151
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Kim A, Keum S, Shin HS. Observational fear behavior in rodents as a model for empathy. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 18:e12521. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arie Kim
- Center for Cognition and Sociality; Institute for Basic Science (IBS); Daejeon Republic of Korea
| | - Sehoon Keum
- Center for Cognition and Sociality; Institute for Basic Science (IBS); Daejeon Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Sup Shin
- Center for Cognition and Sociality; Institute for Basic Science (IBS); Daejeon Republic of Korea
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152
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Issa HA, Staes N, Diggs-Galligan S, Stimpson CD, Gendron-Fitzpatrick A, Taglialatela JP, Hof PR, Hopkins WD, Sherwood CC. Comparison of bonobo and chimpanzee brain microstructure reveals differences in socio-emotional circuits. Brain Struct Funct 2018; 224:239-251. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-018-1751-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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153
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Dadalko OI, Travers BG. Evidence for Brainstem Contributions to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Integr Neurosci 2018; 12:47. [PMID: 30337860 PMCID: PMC6180283 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2018.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects one in 59 children in the United States. Although there is a mounting body of knowledge of cortical and cerebellar contributions to ASD, our knowledge about the early developing brainstem in ASD is only beginning to accumulate. Understanding how brainstem neurotransmission is implicated in ASD is important because many of this condition’s sensory and motor symptoms are consistent with brainstem pathology. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to integrate epidemiological, behavioral, histological, neuroimaging, and animal evidence of brainstem contributions to ASD. Because ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition, we examined the available data through a lens of hierarchical brain development. The review of the literature suggests that developmental alterations of the brainstem could have potential cascading effects on cortical and cerebellar formation, ultimately leading to ASD symptoms. This view is supported by human epidemiology findings and data from animal models of ASD, showing that perturbed development of the brainstem substructures, particularly during the peak formation of the brainstem’s monoaminergic centers, may relate to ASD or ASD-like behaviors. Furthermore, we review evidence from human histology, psychophysiology, and neuroimaging suggesting that brainstem development and maturation may be atypical in ASD and may be related to key ASD symptoms, such as atypical sensorimotor features and social responsiveness. From this review there emerges the need of future research to validate early detection of the brainstem-based somatosensory and psychophysiological behaviors that emerge in infancy, and to examine the brainstem across the life span, while accounting for age. In all, there is preliminary evidence for brainstem involvement in ASD, but a better understanding of the brainstem’s role would likely pave the way for earlier diagnosis and treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga I Dadalko
- Motor and Brain Development Lab, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Brittany G Travers
- Motor and Brain Development Lab, Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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154
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Prashad S, Dedrick ES, Filbey FM. Cannabis users exhibit increased cortical activation during resting state compared to non-users. Neuroimage 2018; 179:176-186. [PMID: 29894828 PMCID: PMC6693493 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown altered task-based brain functioning as a result of cannabis use. To date, however, whether similar alterations in baseline resting state and functional organization of neural activity are observable in cannabis users remains unknown. We characterized global resting state cortical activations and functional connectivity via electroencephalography (EEG) in cannabis users and related these activations to measures of cannabis use. Resting state EEG in the eyes closed condition was collected from age- and sex-matched cannabis users (N = 17; 6 females; mean age = 30.9 ± 7.4 years) and non-using controls (N = 21; 9 females; mean age = 33.1 ± 11.6 years). Power spectral density and spectral coherence were computed to determine differences in cortical activations and connectivity between the two groups in the delta (1-4Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (13-30 Hz), and gamma (31-50 Hz) frequency bands. Cannabis users exhibited decreased delta and increased theta, beta, and gamma power compared to controls, suggesting increased cortical activation in resting state and a disinhibition of inhibitory functions that may interrupt cognitive processes. Cannabis users also exhibited increased interhemispheric and intrahemispheric coherence relative to controls, reduced mean network degree, and increased clustering coefficient in specific regions and frequencies. This increased cortical activity may indicate a loss of neural refinement and efficiency that may indicate a "noisy" brain. Lastly, measures related to cannabis use were correlated with spectral power and functional connectivity measures, indicating that specific electrophysiological signals are associated with cannabis use. These results suggest that there are differences in cortical activity and connectivity between cannabis users and non-using controls in the resting state that may be related to putative cognitive impairments and can inform effectiveness of intervention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Prashad
- Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Dedrick
- Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Francesca M Filbey
- Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
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155
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Lefebvre A, Delorme R, Delanoë C, Amsellem F, Beggiato A, Germanaud D, Bourgeron T, Toro R, Dumas G. Alpha Waves as a Neuromarker of Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Challenge of Reproducibility and Heterogeneity. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:662. [PMID: 30327586 PMCID: PMC6174243 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is no consensus in the literature concerning the presence of abnormal alpha wave profiles in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This may be due to phenotypic heterogeneity among patients as well as the limited sample sizes utilized. Here we present our results of alpha wave profile analysis based on a sample larger than most of those in the field, performed using a robust processing pipeline. Methods: We compared the alpha waves profiles at rest in children with ASD to those of age-, sex-, and IQ-matched control individuals. We used linear regression and non-parametric normative models using age as covariate forparsing the clinical heterogeneity. We explored the correlation between EEG profiles and the patient's brain volumes, obtained from structural MRI. We automatized the detection of the alpha peak and visually quality controled our MRI measurements. We assessed the robustness of our results by running the EEG preprocessing with two different versions of Matlab as well as Python. Results: A simple linear regression between peak power or frequency of the alpha waves and the status or age of the participants did not allow to identify any statistically significant relationship. The non-parametric normative model (which took account the non-linear effect of age on the alpha profiles) suggested that participants with ASD displayed more variability than control participants for both frequency and amplitude of the alpha peak (p < 0.05). Independent of the status of the individual, we also observed weak associations (uncorrected p < 0.05) between the alpha frequency, and the volumes of several cortical and subcortical structures (in particular the striatum), but which did not survive correction for multiple testing and changed between analysis pelines. Discussions: Our study did not find evidence for abnormal alpha wave profiles in ASD. We propose, however, an analysis pipeline to perform standardized and automatized EEG analyses on large cohorts. These should help the community to address the challenge of clinical heterogeneity of ASD and to tackle the problems of reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Lefebvre
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Delanoë
- Neurophysiology Department, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Frederique Amsellem
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Anita Beggiato
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - David Germanaud
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Roberto Toro
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Dumas
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
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156
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Dickinson A, DiStefano C, Lin YY, Scheffler AW, Senturk D, Jeste SS. Interhemispheric alpha-band hypoconnectivity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Behav Brain Res 2018; 348:227-234. [PMID: 29689375 PMCID: PMC5993636 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Diverse genetic and environmental etiologies converge onto circuit level brain dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), manifesting at a macroscopic level as aberrant neural connectivity. Previous studies have described atypical patterns of decreased short range and increased long range connectivity in ASD [1 ]. However, it remains unclear whether group level features of circuit dysfunction are consistently present across the range of cognitive function seen in the autism spectrum. The dynamics of neural oscillations in the alpha range (6-12 Hz) are exquisitely sensitive to healthy development of functional and structural connectivity. Alpha-band coherence, measured with high temporal-precision electroencephalography (EEG) therefore represents an ideal tool for studying neural connectivity in developmental populations. Here we examined spontaneous alpha phase coherence in a heterogeneous sample of 59 children with ASD and 39 age matched typically developing children. Using a data driven approach, we conducted an unbiased examination of all possible atypical connectivity patterns across all cortical regions. Long-range hypoconnectivity was present in children with ASD compared to typically developing children, with temporal interhemispheric connectivity showing the largest difference between the two groups. Decreased long range alpha coherence distinguishes a heterogeneous group of ASD children from typically developing children. Interhemispheric temporal hypoconnectivity represents a fundamental functional difference in children with ASD across a wide cognitive and age range that may reflect white matter disturbances or increased signal variability at temporal sites in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Dickinson
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite A7-452 Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States.
