, and the potential value of regulation strategies as a complement to intervention programs aiming to support social cognition and behavior. Autism Res 2016, 9: 579-591. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Neuhaus
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development Seattle, Washington
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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69
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Järvinen A, Ng R, Crivelli D, Neumann D, Grichanik M, Arnold AJ, Lai P, Trauner D, Bellugi U. Patterns of Sensitivity to Emotion in Children with Williams Syndrome and Autism: Relations Between Autonomic Nervous System Reactivity and Social Functioning. J Autism Dev Disord 2015; 45:2594-612. [PMID: 25800866 PMCID: PMC6462220 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2429-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are associated with atypical social-emotional functioning. Affective visual stimuli were used to assess autonomic reactivity and emotion identification, and the social responsiveness scale was used to determine the level social functioning in children with WS and ASD contrasted with typical development (TD), to examine syndrome-specific and syndrome-general features. Children with ASD exhibited the highest arousal in response to faces, with a lack of difference in autonomic sensitivity across different emotional expressions, unlike in WS and TD. The WS group demonstrated unique deficits in identifying neutral stimuli. While autonomic responsivity to neutral faces was associated with social functioning in all children, converging profiles characterized children with WS contrasted with TD and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Järvinen
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037-1002, USA,
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70
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Dubey I, Ropar D, Hamilton AFDC. Measuring the value of social engagement in adults with and without autism. Mol Autism 2015; 6:35. [PMID: 26097674 PMCID: PMC4473830 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-015-0031-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differences in social communication are commonly reported in autism spectrum condition (ASC). A recent theory attributes this to a reduced motivation to engage with others, that is, deficits in social motivation. However, there are currently few simple, direct, behavioural ways to test this claim. This study uses a new behavioural measure of social motivation to test if preferences for direct gaze and face stimuli are linked to autistic traits or an ASC diagnosis. Our novel choose-a-movie (CAM) paradigm measures the effort participants invest to see particular stimuli. This aspect of social motivation is also known as social seeking. METHODS In experiment 1, 80 typical adults completed the CAM task and a measure of autistic traits. In experiment 2, 30 adults with ASC and 24 age/IQ-matched typical adults completed the CAM paradigm. RESULTS The results from study one showed that typical adults prefer social stimuli over non-social, but this preference is weaker in those with higher levels of autistic traits. In study two, adults with ASC showed a significant reduction in their preference for direct gaze but little difference in their preference for faces without direct gaze. CONCLUSIONS These data show that social motivation can be measured in a simple, direct, behavioural paradigm. Furthermore, adults with ASC prefer direct gaze less than typical adults but may not avoid faces without direct gaze. This data advance our understanding of how social motivation may differ between those with and without autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Dubey
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Danielle Ropar
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Antonia F de C Hamilton
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AR UK
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71
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Whitaker L, Jones CRG, Wilkins AJ, Roberson D. Judging the Intensity of Emotional Expression in Faces: the Effects of Colored Tints on Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2015; 9:450-9. [PMID: 26058998 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often show atypical processing of facial expressions, which may result from visual stress. In the current study, children with ASD and matched controls judged which member of a pair of faces displayed the more intense emotion. Both faces showed anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness or surprise but to different degrees. Faces were presented on a monitor that was tinted either gray or with a color previously selected by the participant individually as improving the clarity of text. Judgments of emotional intensity improved significantly with the addition of the preferred colored tint in the ASD group but not in controls, a result consistent with a link between visual stress and impairments in processing facial expressions in individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Whitaker
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine R G Jones
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, Park Place, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Arnold J Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Debi Roberson