| | - Charlotte DiStefano
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite A7-452 Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Yin-Ying Lin
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite A7-452 Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Aaron Wolfe Scheffler
- Department of Biostatistics, UCLA School of Public Health, Room 21-254C, CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Damla Senturk
- Department of Biostatistics, UCLA School of Public Health, Room 21-254C, CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Shafali Spurling Jeste
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite A7-452 Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
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157
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Li Y, Jia H, Yu D. Novel analysis of fNIRS acquired dynamic hemoglobin concentrations: application in young children with autism spectrum disorder. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 9:3694-3710. [PMID: 30338148 PMCID: PMC6191634 DOI: 10.1364/boe.9.003694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
A novel analysis of the spatial complexity of functional connectivity (SCFC) was proposed to investigate the spatial complexity of multiple dynamic functional connectivity series in an fNIRS study, using an approach combining principal component analysis and normalized entropy. The analysis was designed to describe the complex spatial features of phase synchrony based dynamic functional connectivity (dFC), which are unexplained in traditional approaches. The feasibility and validity of this method were verified in a sample of young patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our results showed that there were information exchange deficits in the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) of children with ASD, with markedly higher interregion SCFCs between the right PFC and other brain regions than those of normal controls. Furthermore, the global SCFC was significantly higher in young patients with ASD, along with considerably higher intraregion SCFCs in the prefrontal and temporal lobes which represents more diverse information exchange in these areas. The study suggests a novel method to analyze the fNIRS required dynamic hemoglobin concentrations by using concepts of SCFC. Moreover, the clinical results extend our understanding of ASD pathology, suggesting the crucial role of the right PFC during the information exchange process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Li
- College of Preschool Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, Jiangsu, China
- Yanwei Li and Huibin Jia contributed equally to this work
| | - Huibin Jia
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu, China
- Yanwei Li and Huibin Jia contributed equally to this work
| | - Dongchuan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu, China
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158
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Frye RE. Social Skills Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Potential Biological Origins and Progress in Developing Therapeutic Agents. CNS Drugs 2018; 32:713-734. [PMID: 30105528 PMCID: PMC6105175 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-018-0556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is defined by two core symptoms: a deficit in social communication and the presence of repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests. Currently, there is no US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for these core symptoms. This article reviews the biological origins of the social function deficit associated with autism spectrum disorder and the drug therapies with the potential to treat this deficit. A review of the history of autism demonstrates that a deficit in social interaction has been the defining feature of the concept of autism from its conception. Abnormalities identified in early social skill development and an overview of the pathophysiology abnormalities associated with autism spectrum disorder are discussed as are the abnormalities in brain circuits associated with the social function deficit. Previous and ongoing clinical trials examining agents that have the potential to improve social deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder are discussed in detail. This discussion reveals that agents such as oxytocin and propranolol are particularly promising and undergoing active investigation, while other agents such as vasopressin agonists and antagonists are being activity investigated but have limited published evidence at this time. In addition, agents such as bumetanide and manipulation of the enteric microbiome using microbiota transfer therapy appear to have promising effects on core autism spectrum disorder symptoms including social function. Other pertinent issues associated with developing treatments in autism spectrum disorder, such as disease heterogeneity, high placebo response rates, trial design, and the most appropriate way of assessing effects on social skills (outcome measures), are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Frye
- Division of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 E Thomas St, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA.
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
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159
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Shou G, Mosconi MW, Wang J, Ethridge LE, Sweeney JA, Ding L. Electrophysiological signatures of atypical intrinsic brain connectivity networks in autism. J Neural Eng 2018; 14:046010. [PMID: 28540866 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aa6b6b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Abnormal local and long-range brain connectivity have been widely reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet the nature of these abnormalities and their functional relevance at distinct cortical rhythms remains unknown. Investigations of intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) and their coherence across whole brain networks hold promise for determining whether patterns of functional connectivity abnormalities vary across frequencies and networks in ASD. In the present study, we aimed to probe atypical intrinsic brain connectivity networks in ASD from resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) data via characterizing the whole brain network. APPROACH Connectivity within individual ICNs (measured by spectral power) and between ICNs (measured by coherence) were examined at four canonical frequency bands via a time-frequency independent component analysis on high-density EEG, which were recorded from 20 ASD and 20 typical developing (TD) subjects during an eyes-closed resting state. MAIN RESULTS Among twelve identified electrophysiological ICNs, individuals with ASD showed hyper-connectivity in individual ICNs and hypo-connectivity between ICNs. Functional connectivity alterations in ASD were more severe in the frontal lobe and the default mode network (DMN) and at low frequency bands. These functional connectivity measures also showed abnormal age-related associations in ICNs related to frontal, temporal and motor regions in ASD. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings suggest that ASD is characterized by the opposite directions of abnormalities (i.e. hypo- and hyper-connectivity) in the hierarchical structure of the whole brain network, with more impairments in the frontal lobe and the DMN at low frequency bands, which are critical for top-down control of sensory systems, as well as for both cognition and social skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guofa Shou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States of America
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160
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Wang X, Kery R, Xiong Q. Synaptopathology in autism spectrum disorders: Complex effects of synaptic genes on neural circuits. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:398-415. [PMID: 28986278 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinxing Wang
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Rachel Kery
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Qiaojie Xiong
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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161
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Karahanoğlu FI, Baran B, Nguyen QTH, Meskaldji DE, Yendiki A, Vangel M, Santangelo SL, Manoach DS. Diffusion-weighted imaging evidence of altered white matter development from late childhood to early adulthood in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuroimage Clin 2018; 19:840-847. [PMID: 29946509 PMCID: PMC6008282 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is thought to reflect disrupted development of brain connectivity characterized by white matter abnormalities and dyscoordination of activity across brain regions that give rise to core features. But there is little consensus about the nature, timing and location of white matter abnormalities as quantified with diffusion-weighted MRI. Inconsistent findings likely reflect small sample sizes, motion confounds and sample heterogeneity, particularly different age ranges across studies. We examined the microstructural integrity of major white matter tracts in relation to age in 38 high functioning ASD and 35 typically developing (TD) participants, aged 8-25, whose diffusion-weighted scans met strict data-quality criteria and survived group matching for motion. While there were no overall group differences in diffusion measures, the groups showed different relations with age. Only the TD group showed the expected positive correlations of fractional anisotropy with age. In parallel, axial diffusivity was unrelated to age in TD, but showed inverse correlations with age in ASD. Younger participants with ASD tended to have higher fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity than their TD peers, while the opposite was true for older participants. Most of the affected tracts - cingulum bundle, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi - are association bundles related to cognitive, social and emotional functions that are abnormal in ASD. The manifestations of abnormal white matter development in ASD as measured by diffusion-weighted MRI depend on age and this may contribute to inconsistent findings across studies. We conclude that ASD is characterized by altered white matter development from childhood to early adulthood that may underlie abnormal brain function and contribute to core features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fikret Işık Karahanoğlu
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States.
| | - Bengi Baran
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Quynh Trang Huong Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Djalel-Eddine Meskaldji
- Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anastasia Yendiki
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mark Vangel
- Department of Biostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Susan L Santangelo
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, United States; Tufts University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dara S Manoach
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, United States
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162
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Barón-Mendoza I, García O, Calvo-Ochoa E, Rebollar-García JO, Garzón-Cortés D, Haro R, González-Arenas A. Alterations in neuronal cytoskeletal and astrocytic proteins content in the brain of the autistic-like mouse strain C58/J. Neurosci Lett 2018; 682:32-38. [PMID: 29885454 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by deficient social interaction, impaired communication as well as repetitive behaviors. ASD subjects present connectivity and neuroplasticity disturbances associated with morphological alterations in axons, dendrites, and dendritic spines. Given that the neuronal cytoskeleton and astrocytes have an essential role in regulating several mechanisms of neural plasticity, the aim of this work was to study alterations in the content of neuronal cytoskeletal components actin and tubulin and their associated proteins, as well as astrocytic proteins GFAP and TSP-1 in the brain of a C58/J mouse model of ASD. We determined the expression and regulatory phosphorylation state of cytoskeletal components in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of C58/J mice by means of Western blotting. Our results show that autistic-like mice present: 1) region-dependent altered expression and phosphorylation patterns of Tau isoforms, associated with anomalous microtubule depolymerization; 2) reduced MAP2 A content in prefrontal cortex; 3) region-dependent changes in cofilin expression and phosphorylation, associated with abnormal actin filament depolymerizing dynamics; 4) diminished synaptopodin levels in the hippocampus; and 5) reduced content of the astrocyte-secreted protein TSP-1 in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Our work demonstrates changes in the expression and phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins as well as in TSP-1 in the brain of the autistic-like mice C58/J, shedding light in one of the possible molecular mechanisms underpinning neuroplasticity alterations in the ASD brain and laying the foundation for future investigations in this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Barón-Mendoza
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Octavio García
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Erika Calvo-Ochoa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Jorge Omar Rebollar-García
- Unidad de Modelos Biológicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Daniel Garzón-Cortés
- Unidad de Modelos Biológicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Reyes Haro
- Instituto Mexicano de Medicina Integral de Sueño, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Aliesha González-Arenas
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.
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163
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Multimodal Functional and Structural Brain Connectivity Analysis in Autism: A Preliminary Integrated Approach With EEG, fMRI, and DTI. IEEE Trans Cogn Dev Syst 2018. [DOI: 10.1109/tcds.2017.2680408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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164
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Jia H, Li Y, Yu D. Normalized spatial complexity analysis of neural signals. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7912. [PMID: 29784971 PMCID: PMC5962588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26329-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The spatial complexity of neural signals, which was traditionally quantified by omega complexity, varies inversely with the global functional connectivity level across distinct region-of-interests, thus provides a novel approach in functional connectivity analysis. However, the measures in omega complexity are sensitive to the number of neural time-series. Here, normalized spatial complexity was suggested to overcome the above limitation, and was verified by the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data from a previous published autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research. By this new method, several conclusions consistent with traditional approaches on the pathological mechanisms of ASD were found, i.e., the prefrontal cortex made a major contribution to the hypo-connectivity of young children with ASD. Moreover, some novel findings were also detected (e.g., significantly higher normalized regional spatial complexities of bilateral prefrontal cortices and the variability of normalized local complexity differential of right temporal lobe, and the regional differences of measures in normalized regional spatial complexity), which could not be successfully detected via traditional approaches. These results confirmed the value of this novel approach, and extended the methodology system of functional connectivity. This novel technique could be applied to the neural signal of other neuroimaging techniques and other neurological and cognitive conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huibin Jia
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Ministry of Education), Research Center for Learning Science, School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanwei Li
- College of Preschool Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongchuan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Ministry of Education), Research Center for Learning Science, School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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165
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A Missense Variant at the Nrxn3 Locus Enhances Empathy Fear in the Mouse. Neuron 2018; 98:588-601.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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166
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Bethlehem RAI, Romero-Garcia R, Mak E, Bullmore ET, Baron-Cohen S. Structural Covariance Networks in Children with Autism or ADHD. Cereb Cortex 2018. [PMID: 28633299 PMCID: PMC5903412 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background While autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are considered distinct conditions from a diagnostic perspective, clinically they share some phenotypic features and have high comorbidity. Regardless, most studies have focused on only one condition, with considerable heterogeneity in their results. Taking a dual-condition approach might help elucidate shared and distinct neural characteristics. Method Graph theory was used to analyse topological properties of structural covariance networks across both conditions and relative to a neurotypical (NT; n = 87) group using data from the ABIDE (autism; n = 62) and ADHD-200 datasets (ADHD; n = 69). Regional cortical thickness was used to construct the structural covariance networks. This was analysed in a theoretical framework examining potential differences in long and short-range connectivity, with a specific focus on relation between central graph measures and cortical thickness. Results We found convergence between autism and ADHD, where both conditions show an overall decrease in CT covariance with increased Euclidean distance between centroids compared with a NT population. The 2 conditions also show divergence. Namely, there is less modular overlap between the 2 conditions than there is between each condition and the NT group. The ADHD group also showed reduced cortical thickness and lower degree in hub regions than the autism group. Lastly, the ADHD group also showed reduced wiring costs compared with the autism groups. Conclusions Our results indicate a need for taking an integrated approach when considering highly comorbid conditions such as autism and ADHD. Furthermore, autism and ADHD both showed alterations in the relation between inter-regional covariance and centroid distance, where both groups show a steeper decline in covariance as a function of distance. The 2 groups also diverge on modular organization, cortical thickness of hub regions and wiring cost of the covariance network. Thus, on some network features the groups are distinct, yet on others there is convergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A I Bethlehem
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - R Romero-Garcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - E Mak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - E T Bullmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK.,Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Huntingdon PE29 3RJ, UK.,MRC/Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK.,Immuno-psychiatry, Immuno-Inflammation Therapeutic Area Unit, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Stevenage SG1 2NY, UK
| | - S Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK.,CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB21 5EF, UK
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167
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Bey AL, Wang X, Yan H, Kim N, Passman RL, Yang Y, Cao X, Towers AJ, Hulbert SW, Duffney LJ, Gaidis E, Rodriguiz RM, Wetsel WC, Yin HH, Jiang YH. Brain region-specific disruption of Shank3 in mice reveals a dissociation for cortical and striatal circuits in autism-related behaviors. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:94. [PMID: 29700290 PMCID: PMC5919902 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported a new line of Shank3 mutant mice which led to a complete loss of Shank3 by deleting exons 4-22 (Δe4-22) globally. Δe4-22 mice display robust ASD-like behaviors including impaired social interaction and communication, increased stereotypical behavior and excessive grooming, and a profound deficit in instrumental learning. However, the anatomical and neural circuitry underlying these behaviors are unknown. We generated mice with Shank3 selectively deleted in forebrain, striatum, and striatal D1 and D2 cells. These mice were used to interrogate the circuit/brain-region and cell-type specific role of Shank3 in the expression of autism-related behaviors. Whole-cell patch recording and biochemical analyses were used to study the synaptic function and molecular changes in specific brain regions. We found perseverative exploratory behaviors in mice with deletion of Shank3 in striatal inhibitory neurons. Conversely, self-grooming induced lesions were observed in mice with deletion of Shank3 in excitatory neurons of forebrain. However, social, communicative, and instrumental learning behaviors were largely unaffected in these mice, unlike what is seen in global Δe4-22 mice. We discovered unique patterns of change for the biochemical and electrophysiological findings in respective brain regions that reflect the complex nature of transcriptional regulation of Shank3. Reductions in Homer1b/c and membrane hyper-excitability were observed in striatal loss of Shank3. By comparison, Shank3 deletion in hippocampal neurons resulted in increased NMDAR-currents and GluN2B-containing NMDARs. These results together suggest that Shank3 may differentially regulate neural circuits that control behavior. Our study supports a dissociation of Shank3 functions in cortical and striatal neurons in ASD-related behaviors, and it illustrates the complexity of neural circuit mechanisms underlying these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Bey
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Haidun Yan
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Namsoo Kim
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Rebecca L. Passman
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dBiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Yilin Yang
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Xinyu Cao
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Aaron J. Towers
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dGenomics and Genetics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Samuel W. Hulbert
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Lara J. Duffney
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Erin Gaidis
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Ramona M. Rodriguiz
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - William C. Wetsel
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dCell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDuke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Henry H. Yin
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPsychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDuke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Yong-hui Jiang
- 0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDepartments of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dPediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dGenomics and Genetics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,0000 0004 1936 7961grid.26009.3dDuke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710 USA
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168
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Moore A, Wozniak M, Yousef A, Barnes CC, Cha D, Courchesne E, Pierce K. The geometric preference subtype in ASD: identifying a consistent, early-emerging phenomenon through eye tracking. Mol Autism 2018; 9:19. [PMID: 29581878 PMCID: PMC5861622 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0202-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The wide range of ability and disability in ASD creates a need for tools that parse the phenotypic heterogeneity into meaningful subtypes. Using eye tracking, our past studies revealed that when presented with social and geometric images, a subset of ASD toddlers preferred viewing geometric images, and these toddlers also had greater symptom severity than ASD toddlers with greater social attention. This study tests whether this "GeoPref test" effect would generalize across different social stimuli. Methods Two hundred and twenty-seven toddlers (76 ASD) watched a 90-s video, the Complex Social GeoPref test, of dynamic geometric images paired with social images of children interacting and moving. Proportion of visual fixation time and number of saccades per second to both images were calculated. To allow for cross-paradigm comparisons, a subset of 126 toddlers also participated in the original GeoPref test. Measures of cognitive and social functioning (MSEL, ADOS, VABS) were collected and related to eye tracking data. To examine utility as a diagnostic indicator to detect ASD toddlers, validation statistics (e.g., sensitivity, specificity, ROC, AUC) were calculated for the Complex Social GeoPref test alone and when combined with the original GeoPref test. Results ASD toddlers spent a significantly greater amount of time viewing geometric images than any other diagnostic group. Fixation patterns from ASD toddlers who participated in both tests revealed a significant correlation, supporting the idea that these tests identify a phenotypically meaningful ASD subgroup. Combined use of both original and Complex Social GeoPref tests identified a subgroup of about 1 in 3 ASD toddlers from the "GeoPref" subtype (sensitivity 35%, specificity 94%, AUC 0.75.) Replicating our previous studies, more time looking at geometric images was associated with significantly greater ADOS symptom severity. Conclusions Regardless of the complexity of the social images used (low in the original GeoPref test vs high in the new Complex Social GeoPref test), eye tracking of toddlers can accurately identify a specific ASD "GeoPref" subtype with elevated symptom severity. The GeoPref tests are predictive of ASD at the individual subject level and thus potentially useful for various clinical applications (e.g., early identification, prognosis, or development of subtype-specific treatments).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne Moore
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Madeline Wozniak
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Andrew Yousef
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Cindy Carter Barnes
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Debra Cha
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Eric Courchesne
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Karen Pierce
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
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169
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Abstract
Rewiring is a plasticity mechanism that alters connectivity between neurons. Evidence for rewiring has been difficult to obtain. New evidence indicates that local circuitry is rewired during learning. Harnessing rewiring offers new ways to treat psychiatric and neurological diseases.