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, United Kingdom
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72
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Nuske HJ, Vivanti G, Dissanayake C. No Evidence of Emotional Dysregulation or Aversion to Mutual Gaze in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Eye-Tracking Pupillometry Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2015; 45:3433-45. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2479-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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73
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Gu X, Eilam-Stock T, Zhou T, Anagnostou E, Kolevzon A, Soorya L, Hof PR, Friston KJ, Fan J. Autonomic and brain responses associated with empathy deficits in autism spectrum disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 36:3323-38. [PMID: 25995134 PMCID: PMC4545680 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that autonomic signals and their cortical representations are closely linked to emotional processes, and that related abnormalities could lead to social deficits. Although socio‐emotional impairments are a defining feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), empirical evidence directly supporting the link between autonomic, cortical, and socio‐emotional abnormalities in ASD is still lacking. In this study, we examined autonomic arousal indexed by skin conductance responses (SCR), concurrent cortical responses measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging, and effective brain connectivity estimated by dynamic causal modeling in seventeen unmedicated high‐functioning adults with ASD and seventeen matched controls while they performed an empathy‐for‐pain task. Compared to controls, adults with ASD showed enhanced SCR related to empathetic pain, along with increased neural activity in the anterior insular cortex, although their behavioral empathetic pain discriminability was reduced and overall SCR was decreased. ASD individuals also showed enhanced correlation between SCR and neural activities in the anterior insular cortex. Importantly, significant group differences in effective brain connectivity were limited to greater reduction in the negative intrinsic connectivity of the anterior insular cortex in the ASD group, indicating a failure in attenuating anterior insular responses to empathetic pain. These results suggest that aberrant interoceptive precision, as indexed by abnormalities in autonomic activity and its central representations, may underlie empathy deficits in ASD. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3323–3338, 2015. © 2015 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published byWiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosi Gu
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Virignia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virignia
| | - Tehila Eilam-Stock
- Department of Psychology, Queens College, The City University of New York, Flushing, New York.,The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, New York.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Thomas Zhou
- Department of Psychology, Queens College, The City University of New York, Flushing, New York
| | | | - Alexander Kolevzon
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | | | - Patrick R Hof
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.,Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Karl J Friston
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jin Fan
- Department of Psychology, Queens College, The City University of New York, Flushing, New York.,The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, New York.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.,Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.,Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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74
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Nomi JS, Uddin LQ. Face processing in autism spectrum disorders: From brain regions to brain networks. Neuropsychologia 2015; 71:201-16. [PMID: 25829246 PMCID: PMC4506751 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by reduced attention to social stimuli including the human face. This hypo-responsiveness to stimuli that are engaging to typically developing individuals may result from dysfunctioning motivation, reward, and attention systems in the brain. Here we review an emerging neuroimaging literature that emphasizes a shift from focusing on hypo-activation of isolated brain regions such as the fusiform gyrus, amygdala, and superior temporal sulcus in ASD to a more holistic approach to understanding face perception as a process supported by distributed cortical and subcortical brain networks. We summarize evidence for atypical activation patterns within brain networks that may contribute to social deficits characteristic of the disorder. We conclude by pointing to gaps in the literature and future directions that will continue to shed light on aspects of face processing in autism that are still under-examined. In particular, we highlight the need for more developmental studies and studies examining ecologically valid and naturalistic social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Nomi
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States.
| | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States; Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.