Neuronal connections form the physical basis for communication in the brain. Recently, there has been much interest in mapping the “connectome” to understand how brain structure gives rise to brain function, and ultimately, to behaviour. These attempts to map the connectome have largely assumed that connections are stable once formed. Recent studies, however, indicate that connections in mammalian brains may undergo rewiring during learning and experience-dependent plasticity. This suggests that the connectome is more dynamic than previously thought. To what extent can neural circuitry be rewired in the healthy adult brain? The connectome has been subdivided into multiple levels of scale, from synapses and microcircuits through to long-range tracts. Here, we examine the evidence for rewiring at each level. We then consider the role played by rewiring during learning. We conclude that harnessing rewiring offers new avenues to treat brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie H Bennett
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Alastair J Kirby
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Gerald T Finnerty
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.
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170
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Moseley RL, Pulvermüller F. What can autism teach us about the role of sensorimotor systems in higher cognition? New clues from studies on language, action semantics, and abstract emotional concept processing. Cortex 2018; 100:149-190. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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171
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Dickinson A, DiStefano C, Senturk D, Jeste SS. Peak alpha frequency is a neural marker of cognitive function across the autism spectrum. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 47:643-651. [PMID: 28700096 PMCID: PMC5766439 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive function varies substantially and serves as a key predictor of outcome and response to intervention in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet we know little about the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie cognitive function in children with ASD. The dynamics of neuronal oscillations in the alpha range (6-12 Hz) are associated with cognition in typical development. Peak alpha frequency is also highly sensitive to developmental changes in neural networks, which underlie cognitive function, and therefore, it holds promise as a developmentally sensitive neural marker of cognitive function in ASD. Here, we measured peak alpha band frequency under a task-free condition in a heterogeneous sample of children with ASD (N = 59) and age-matched typically developing (TD) children (N = 38). At a group level, peak alpha frequency was decreased in ASD compared to TD children. Moreover, within the ASD group, peak alpha frequency correlated strongly with non-verbal cognition. As peak alpha frequency reflects the integrity of neural networks, our results suggest that deviations in network development may underlie cognitive function in individuals with ASD. By shedding light on the neurobiological correlates of cognitive function in ASD, our findings lay the groundwork for considering peak alpha frequency as a useful biomarker of cognitive function within this population which, in turn, will facilitate investigations of early markers of cognitive impairment and predictors of outcome in high risk infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Dickinson
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite A7-452 Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States of America
| | - Charlotte DiStefano
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite A7-452 Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States of America
| | - Damla Senturk
- Department of Biostatistics, UCLA School of Public Health, Room 21-254C, CHS, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States of America
| | - Shafali Spurling Jeste
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, University of California, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, 760 Westwood Plaza, Suite A7-452 Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States of America
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172
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Andrews DS, Avino TA, Gudbrandsen M, Daly E, Marquand A, Murphy CM, Lai MC, Lombardo MV, Ruigrok ANV, Williams SC, Bullmore ET, The Mrc Aims Consortium, Suckling J, Baron-Cohen S, Craig MC, Murphy DGM, Ecker C. In Vivo Evidence of Reduced Integrity of the Gray-White Matter Boundary in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2018; 27:877-887. [PMID: 28057721 PMCID: PMC6093436 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical cortical organization and reduced integrity of the gray–white matter boundary have been reported by postmortem studies in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there are no in vivo studies that examine these particular features of cortical organization in ASD. Hence, we used structural magnetic resonance imaging to examine differences in tissue contrast between gray and white matter in 98 adults with ASD and 98 typically developing controls, to test the hypothesis that individuals with ASD have significantly reduced tissue contrast. More specifically, we examined contrast as a percentage between gray and white matter tissue signal intensities (GWPC) sampled at the gray–white matter boundary, and across different cortical layers. We found that individuals with ASD had significantly reduced GWPC in several clusters throughout the cortex (cluster, P < 0.05). As expected, these reductions were greatest when tissue intensities were sampled close to gray–white matter interface, which indicates a less distinct gray–white matter boundary in ASD. Our in vivo findings of reduced GWPC in ASD are therefore consistent with prior postmortem findings of a less well-defined gray–white matter boundary in ASD. Taken together, these results indicate that GWPC might be utilized as an in vivo proxy measure of atypical cortical microstructural organization in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Sayre Andrews
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Thomas A Avino
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Maria Gudbrandsen
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Andre Marquand
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Clodagh M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,National Autism Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Psychology & Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Amber N V Ruigrok
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Steven C Williams
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - The Mrc Aims Consortium
- The Medical Research Council Autism Imaging Multicentre Study Consortium (MRC AIMS Consortium) is a UK collaboration between the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College, London, the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, and the Autism Research Group, University of Oxford. The Consortium members in alphabetical order are as follows: Anthony J. Bailey (Oxford), Simon Baron-Cohen (Cambridge), Patrick F. Bolton (IoP), Edward T. Bullmore (Cambridge), Sarah Carrington (Oxford), Marco Catani (IoPPN), Bhismadev Chakrabarti (Cambridge), Michael C. Craig (IoPPN), Eileen M. Daly (IoPPN), Sean C.L. Deoni (IoPPN), Christine Ecker (IoPPN), Francesca Happé (IoPPN), Julian Henty (Cambridge), Peter Jezzard (Oxford), Patrick Johnston (IoPPN), Derek K. Jones (IoPPN), Meng-Chuan Lai (Cambridge), Michael V. Lombardo (Cambridge), Anya Madden (IoPPN), Diane Mullins (IoPPN), Clodagh M. Murphy (IoPPN), Declan G.M. Murphy (IoPPN), Greg Pasco (Cambridge), Amber N.V. Ruigrok (Cambridge), Susan A. Sadek (Cambridge), Debbie Spain (IoPPN), Rose Stewart (Oxford), John Suckling (Cambridge), Sally J. Wheelwright (Cambridge), Steven C. Williams (IoPPN), and C. Ellie Wilson (IoPPN)
| | - John Suckling
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael C Craig
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,National Autism Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,National Autism Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt am Main, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
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173
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Bujnakova I, Ondrejka I, Mestanik M, Fleskova D, Sekaninova N, Farsky I, Tonhajzerova I. Potential Effect of Pharmacotherapy on Sympathetic Arousal in Autism. ACTA MEDICA MARTINIANA 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/acm-2017-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) abnormalities. Moreover, at least 50% of children with ASD suffer from other comorbid diseases such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) associated with receiving psychotropic medication. From this context we aimed to evaluate changes in sympathetic arousal using analysis of electrodermal activity (EDA) as an index of sympathetic cholinergic activity in treated and non-treated autistic children under resting conditions.
Methods: We examined 23 children with ASD and 14 healthy age- and gender-matched children at the age of 7–15 years. The ASD patients were divided into ASD non-treated group (n=12) and ASD treated group (n=11). The EDA was continuously monitored during resting phase in a supine position. The EDA amplitude (μS) was computed as an average of 5 min baseline period.
Results: We found significantly lower EDA in ASD non-treated subgroup compared to controls indicating subtle abnormalities in the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Although no significant differences were found between the ASD treated and non-treated subgroups the ASD treated group showed comparable sympathetic activity relative to controls indicating a potential ameliorated treatment effect on sympathetic arousal in ASD.
Conclusions: These findings could help to determine differences in sympathetic arousal in treated and non-treated children with ASD, which is important for assessment of autism-linked cardiovascular risk depending on pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Bujnakova
- Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
- Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
| | - I Ondrejka
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital Martin , Slovakia
| | - M Mestanik
- Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
| | - D Fleskova
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital Martin , Slovakia
| | - N Sekaninova
- Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
- Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
| | - I Farsky
- Department of Nursing, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital Martin , Slovakia
| | - I Tonhajzerova
- Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
- Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin , Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin , Slovakia
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174
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Ronconi L, Gori S, Federici A, Devita M, Carna S, Sali ME, Molteni M, Casartelli L, Facoetti A. Weak surround suppression of the attentional focus characterizes visual selection in the ventral stream in autism. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 18:912-922. [PMID: 29876276 PMCID: PMC5988461 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neurophysiological findings in the typical population demonstrate that spatial scrutiny for visual selection determines a center-surround profile of the attentional focus, which is the result of recurrent processing in the visual system. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manifest several anomalies in their visual selection, with strengths in detail-oriented tasks, but also difficulties in distractor inhibition tasks. Here, we asked whether contradictory aspects of perception in ASD might be due to a different center-surround profile of their attentional focus. In two experiments, we tested two independent samples of children with ASD, comparing them with typically developing (TD) peers. In Experiment 1, we used a psychophysical task that mapped the entire spatial profile of the attentional focus. In Experiment 2, we used dense-array electroencephalography (EEG) to explore its neurophysiological underpinnings. Experiment 1 results showed that the suppression, surrounding the attentional focus, was markedly reduced in children with ASD. Experiment 2 showed that the center-surround profile in TD children resulted in a modulation of the posterior N2 ERP component, with cortical sources in the lateral-occipital and medial/inferior temporal areas. In contrast, children with ASD did not show modulation of the N2 and related activations in the ventral visual stream. Furthermore, behavioural and neurophysiological measures of weaker suppression predicted more severe autistic symptomatology. The present findings, showing an altered center-surround profile during attentional selection, give an important insight to understand superior visual processing in autism as well as the experiencing of sensory overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ronconi
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Italy; Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Italy; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.
| | - Simone Gori
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy; Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Federici
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria Devita
- Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Italy
| | - Serena Carna
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria E Sali
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Massimo Molteni
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Luca Casartelli
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Andrea Facoetti
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Italy; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.
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175
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Zhang R, Zhou J, Ren J, Sun S, Di Y, Wang H, An X, Zhang K, Zhang J, Qian Z, Shi M, Qiao Y, Ren W, Tian Y. Transcriptional and splicing dysregulation in the prefrontal cortex in valproic acid rat model of autism. Reprod Toxicol 2018; 77:53-61. [PMID: 29427782 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Gene-environmental interaction could be the major cause of autism. The aim of the current study is to detect the effects of valproic acid on gene expression profiles and alternatively spliced genes in the prefrontal cortex in rat models of autism. Female rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg valproic acid at day 12.5 post-conception, and controls were injected with saline. Only male offspring were employed in the current study. RNA sequencing was used to investigate transcriptome in the prefrontal cortex of VPA-exposed rats. There were 3228 differently expressed genes and 637 alternative spliced genes, in VPA rats compared to controls. Pathways enrichment among the differently expressed genes and alternatively spliced genes were associated with neurological diseases and neural system development. The results implied VPA affected transcriptional and splicing events genome-wide and the transcriptional and splicing events may be associated with the autistic behaviors of VPA rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoxin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Jinlong Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Junrong Ren
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Siqi Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Yuanyuan Di
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Hanyu Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Xiaoqin An
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Kexin Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Zhaoqiang Qian
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Meimei Shi
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Yanning Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Wei Ren
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China
| | - Yingfang Tian
- Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China; College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710119, China.
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176
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Gemmel M, Bögi E, Ragan C, Hazlett M, Dubovicky M, van den Hove DL, Oberlander TF, Charlier TD, Pawluski JL. Perinatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication (SSRI) effects on social behaviors, neurodevelopment and the epigenome. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 85:102-116. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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177
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Zikopoulos B, García-Cabezas MÁ, Barbas H. Parallel trends in cortical gray and white matter architecture and connections in primates allow fine study of pathways in humans and reveal network disruptions in autism. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2004559. [PMID: 29401206 PMCID: PMC5814101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive imaging and tractography methods have yielded information on broad communication networks but lack resolution to delineate intralaminar cortical and subcortical pathways in humans. An important unanswered question is whether we can use the wealth of precise information on pathways from monkeys to understand connections in humans. We addressed this question within a theoretical framework of systematic cortical variation and used identical high-resolution methods to compare the architecture of cortical gray matter and the white matter beneath, which gives rise to short- and long-distance pathways in humans and rhesus monkeys. We used the prefrontal cortex as a model system because of its key role in attention, emotions, and executive function, which are processes often affected in brain diseases. We found striking parallels and consistent trends in the gray and white matter architecture in humans and monkeys and between the architecture and actual connections mapped with neural tracers in rhesus monkeys and, by extension, in humans. Using the novel architectonic portrait as a base, we found significant changes in pathways between nearby prefrontal and distant areas in autism. Our findings reveal that a theoretical framework allows study of normal neural communication in humans at high resolution and specific disruptions in diverse psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basilis Zikopoulos
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Miguel Ángel García-Cabezas
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Helen Barbas
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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178
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Sayorwan W, Phianchana N, Permpoonputtana K, Siripornpanich V. A Study of the Correlation between VEP and Clinical Severity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. AUTISM RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2018; 2018:5093016. [PMID: 29568651 PMCID: PMC5820569 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5093016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Visual evoked potential (VEP) is a technique used to assess the brain's electrical response to visual stimuli. The aims of this study were to examine neural transmission within the visual pathway through VEP testing in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and compare it to age-matched controls, as well as search for a correlation between the VEP parameters and the symptoms of ASD. Participants were composed of ASD children (9 males) and typically developing children (8 males and 4 females), aged between 3 and 5 years. Checkerboards were chosen as the pattern-reversal VEP. The clinical severity of ASD was assessed using the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 2nd edition (VABS-II). Our findings demonstrated that children with ASD had significantly longer N145 latency compared to the controls. A longer N145 latency correlated with a higher score of ATEC within the sensory/cognitive awareness subdomain. In addition, a slower N145 response was also associated with a lower VABS-II score within the socialization domain. The correlation between longer VEP latency and abnormal behaviors in children with ASD suggests a delayed neural communication within other neural circuits, apart from the visual pathway. These lines of evidence support the possibility of using VEP, along with clinical parameters, for the assessment of ASD severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winai Sayorwan
- Kanchanabhishek Institute of Medical and Public Health Technology, Nonthaburi 11150, Thailand
| | - Nutthida Phianchana
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Kannika Permpoonputtana
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Vorasith Siripornpanich
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
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179
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Del Pino I, Rico B, Marín O. Neural circuit dysfunction in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 48:174-182. [PMID: 29329089 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders arise from the alteration of normal brain developmental trajectories disrupting the function of specific neuronal circuits. Recent advances in human genetics have greatly accelerated the identification of genes whose variation increases the susceptibility for neurodevelopmental disorders, most notably for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. In parallel, experimental studies in animal models-most typically in mice-are beginning to shed light on the role of these genes in the development and function of specific brain circuits. In spite of their limitations, understanding the impact of pathological gene variation in animal models at the level of specific neuronal populations and circuits will likely contribute to orienting human clinical studies in the search for precise disease mechanisms and novel treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Del Pino
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz Rico
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom.
| | - Oscar Marín
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom.
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180
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Fakhoury M. Imaging genetics in autism spectrum disorders: Linking genetics and brain imaging in the pursuit of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 80:101-114. [PMID: 28322981 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) include a wide range of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions that affect an individual in several aspects of social communication and behavior. Recent advances in molecular genetic technologies have dramatically increased our understanding of ASD etiology through the identification of several autism risk genes, most of which serve important functions in synaptic plasticity and protein synthesis. However, despite significant progress in this field of research, the characterization of the neurobiological mechanisms by which common genetic risk variants might operate to give rise to ASD symptomatology has proven to be far more difficult than expected. The imaging genetics approach holds great promise for advancing our understanding of ASD etiology by bridging the gap between genetic variations and their resultant biological effects on the brain. This paper provides a conceptual overview of the contribution of genetics in ASD and discusses key findings from the emerging field of imaging genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Fakhoury
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada.