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75
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Lahiri U, Bekele E, Dohrmann E, Warren Z, Sarkar N. A physiologically informed virtual reality based social communication system for individuals with autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2015; 45:919-31. [PMID: 25261247 PMCID: PMC4369156 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2240-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Clinical applications of advanced technology may hold promise for addressing impairments associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This project evaluated the application of a novel physiologically responsive virtual reality based technological system for conversation skills in a group of adolescents with ASD. The system altered components of conversation based on (1) performance alone or (2) the composite effect of performance and physiological metrics of predicted engagement (e.g., gaze pattern, pupil dilation, blink rate). Participants showed improved performance and looking pattern within the physiologically sensitive system as compared to the performance based system. This suggests that physiologically informed technologies may have the potential of being an effective tool in the hands of interventionists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttama Lahiri
- Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, India,
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76
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Dutheil F, Chambres P, Hufnagel C, Auxiette C, Chausse P, Ghozi R, Paugam G, Boudet G, Khalfa N, Naughton G, Chamoux A, Mermillod M, Bertrand PR. 'Do Well B.': Design Of WELL Being monitoring systems. A study protocol for the application in autism. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e007716. [PMID: 25710916 PMCID: PMC4336464 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in communication and social interaction resulting from atypical perceptual and cognitive information processing, leading to an accumulation of anxiety. Extreme overloading experienced internally may not be externally visible. Identifying stressful situations at an early stage may avoid socially problematic behaviour from occurring, such as self-injurious behaviour. Activation of the autonomous nervous system (ANS) is involved in the response to anxiety, which can be measured through heart rate variability and skin conductance with the use of portable devices, non-intrusively and pain-free. Thus, developing innovative analysis of signal perception and reaction is necessary, mainly for non-communicative individuals with autism. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The protocol will take place in real life (home and social environments). We aim to associate modifications of the ANS with external events that will be recorded in a synchronous manner through a specific design (spy glasses with video/audio recording). Four phases will be carried out on ASD participants and aged-matched controls: (1) 24-hour baseline pre-experiment (physical activity, sleep), (2) 2 h in a real life situation, (3) 30 min in a quiet environment, interrupted by a few seconds of stressful sound, (4) an interview to record feelings about events triggering anxiety. ASD and control participants will be together for phases 2 and 3, revealing different physiological responses to the same situations, and thus identifying potentially problematic events. The novelty will be to apply time-series analyses (which led to several Nobel Prizes in quantitative finance) on ANS series (heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance) and wrist motion. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval has been obtained from Ethics Committee of Clermont-Ferrand (South-East I), France (2014-A00611-46). Trial findings will be disseminated via open-access peer-reviewed publications, conferences, clinical networks, public lectures and our websites. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials identifier NCT02275455.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Dutheil
- Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), Clermont-Ferrand, France
- School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Laboratory of Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise in Physiological and Pathological Conditions, Clermont University, Blaise Pascal University, Aubière, France
- Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), Research Centre in Human Nutrition (CRNH), INRA, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Patrick Chambres
- Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- CNRS, UMR 6024, LaPSCo, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Cédric Hufnagel
- Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- CNRS, UMR 6024, LaPSCo, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Catherine Auxiette
- Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- CNRS, UMR 6024, LaPSCo, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre Chausse
- Laboratory of Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise in Physiological and Pathological Conditions, Clermont University, Blaise Pascal University, Aubière, France
- Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- CNRS, UMR 6024, LaPSCo, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Raja Ghozi
- Signals and Systems Research Unit, National Engineering School of Tunis, El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Guillaume Paugam
- Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire de Mathématiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- CNRS, UMR 6620, LM, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Gil Boudet
- Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Nadia Khalfa
- Signals and Systems Research Unit, National Engineering School of Tunis, El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Geraldine Naughton
- School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alain Chamoux
- Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Martial Mermillod
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, LPNC, Grenoble, France
- CNRS, UMR 5105, LPNC, Grenoble, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Raphael Bertrand
- Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire de Mathématiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- CNRS, UMR 6620, LM, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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77
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Neuhaus E, Bernier RA, Beauchaine TP. Electrodermal Response to Reward and Non-Reward Among Children With Autism. Autism Res 2015; 8:357-70. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.1451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Neuhaus
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development; M/S CW8-6. PO Box 5371 Seattle Washington 98121
| | - Raphael A. Bernier
- Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; University of Washington; Box 357920 Seattle Washington 98195
| | - Theodore P. Beauchaine
- Department of Psychology; The Ohio State University; 1835 Neil Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210
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78
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Falck-Ytter T, Carlström C, Johansson M. Eye contact modulates cognitive processing differently in children with autism. Child Dev 2015; 86:37-47. [PMID: 25132220 PMCID: PMC4354258 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In humans, effortful cognitive processing frequently takes place during social interaction, with eye contact being an important component. This study shows that the effect of eye contact on memory for nonsocial information is different in children with typical development than in children with autism, a disorder of social communication. Direct gaze facilitated memory performance in children with typical development (n = 25, 6 years old), but no such facilitation was seen in the clinical group (n = 10, 6 years old). Eye tracking conducted during the cognitive test revealed strikingly similar patterns of eye movements, indicating that the results cannot be explained by differences in overt attention. Collectively, these findings have theoretical significance and practical implications for testing practices in children.
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79
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White SW, Mazefsky CA, Dichter GS, Chiu PH, Richey JA, Ollendick TH. Social-cognitive, physiological, and neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation impairments: understanding anxiety in autism spectrum disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2014; 39:22-36. [PMID: 24951837 PMCID: PMC4180783 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2014.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety is one of the most common clinical problems among children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet we know little about its etiology in the context of ASD. We posit that emotion regulation (ER) impairments are a risk factor for anxiety in ASD. Specifically, we propose that one reason why anxiety disorders are so frequently comorbid with ASD is because ER impairments are ubiquitous to ASD, stemming from socio-cognitive, physiological, and neurological processes related to impaired cognitive control, regulatory processes, and arousal. In this review, we offer a developmental model of how ER impairments may arise in ASD, and when (moderating influences) and how (meditational mechanisms) they result in anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan W White
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, United States.
| | - Carla A Mazefsky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States
| | - Gabriel S Dichter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, United States; Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, United States
| | - Pearl H Chiu
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, United States
| | - John A Richey
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, United States
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80
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Weiss JA. Transdiagnostic Case Conceptualization of Emotional Problems in Youth with ASD: An Emotion Regulation Approach. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY-SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2014; 21:331-350. [PMID: 25673923 PMCID: PMC4310071 DOI: 10.1111/cpsp.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Youth with autism spectrum disorder often struggle to cope with co-occurring anxiety, depression, or anger, and having both internalizing and externalizing symptoms is a common clinical presentation. A number of authors have designed cognitive-behavioral interventions to address transdiagnostic factors related to multiple emotional problems, although none have applied this focus to youth with ASD. The current review article describes how a transdiagnostic emotion regulation framework may inform cognitive-behavioral interventions for youth with ASD, which until now have focused almost exclusively on anxiety. Research is needed to empirically test how a transdiagnostic intervention can address the processes of emotion regulation and assist youth with ASD to cope with their emotional disorders.
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81
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Singleton CJ, Ashwin C, Brosnan M. Physiological responses to social and nonsocial stimuli in neurotypical adults with high and low levels of autistic traits: implications for understanding nonsocial drive in autism spectrum disorders. Autism Res 2014; 7:695-703. [PMID: 25346292 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Researchers have suggested that the two primary cognitive features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a drive toward nonsocial processing and a reduced drive toward social processing, may be unrelated to each other in the neurotypical (NT) population and may therefore require separate explanations. Drive toward types of processing may be related to physiological arousal to categories of stimuli, such as social (e.g., faces) or nonsocial (e.g., trains). This study investigated how autistic traits in an NT population might relate to differences in physiological responses to nonsocial compared with social stimuli. NT participants were recruited to examine these differences in those with high vs. low degrees of ASD traits. Forty-six participants (21 male, 25 female) completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) to measure ASD traits before viewing a series of 24 images while skin conductance response (SCR) was recorded. Images included six nonsocial, six social, six face-like cartoons, and six nonsocial (relating to participants' personal interests). Analysis revealed that those with a higher AQ had significantly greater SCR arousal to nonsocial stimuli than those with a low AQ, and the higher the AQ, the greater the difference between SCR arousal to nonsocial and social stimuli. This is the first study to identify the relationship between AQ and physiological response to nonsocial stimuli, and a relationship between physiological response to both social and nonsocial stimuli, suggesting that physiological response may underlie the atypical drive toward nonsocial processing seen in ASD, and that at the physiological level at least the social and nonsocial in ASD may be related to one another.
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82
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The influences of face inversion and facial expression on sensitivity to eye contact in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 43:2536-48. [PMID: 23471478 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1802-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
We examined the influences of face inversion and facial expression on sensitivity to eye contact in high-functioning adults with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants judged the direction of gaze of angry, fearful, and neutral faces. In the typical group only, the range of directions of gaze leading to the perception of eye contact (the cone of gaze) was narrower for upright than inverted faces. In both groups, the cone of gaze was wider for angry faces than for fearful or neutral faces. These results suggest that in high-functioning adults with ASD, the perception of eye contact is not tuned to be finer for upright than inverted faces, but that information is nevertheless integrated across expression and gaze direction.