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181
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Cardon GJ. Neural Correlates of Sensory Abnormalities Across Developmental Disabilities. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2018; 55:83-143. [PMID: 31799108 PMCID: PMC6889889 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irrdd.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Abnormalities in sensory processing are a common feature of many developmental disabilities (DDs). Sensory dysfunction can contribute to deficits in brain maturation, as well as many vital functions. Unfortunately, while some patients with DD benefit from the currently available treatments for sensory dysfunction, many do not. Deficiencies in clinical practice surrounding sensory dysfunction may be related to lack of understanding of the neural mechanisms that underlie sensory abnormalities. Evidence of overlap in sensory symptoms between diagnoses suggests that there may be common neural mechanisms that mediate many aspects of sensory dysfunction. Thus, the current manuscript aims to review the extant literature regarding the neural correlates of sensory dysfunction across DD in order to identify patterns of abnormality that span diagnostic categories. Such anomalies in brain structure, function, and connectivity may eventually serve as targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett J Cardon
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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182
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Atypical structural and functional motor networks in autism. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2018; 238:207-248. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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183
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Lajiness-O'Neill R, Brennan JR, Moran JE, Richard AE, Flores AM, Swick C, Goodcase R, Andersen T, McFarlane K, Rusiniak K, Kovelman I, Wagley N, Ugolini M, Albright J, Bowyer SM. Patterns of altered neural synchrony in the default mode network in autism spectrum disorder revealed with magnetoencephalography (MEG): Relationship to clinical symptomatology. Autism Res 2017; 11:434-449. [PMID: 29251830 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 11/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Disrupted neural synchrony may be a primary electrophysiological abnormality in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), altering communication between discrete brain regions and contributing to abnormalities in patterns of connectivity within identified neural networks. Studies exploring brain dynamics to comprehensively characterize and link connectivity to large-scale cortical networks and clinical symptoms are lagging considerably. Patterns of neural coherence within the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Salience Network (SN) during resting state were investigated in 12 children with ASD (MAge = 9.2) and 13 age and gender-matched neurotypicals (NT) (MAge = 9.3) with magnetoencephalography. Coherence between 231 brain region pairs within four frequency bands (theta (4-7 Hz), alpha, (8-12 Hz), beta (13-30 Hz), and gamma (30-80 Hz)) was calculated. Relationships between neural coherence and social functioning were examined. ASD was characterized by lower synchronization across all frequencies, reaching clinical significance in the gamma band. Lower gamma synchrony between fronto-temporo-parietal regions was observed, partially consistent with diminished default mode network (DMN) connectivity. Lower gamma coherence in ASD was evident in cross-hemispheric connections between: angular with inferior/middle frontal; middle temporal with middle/inferior frontal; and within right-hemispheric connections between angular, middle temporal, and inferior/middle frontal cortices. Lower gamma coherence between left angular and left superior frontal, right inferior/middle frontal, and right precuneus and between right angular and inferior/middle frontal cortices was related to lower social/social-communication functioning. Results suggest a pattern of lower gamma band coherence in a subset of regions within the DMN in ASD (angular and middle temporal cortical areas) related to lower social/social-communicative functioning. Autism Res 2018, 11: 434-449. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY Communication between different areas of the brain was observed in children with ASD and neurotypical children while awake, but not working on a task. Magnetoencephalography was used to measure tiny magnetic fields naturally generated via brain activity. The brains of children with ASD showed less communication between areas that are important for social information processing compared to the brains of neurotypical children. The amount of communication between these areas was associated with social and social communication difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Lajiness-O'Neill
- Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan.,Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | | | | | | | - Casey Swick
- Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
| | | | | | | | | | - Ioulia Kovelman
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Psychology, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Neelima Wagley
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Psychology, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | | | - Susan M Bowyer
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts.,Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.,Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
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184
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Fingher N, Dinstein I, Ben-Shachar M, Haar S, Dale AM, Eyler L, Pierce K, Courchesne E. Toddlers later diagnosed with autism exhibit multiple structural abnormalities in temporal corpus callosum fibers. Cortex 2017; 97:291-305. [PMID: 28202133 PMCID: PMC5522774 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2016.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Interhemispheric functional connectivity abnormalities are often reported in autism and it is thus not surprising that structural defects of the corpus callosum (CC) are consistently found using both traditional MRI and DTI techniques. Past DTI studies however, have subdivided the CC into 2 or 3 segments without regard for where fibers may project to within the cortex, thus placing limitations on our ability to understand the nature, timing and neurobehavioral impact of early CC abnormalities in autism. Leveraging a unique cohort of 97 toddlers (68 autism; 29 typical) we utilized a novel technique that identified seven CC tracts according to their cortical projections. Results revealed that younger (<2.5 years old), but not older toddlers with autism exhibited abnormally low mean, radial, and axial diffusivity values in the CC tracts connecting the occipital lobes and the temporal lobes. Fractional anisotropy and the cross sectional area of the temporal CC tract were significantly larger in young toddlers with autism. These findings indicate that water diffusion is more restricted and unidirectional in the temporal CC tract of young toddlers who develop autism. Such results may be explained by a potential overabundance of small caliber axons generated by excessive prenatal neural proliferation as proposed by previous genetic, animal model, and postmortem studies of autism. Furthermore, early diffusion measures in the temporal CC tract of the young toddlers were correlated with outcome measures of autism severity at later ages. These findings regarding the potential nature, timing, and location of early CC abnormalities in autism add to accumulating evidence, which suggests that altered inter-hemispheric connectivity, particularly across the temporal lobes, is a hallmark of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Fingher
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Israel.
| | - Ilan Dinstein
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Israel; Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University, Israel
| | - Michal Ben-Shachar
- Department of English Literature and Linguistics, Bar Ilan University, Israel; The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shlomi Haar
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Israel
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, USA; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Lisa Eyler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, USA; Desert-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, USA
| | - Karen Pierce
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Eric Courchesne
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, USA
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185
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Cardon GJ, Hepburn S, Rojas DC. Structural Covariance of Sensory Networks, the Cerebellum, and Amygdala in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurol 2017; 8:615. [PMID: 29230189 PMCID: PMC5712069 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory dysfunction is a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and abnormalities with sensory responsivity and processing can be extremely debilitating to ASD patients and their families. However, relatively little is known about the underlying neuroanatomical and neurophysiological factors that lead to sensory abnormalities in ASD. Investigation into these aspects of ASD could lead to significant advancements in our general knowledge about ASD, as well as provide targets for treatment and inform diagnostic procedures. Thus, the current study aimed to measure the covariation of volumes of brain structures (i.e., structural magnetic resonance imaging) that may be involved in abnormal sensory processing, in order to infer connectivity of these brain regions. Specifically, we quantified the structural covariation of sensory-related cerebral cortical structures, in addition to the cerebellum and amygdala by computing partial correlations between the structural volumes of these structures. These analyses were performed in participants with ASD (n = 36), as well as typically developing peers (n = 32). Results showed decreased structural covariation between sensory-related cortical structures, especially between the left and right cerebral hemispheres, in participants with ASD. In contrast, these same participants presented with increased structural covariation of structures in the right cerebral hemisphere. Additionally, sensory-related cerebral structures exhibited decreased structural covariation with functionally identified cerebellar networks. Also, the left amygdala showed significantly increased structural covariation with cerebral structures related to visual processing. Taken together, these results may suggest several patterns of altered connectivity both within and between cerebral cortices and other brain structures that may be related to sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett J Cardon
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Susan Hepburn
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Donald C Rojas
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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186
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Gilbert J, Man HY. Fundamental Elements in Autism: From Neurogenesis and Neurite Growth to Synaptic Plasticity. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:359. [PMID: 29209173 PMCID: PMC5701944 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of neurodevelopmental disorders with a high prevalence and impact on society. ASDs are characterized by deficits in both social behavior and cognitive function. There is a strong genetic basis underlying ASDs that is highly heterogeneous; however, multiple studies have highlighted the involvement of key processes, including neurogenesis, neurite growth, synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review article, we focus on the major genes and signaling pathways implicated in ASD and discuss the cellular, molecular and functional studies that have shed light on common dysregulated pathways using in vitro, in vivo and human evidence. HighlightsAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a prevalence of 1 in 68 children in the United States. ASDs are highly heterogeneous in their genetic basis. ASDs share common features at the cellular and molecular levels in the brain. Most ASD genes are implicated in neurogenesis, structural maturation, synaptogenesis and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Gilbert
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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187
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Hanson KL, Lew CH, Hrvoj-Mihic B, Groeniger KM, Halgren E, Bellugi U, Semendeferi K. Increased glia density in the caudate nucleus in williams syndrome: Implications for frontostriatal dysfunction in autism. Dev Neurobiol 2017; 78:531-545. [PMID: 29090517 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder with a well-described, known genetic etiology. In contrast to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), WS has a unique phenotype characterized by global reductions in IQ and visuospatial ability, with relatively preserved language function, enhanced reactivity to social stimuli and music, and an unusual eagerness to interact socially with strangers. A duplication of the deleted region in WS has been implicated in a subset of ASD cases, defining a spectrum of genetic and behavioral variation at this locus defined by these opposite extremes in social behavior. The hypersociability characteristic of WS may be linked to abnormalities of frontostriatal circuitry that manifest as deficits in inhibitory control of behavior. Here, we examined the density of neurons and glia in associative and limbic territories of the striatum including the caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens regions in Nissl stained sections in five pairs of age, sex, and hemisphere-matched WS and typically-developing control (TD) subjects. In contrast to what is reported in ASD, no significant increase in overall neuron density was observed in this study. However, we found a significant increase in the density of glia in the dorsal caudate nucleus, and in the ratio of glia to neurons in the dorsal and medial caudate nucleus in WS, accompanied by a significant increase in density of oligodendrocytes in the medial caudate nucleus. These cellular abnormalities may underlie reduced frontostriatal activity observed in WS, with implications for understanding altered connectivity and function in ASD. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 531-545, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L Hanson