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83
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Tseng A, Bansal R, Liu J, Gerber AJ, Goh S, Posner J, Colibazzi T, Algermissen M, Chiang IC, Russell JA, Peterson BS. Using the circumplex model of affect to study valence and arousal ratings of emotional faces by children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 44:1332-46. [PMID: 24234677 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1993-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The affective circumplex model holds that emotions can be described as linear combinations of two underlying, independent neurophysiological systems (arousal, valence). Given research suggesting individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulty processing emotions, we used the circumplex model to compare how individuals with ASD and typically-developing (TD) individuals respond to facial emotions. Participants (51 ASD, 80 TD) rated facial expressions along arousal and valence dimensions; we fitted closed, smooth, 2-dimensional curves to their ratings to examine overall circumplex contours. We modeled individual and group influences on parameters describing curve contours to identify differences in dimensional effects across groups. Significant main effects of diagnosis indicated the ASD-group’s ratings were constricted for the entire circumplex, suggesting range constriction across all emotions. Findings did not change when covarying for overall intelligence.
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84
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Abstract
The relationship between autistic traits and gaze-oriented attention to fearful and happy faces was investigated at the behavioral and neuronal levels. Upright and inverted dynamic face stimuli were used in a gaze-cueing paradigm while event related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. Participants responded faster to gazed-at than to non-gazed-at targets, and this gaze orienting effect (GOE) diminished with inversion, suggesting it relies on facial configuration. It was also larger for fearful than happy faces but only in participants with high autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) scores. While the GOE to fearful faces was of similar magnitude regardless of AQ scores, a diminished GOE to happy faces was found in participants with high AQ scores. At the ERP level, a congruency effect on target-elicited P1 component reflected enhanced visual processing of gazed-at targets. In addition, cue-triggered early directing attention negativity and anterior directing attention negativity reflected, respectively, attention orienting and attention holding at gazed-at locations. These neural markers of spatial attention orienting were not modulated by emotion and were not found in participants with high AQ scores. Together, these findings suggest that autistic traits influence attention orienting to gaze and its modulation by social emotions such as happiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Lassalle
- a Department of Psychology , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada
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85
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Kylliäinen A, Jones EJH, Gomot M, Warreyn P, Falck-Ytter T. Practical Guidelines for Studying Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Psychophysiological Experiments. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-014-0034-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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86
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Kleberg JL. Resting state arousal and functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder. J Neurophysiol 2014; 113:3035-7. [PMID: 25080567 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00292.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A recent study (Eilam-Stock T, Xu P, Cao M, Gu X, Van Dam NT, Anagnostou E, Kolevzon A, Soorya L, Park Y, Siller M, He Y, Hof PR, Fan J. Brain 137: 153-171, 2014) demonstrated that resting state electrodermal activity is correlated with different patterns of brain activity in subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in typical controls. These results are considered in light of theories of atypical arousal in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Lundin Kleberg
- Uppsala Child and Baby Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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87
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Akechi H, Stein T, Senju A, Kikuchi Y, Tojo Y, Osanai H, Hasegawa T. Absence of preferential unconscious processing of eye contact in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2014; 7:590-7. [PMID: 24962761 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Eye contact plays an essential role in social interaction. Atypical eye contact is a diagnostic and widely reported feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we determined whether altered unconscious visual processing of eye contact might underlie atypical eye contact in ASD. Using continuous flash suppression (CFS), we found that typically developing (TD) adolescents detected faces with a direct gaze faster than faces with an averted gaze, indicating enhanced unconscious processing of eye contact. Critically, adolescents with ASD did not show different durations of perceptual suppression for faces with direct and averted gaze, suggesting that preferential unconscious processing of eye contact is absent in this group. In contrast, in a non-CFS control experiment, both adolescents with ASD and TD adolescents detected faces with a direct gaze faster than those with an averted gaze. Another CFS experiment confirmed that unconscious processing of non-social stimuli is intact for adolescents with ASD. These results suggest that atypical processing of eye contact in individuals with ASD could be related to a weaker initial, unconscious registration of eye contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Akechi
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Tokyo, Japan; Division of Information System Design, Tokyo Denki University, Saitama, Japan
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88
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Visual social attention in autism spectrum disorder: Insights from eye tracking studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 42:279-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 288] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Revised: 03/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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89
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Gillespie-Smith K, Fletcher-Watson S. Designing AAC Systems for Children with Autism: Evidence from Eye Tracking Research. Augment Altern Commun 2014; 30:160-71. [DOI: 10.3109/07434618.2014.905635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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90
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Vivanti G, Dissanayake C. Propensity to imitate in autism is not modulated by the model's gaze direction: an eye-tracking study. Autism Res 2014; 7:392-9. [PMID: 24740914 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show a diminished propensity to imitate others' actions, as well as a diminished sensitivity and responsivity to others' communicative cues, such as a direct gaze. However, it is not known whether failure to appreciate the communicative value of a direct gaze is associated with imitation abnormalities in this population. In this eye-tracking study, we investigated how 25 preschoolers with ASD, compared with 25 developmental and chronological age-matched children, imitate actions that are associated with a model's direct gaze versus averted gaze. We found that the model's direct gaze immediately prior to the demonstration increased the attention to the model and the propensity to imitate the demonstrated action in children without ASD. In contrast, preschoolers with ASD showed a similar propensity to look at the model's face and to imitate the demonstrated actions across the direct gaze and the averted gaze conditions. These data indicate that atypical imitation in ASD might be linked to abnormal processing of the model's communicative signals (such as a direct gaze) that modulate imitative behaviours in individuals without ASD. Autism Res 2014, 7: 392-399. © 2014 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Vivanti
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria; Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre: The Margot Prior Wing, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria
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91
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Zamzow RM, Christ SE, Saklayen SS, Moffitt AJ, Bodner KE, Higgins KF, Beversdorf DQ. Effect of propranolol on facial scanning in autism spectrum disorder: a preliminary investigation. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2014; 36:431-45. [PMID: 24730708 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2014.904844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Whereas current pharmacological interventions for ASD focus primarily on psychiatric symptoms, including agitation and obsessive behaviors, few agents target core symptomatology. It has been previously hypothesized that abnormalities in facial scanning, such as reduced eye contact or increased mouth fixation, contribute to social communication deficits in ASD. In addition, previous reports have suggested elevated stress and anxiety in ASD, symptoms that are believed to impact facial scanning patterns. OBJECTIVES The present pilot study sought to explore the effects of pharmacological intervention via propranolol, a nonselective β-adrenergic antagonist and known anxiolytic, on facial scanning in ASD. Specifically, we wished to determine whether there is an increase in eye contact and a decrease in mouth fixation with administration of propranolol. METHOD A sample of 14 participants with ASD and 14 matched controls participated in two study sessions in which propranolol and placebo were administered in a counterbalanced, double-blinded manner. At each session, ocular fixation data were collected during presentation of video stimuli of 16 human faces. Fixation time on the eye, nose, and mouth regions of the face stimuli was analyzed. RESULTS The baseline fixation patterns for the ASD and control groups did not significantly differ; however, administration of propranolol was associated with a significant reduction in mouth fixation for the ASD group. Additionally, mouth fixation was positively related to nonverbal communication impairment in the ASD group. CONCLUSIONS Although eye fixation in ASD appears typical in the present study, the effect of propranolol in reducing mouth fixation suggests an important focus for further research. Future studies are needed to better characterize the relationship between stress and anxiety and facial scanning in ASD, as well as the effects of pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Zamzow
- a Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program , University of Missouri , Columbia , MO , USA
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92