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Caroline H Lew
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Branka Hrvoj-Mihic
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Kimberly M Groeniger
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Eric Halgren
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Ursula Bellugi
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience, Salk Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Katerina Semendeferi
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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188
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Yamasaki T, Maekawa T, Fujita T, Tobimatsu S. Connectopathy in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Evidence from Visual Evoked Potentials and Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:627. [PMID: 29170625 PMCID: PMC5684146 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show superior performance in processing fine details; however, they often exhibit impairments of gestalt face, global motion perception, and visual attention as well as core social deficits. Increasing evidence has suggested that social deficits in ASD arise from abnormal functional and structural connectivities between and within distributed cortical networks that are recruited during social information processing. Because the human visual system is characterized by a set of parallel, hierarchical, multistage network systems, we hypothesized that the altered connectivity of visual networks contributes to social cognition impairment in ASD. In the present review, we focused on studies of altered connectivity of visual and attention networks in ASD using visual evoked potentials (VEPs), event-related potentials (ERPs), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A series of VEP, ERP, and DTI studies conducted in our laboratory have demonstrated complex alterations (impairment and enhancement) of visual and attention networks in ASD. Recent data have suggested that the atypical visual perception observed in ASD is caused by altered connectivity within parallel visual pathways and attention networks, thereby contributing to the impaired social communication observed in ASD. Therefore, we conclude that the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of ASD constitutes a “connectopathy.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Takao Yamasaki
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Minkodo Minohara Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Maekawa
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takako Fujita
- Department of Pediatrics, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shozo Tobimatsu
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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189
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DePriest J, Glushko A, Steinhauer K, Koelsch S. Language and music phrase boundary processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An ERP study. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14465. [PMID: 29089535 PMCID: PMC5663964 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14538-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with communicative impairment, regardless of intelligence level or mental age. Impairment of prosodic processing in particular is a common feature of ASD. Despite extensive overlap in neural resources involved in prosody and music processing, music perception seems to be spared in this population. The present study is the first to investigate prosodic phrasing in ASD in both language and music, combining event-related brain potential (ERP) and behavioral methods. We tested phrase boundary processing in language and music in neuro-typical adults and high-functioning individuals with ASD. We targeted an ERP response associated with phrase boundary processing in both language and music - i.e., the Closure Positive Shift (CPS). While a language-CPS was observed in the neuro-typical group, for ASD participants a smaller response failed to reach statistical significance. In music, we found a boundary-onset music-CPS for both groups during pauses between musical phrases. Our results support the view of preserved processing of musical cues in ASD individuals, with a corresponding prosodic impairment. This suggests that, despite the existence of a domain-general processing mechanism (the CPS), key differences in the integration of features of language and music may lead to the prosodic impairment in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- John DePriest
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Program in Linguistics, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
| | - Anastasia Glushko
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Karsten Steinhauer
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- The Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Stefan Koelsch
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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190
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Ouyang M, Kang H, Detre JA, Roberts TPL, Huang H. Short-range connections in the developmental connectome during typical and atypical brain maturation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 83:109-122. [PMID: 29024679 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2017] [Revised: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The human brain is remarkably complex with connectivity constituting its basic organizing principle. Although long-range connectivity has been focused on in most research, short-range connectivity is characterized by unique and spatiotemporally heterogeneous dynamics from infancy to adulthood. Alterations in the maturational dynamics of short-range connectivity has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia. Recent advances in neuroimaging techniques, especially diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), have made quantification of short-range connectivity possible in pediatric populations. This review summarizes findings on the development of short-range functional and structural connections at the macroscale. These findings suggest an inverted U-shaped pattern of maturation from primary to higher-order brain regions, and possible "hyper-" and "hypo-" short-range connections in autism and schizophrenia, respectively. The precisely balanced short- and long-range connections contribute to the integration and segregation of the connectome during development. The mechanistic relationship among short-range connectivity maturation, the developmental connectome and emerging brain functions needs further investigation, including the refinement of methodological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhui Ouyang
- Radiology Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Huiying Kang
- Radiology Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Radiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - John A Detre
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, United States; Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, United States
| | - Timothy P L Roberts
- Radiology Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, United States
| | - Hao Huang
- Radiology Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, United States.
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191
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Fukuda T, Yanagi S. Psychiatric behaviors associated with cytoskeletal defects in radial neuronal migration. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:3533-3552. [PMID: 28516224 PMCID: PMC11107632 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2539-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Normal development of the cerebral cortex is an important process for higher brain functions, such as language, and cognitive and social functions. Psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, are thought to develop owing to various dysfunctions occurring during the development of the cerebral cortex. Radial neuronal migration in the embryonic cerebral cortex is a complex process, which is achieved by strict control of cytoskeletal dynamics, and impairments in this process are suggested to cause various psychiatric disorders. Our recent findings indicate that radial neuronal migration as well as psychiatric behaviors is rescued by controlling microtubule stability during the embryonic stage. In this review, we outline the relationship between psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, and radial neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex by focusing on the cytoskeleton and centrosomes. New treatment strategies for psychiatric disorders will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshifumi Fukuda
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
| | - Shigeru Yanagi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
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192
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Liu T, Liu X, Yi L, Zhu C, Markey PS, Pelowski M. Assessing autism at its social and developmental roots: A review of Autism Spectrum Disorder studies using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Neuroimage 2017; 185:955-967. [PMID: 28966083 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We review a relatively new method for studying the developing brain in children and infants with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite advances in behavioral screening and brain imaging, due to paradigms that do not easily allow for testing of awake, very young, and socially-engaged children-i.e., the social and the baby brain-the biological underpinnings of this disorder remain a mystery. We introduce an approach based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which offers a noninvasive imaging technique for studying functional activations by measuring changes in the brain's hemodynamic properties. This further enables measurement of brain activation in upright, interactive settings, while maintaining general equivalence to fMRI findings. We review the existing studies that have used fNIRS for ASD, discussing their promise, limitations, and their technical aspects, gearing this study to the researcher who may be new to this technique and highlighting potential targets for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Liu
- School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xingchen Liu
- College of Education and Psychology, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China
| | - Li Yi
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chaozhe Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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193
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Chomiak T, Hu B. Mechanisms of Hierarchical Cortical Maturation. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:272. [PMID: 28959187 PMCID: PMC5604079 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical information processing is structurally and functionally organized into hierarchical pathways, with primary sensory cortical regions providing modality specific information and associative cortical regions playing a more integrative role. Historically, there has been debate as to whether primary cortical regions mature earlier than associative cortical regions, or whether both primary and associative cortical regions mature simultaneously. Identifying whether primary and associative cortical regions mature hierarchically or simultaneously will not only deepen our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate brain maturation, but it will also provide fundamental insight into aspects of adolescent behavior, learning, neurodevelopmental disorders and computational models of neural processing. This mini-review article summarizes the current evidence supporting the sequential and hierarchical nature of cortical maturation, and then proposes a new cellular model underlying this process. Finally, unresolved issues associated with hierarchical cortical maturation are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Chomiak
- Division of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bin Hu
- Division of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgary, AB, Canada
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194