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Eilam-Stock T, Xu P, Cao M, Gu X, Van Dam NT, Anagnostou E, Kolevzon A, Soorya L, Park Y, Siller M, He Y, Hof PR, Fan J. Abnormal autonomic and associated brain activities during rest in autism spectrum disorder. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 137:153-71. [PMID: 24424916 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awt294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders are associated with social and emotional deficits, the aetiology of which are not well understood. A growing consensus is that the autonomic nervous system serves a key role in emotional processes, by providing physiological signals essential to subjective states. We hypothesized that altered autonomic processing is related to the socio-emotional deficits in autism spectrum disorders. Here, we investigated the relationship between non-specific skin conductance response, an objective index of sympathetic neural activity, and brain fluctuations during rest in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder relative to neurotypical controls. Compared with control participants, individuals with autism spectrum disorder showed less skin conductance responses overall. They also showed weaker correlations between skin conductance responses and frontal brain regions, including the anterior cingulate and anterior insular cortices. Additionally, skin conductance responses were found to have less contribution to default mode network connectivity in individuals with autism spectrum disorders relative to controls. These results suggest that autonomic processing is altered in autism spectrum disorders, which may be related to the abnormal socio-emotional behaviours that characterize this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tehila Eilam-Stock
- 1 Department of Psychology, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA
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93
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94
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Wittkowski KM, Sonakya V, Bigio B, Tonn MK, Shic F, Ascano M, Nasca C, Gold-Von Simson G. A novel computational biostatistics approach implies impaired dephosphorylation of growth factor receptors as associated with severity of autism. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e354. [PMID: 24473445 PMCID: PMC3905234 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2013.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Revised: 11/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased 20-fold over the past 50 years to >1% of US children. Although twin studies attest to a high degree of heritability, the genetic risk factors are still poorly understood. We analyzed data from two independent populations using u-statistics for genetically structured wide-locus data and added data from unrelated controls to explore epistasis. To account for systematic, but disease-unrelated differences in (non-randomized) genome-wide association studies (GWAS), a correlation between P-values and minor allele frequency with low granularity data and for conducting multiple tests in overlapping genetic regions, we present a novel study-specific criterion for 'genome-wide significance'. From recent results in a comorbid disease, childhood absence epilepsy, we had hypothesized that axonal guidance and calcium signaling are involved in autism as well. Enrichment of the results in both studies with related genes confirms this hypothesis. Additional ASD-specific variations identified in this study suggest protracted growth factor signaling as causing more severe forms of ASD. Another cluster of related genes suggests chloride and potassium ion channels as additional ASD-specific drug targets. The involvement of growth factors suggests the time of accelerated neuronal growth and pruning at 9-24 months of age as the period during which treatment with ion channel modulators would be most effective in preventing progression to more severe forms of autism. By extension, the same computational biostatistics approach could yield profound insights into the etiology of many common diseases from the genetic data collected over the last decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Wittkowski
- The Rockefeller University, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, New York, NY, USA
| | - V Sonakya
- The Rockefeller University, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Bigio
- The Rockefeller University, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, New York, NY, USA
| | - M K Tonn
- Hochschule Koblenz, RheinAhrCampus, Joseph-Rovan-Allee 2, Remagen, Germany
| | - F Shic
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Autism Program, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M Ascano
- Tuschl Laboratory of RNA Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - C Nasca
- McEwen Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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95
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Böckler A, Timmermans B, Sebanz N, Vogeley K, Schilbach L. Effects of Observing Eye Contact on Gaze Following in High-Functioning Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 44:1651-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2038-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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96
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Zalla T, Sperduti M. The amygdala and the relevance detection theory of autism: an evolutionary perspective. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:894. [PMID: 24416006 PMCID: PMC3874476 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades there has been increasing interest in the role of the amygdala in psychiatric disorders and, in particular, in its contribution to the socio-emotional impairments in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Given that the amygdala is a component structure of the "social brain," several theoretical explanations compatible with amygdala dysfunction have been proposed to account for socio-emotional impairments in ASDs, including abnormal eye contact, gaze monitoring, face processing, mental state understanding, and empathy. Nevertheless, many theoretical accounts, based on the Amygdala Theory of Autism, fail to elucidate the complex pattern of impairments observed in this population, which extends beyond the social domain. As posited by the Relevance Detector theory (Sander et al., 2003), the human amygdala is a critical component of a brain circuit involved in the appraisal of self-relevant events that include, but are not restricted to, social stimuli. Here, we propose that the behavioral and social-emotional features of ASDs may be better understood in terms of a disruption in a "Relevance Detector Network" affecting the processing of stimuli that are relevant for the organism's self-regulating functions. In the present review, we will first summarize the main literature supporting the involvement of the amygdala in socio-emotional disturbances in ASDs. Next, we will present a revised version of the Amygdala Relevance Detector hypothesis and we will show that this theoretical framework can provide a better understanding of the heterogeneity of the impairments and symptomatology of ASDs. Finally, we will discuss some predictions of our model, and suggest new directions in the investigation of the role of the amygdala within the more generally disrupted cortical connectivity framework as a model of neural organization of the autistic brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Zalla
- Institut Jean Nicod, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris, France
| | - Marco Sperduti
- Laboratoire Mémoire et Cognition, Institut de Psychologie, Université Paris Descartes Boulogne-Billancourt, France ; Inserm U894, Centre de Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Université Paris Descartes Paris, France
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97
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Zürcher NR, Rogier O, Boshyan J, Hippolyte L, Russo B, Gillberg N, Helles A, Ruest T, Lemonnier E, Gillberg C, Hadjikhani N. Perception of social cues of danger in autism spectrum disorders. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81206. [PMID: 24324679 PMCID: PMC3852523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 10/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Intuitive grasping of the meaning of subtle social cues is particularly affected in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Despite their relevance in social communication, the effect of averted gaze in fearful faces in conveying a signal of environmental threat has not been investigated using real face stimuli in adults with ASD. Here, using functional MRI, we show that briefly presented fearful faces with averted gaze, previously shown to be a strong communicative signal of environmental danger, produce different patterns of brain activation than fearful faces with direct gaze in a group of 26 normally intelligent adults with ASD compared with 26 matched controls. While implicit cue of threat produces brain activation in attention, emotion processing and mental state attribution networks in controls, this effect is absent in individuals with ASD. Instead, individuals with ASD show activation in the subcortical face-processing system in response to direct eye contact. An effect of differences in looking behavior was excluded in a separate eye tracking experiment. Our data suggest that individuals with ASD are more sensitive to direct eye contact than to social signals of danger conveyed by averted fearful gaze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R. Zürcher
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Jasmine Boshyan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Britt Russo
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nanna Gillberg
- Gillberg Centrum, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Adam Helles
- Gillberg Centrum, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Eric Lemonnier
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences, Université de Brest, Brest, France
| | | | - Nouchine Hadjikhani
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Gillberg Centrum, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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98
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A Targeted Review of Computer-Assisted Learning for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Towards a Consistent Methodology. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-013-0003-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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99
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Treur J. Displaying and Regulating Different Social Response Patterns: A Computational Agent Model. Cognit Comput 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s12559-013-9233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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100
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Parasympathetic response profiles related to social functioning in young children with autistic disorder. AUTISM RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2013; 2013:868396. [PMID: 24175094 PMCID: PMC3794559 DOI: 10.1155/2013/868396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Revised: 08/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Psychophysiology studies of heart rate and heart rate variability can be employed to study regulatory processes in children with autism. The objective of this study was to test for differences in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; a measure of heart rate variability) and to examine the relationship between physiologic responses and measures of social behavior. Participants included 2- to 6-year-old children with Autistic Disorder and children without autism. Heart rate and RSA were derived from ECG recordings made during a baseline period and then a stranger approach paradigm. Social and adaptive behavior was assessed by parent report. Groups did not differ in mean heart rate or RSA at baseline or in response to social challenge. However, children with autism were more likely to show a physiologic response to intrusive portions of the stranger approach than to less intrusive portions of this procedure. Nonautistic children were equally likely to respond to intrusive and less intrusive social events. Within the autistic group, physiologic response to the intrusive stranger approach corresponded to higher ratings of social adaptive behaviors. These results suggest that physiologic responses to social challenge may help understand differences in social behavioral outcomes in children with autism.
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