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Lynch CJ, Breeden AL, You X, Ludlum R, Gaillard WD, Kenworthy L, Vaidya CJ. Executive Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Associated With a Failure to Modulate Frontoparietal-insular Hub Architecture. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2017; 2:537-545. [PMID: 29348041 PMCID: PMC5777314 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comorbid executive dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a barrier to adaptive functioning, despite remittance of core social-communication symptoms. Network models of ASD address core symptoms but not comorbid executive dysfunction. Following recent demonstrations in healthy adults that, with increasing executive demands, hubs embedded within frontoparietal-insular control networks interact with a more diverse set of networks, we hypothesized that the capability of hubs to do so is perturbed in ASD and predicts executive behavior. METHODS Seventy-five 7- to 13-year-old children with ASD (n = 35) and age- and IQ-matched typically developing control subjects (n = 40) completed both a resting-state and a selective attention task functional magnetic resonance imaging session. We assessed changes in the participation coefficient, a graph theory metric indexing hubness, of 264 brain regions comprising 12 functional networks between the two sessions. Parent reported executive impairment in everyday life was measured using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. RESULTS The participation coefficient of the frontoparietal-insular cortex, including core nodes of the frontoparietal control and salience networks, significantly increased in typically developing children but not in children with ASD during the task relative to rest. Change in frontoparietal-insular participation coefficient predicted Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function scores indexing the ability to attend to task-oriented output, plan and organize, and sustain working memory. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that executive impairments in ASD emerge from a failure of frontoparietal-insular control regions to function as adaptive and integrative hubs in the brain's functional network architecture. Our results also demonstrate the utility of examining dynamic network function for elucidating potential biomarkers for disorders with comorbid executive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J Lynch
- Department of Psychology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
| | - Andrew L Breeden
- Department of Psychology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | - Xiaozhen You
- Center for Neuroscience Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | - Ruth Ludlum
- Department of Psychology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | - William D Gaillard
- Center for Neuroscience Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | - Lauren Kenworthy
- Center for Neuroscience Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | - Chandan J Vaidya
- Department of Psychology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; Center for Neuroscience Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
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195
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Kam TE, Suk HI, Lee SW. Multiple functional networks modeling for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:5804-5821. [PMID: 28845892 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite countless studies on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), diagnosis relies on specific behavioral criteria and neuroimaging biomarkers for the disorder are still relatively scarce and irrelevant for diagnostic workup. Many researchers have focused on functional networks of brain activities using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) to diagnose brain diseases, including ASD. Although some existing methods are able to reveal the abnormalities in functional networks, they are either highly dependent on prior assumptions for modeling these networks or do not focus on latent functional connectivities (FCs) by considering discriminative relations among FCs in a nonlinear way. In this article, we propose a novel framework to model multiple networks of rsfMRI with data-driven approaches. Specifically, we construct large-scale functional networks with hierarchical clustering and find discriminative connectivity patterns between ASD and normal controls (NC). We then learn features and classifiers for each cluster through discriminative restricted Boltzmann machines (DRBMs). In the testing phase, each DRBM determines whether a test sample is ASD or NC, based on which we make a final decision with a majority voting strategy. We assess the diagnostic performance of the proposed method using public datasets and describe the effectiveness of our method by comparing it to competing methods. We also rigorously analyze FCs learned by DRBMs on each cluster and discover dominant FCs that play a major role in discriminating between ASD and NC. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5804-5821, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Eui Kam
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Heung-Il Suk
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Whan Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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196
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Lewis JD, Evans AC, Pruett JR, Botteron KN, McKinstry RC, Zwaigenbaum L, Estes AM, Collins DL, Kostopoulos P, Gerig G, Dager SR, Paterson S, Schultz RT, Styner MA, Hazlett HC, Piven J. The Emergence of Network Inefficiencies in Infants With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 82:176-185. [PMID: 28460842 PMCID: PMC5524449 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder defined by behavioral features that emerge during the first years of life. Research indicates that abnormalities in brain connectivity are associated with these behavioral features. However, the inclusion of individuals past the age of onset of the defining behaviors complicates interpretation of the observed abnormalities: they may be cascade effects of earlier neuropathology and behavioral abnormalities. Our recent study of network efficiency in a cohort of 24-month-olds at high and low familial risk for ASD reduced this confound; we reported reduced network efficiencies in toddlers classified with ASD. The current study maps the emergence of these inefficiencies in the first year of life. METHODS This study uses data from 260 infants at 6 and 12 months of age, including 116 infants with longitudinal data. As in our earlier study, we use diffusion data to obtain measures of the length and strength of connections between brain regions to compute network efficiency. We assess group differences in efficiency within linear mixed-effects models determined by the Akaike information criterion. RESULTS Inefficiencies in high-risk infants later classified with ASD were detected from 6 months onward in regions involved in low-level sensory processing. In addition, within the high-risk infants, these inefficiencies predicted 24-month symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that infants with ASD, even before 6 months of age, have deficits in connectivity related to low-level processing, which contribute to a developmental cascade affecting brain organization and eventually higher-level cognitive processes and social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Lewis
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Alan C Evans
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - John R Pruett
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri; Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Kelly N Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri; Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Robert C McKinstry
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Annette M Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - D Louis Collins
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Guido Gerig
- Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Stephen R Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sarah Paterson
- Center for Autism Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert T Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Martin A Styner
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Heather C Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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197
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Takahashi T, Yamanishi T, Nobukawa S, Kasakawa S, Yoshimura Y, Hiraishi H, Hasegawa C, Ikeda T, Hirosawa T, Munesue T, Higashida H, Minabe Y, Kikuchi M. Band-specific atypical functional connectivity pattern in childhood autism spectrum disorder. Clin Neurophysiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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198
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Fernández M, Mollinedo-Gajate I, Peñagarikano O. Neural Circuits for Social Cognition: Implications for Autism. Neuroscience 2017; 370:148-162. [PMID: 28729065 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Social neuroscience, the study of the neurobiological basis of social behavior, has become a major area of current research in behavioral neuroscience and psychiatry, since many psychiatric disorders are characterized by social deficits. Social behavior refers to the behavioral response with regard to socially relevant information, and requires the perception and integration of social cues through a complex cognition process (i.e. social cognition) that involves attention, memory, motivation and emotion. Neurobiological and molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior are highly conserved across species, and inter- and intra-specific variability observed in social behavior can be explained to large extent by differential activity of this conserved neural network. Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have greatly informed about the brain structures and their connectivity networks that are important for social cognition. Animal research has been crucial for identifying specific circuits and molecular mechanisms that modulate this structural network. From a molecular neurobiology perspective, activity in these brain structures is coordinated by neuronal circuits modulated by several neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Thus, quantitative variation in the levels, release and/or receptor density of these molecules could affect the observed behavioral response. The present review presents an overall framework of the components of the social brain circuitry and its modulation. By integrating multiple research approaches, from human fMRI studies to animal models we can start shedding light into how dysfunction in these circuits could lead to disorders of social-functioning such as Autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Fernández
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa 48940, Spain
| | - Irene Mollinedo-Gajate
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa 48940, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Olga Peñagarikano
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa 48940, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain.
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199
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Huang Y, Zhang J, Cui Y, Yang G, He L, Liu Q, Yin G. How Different EEG References Influence Sensor Level Functional Connectivity Graphs. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:368. [PMID: 28725175 PMCID: PMC5496954 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Highlights: Hamming Distance is applied to distinguish the difference of functional connectivity networkThe orientations of sources are testified to influence the scalp Functional Connectivity Graph (FCG) from different references significantlyREST, the reference electrode standardization technique, is proved to have an overall stable and excellent performance in variable situations. The choice of an electroencephalograph (EEG) reference is a practical issue for the study of brain functional connectivity. To study how EEG reference influence functional connectivity estimation (FCE), this study compares the differences of FCE resulting from the different references such as REST (the reference electrode standardization technique), average reference (AR), linked mastoids (LM), and left mastoid references (LR). Simulations involve two parts. One is based on 300 dipolar pairs, which are located on the superficial cortex with a radial source direction. The other part is based on 20 dipolar pairs. In each pair, the dipoles have various orientation combinations. The relative error (RE) and Hamming distance (HD) between functional connectivity matrices of ideal recordings and that of recordings obtained with different references, are metrics to compare the differences of the scalp functional connectivity graph (FCG) derived from those two kinds of recordings. Lower RE and HD values imply more similarity between the two FCGs. Using the ideal recording (IR) as a standard, the results show that AR, LM and LR perform well only in specific conditions, i.e., AR performs stable when there is no upward component in sources' orientation. LR achieves desirable results when the sources' locations are away from left ear. LM achieves an indistinct difference with IR, i.e., when the distribution of source locations is symmetric along the line linking the two ears. However, REST not only achieves excellent performance for superficial and radial dipolar sources, but also achieves a stable and robust performance with variable source locations and orientations. Benefitting from the stable and robust performance of REST vs. other reference methods, REST might best recover the real FCG of EEG. Thus, REST based FCG may be a good candidate to compare the FCG of EEG based on different references from different labs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunzhi Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China.,School of Electrical Engineering and Information, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
| | - Junpeng Zhang
- School of Electrical Engineering and Information, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
| | - Yuan Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chengdu Medical CollegeChengdu, China
| | - Gang Yang
- School of Electrical Engineering and Information, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
| | - Ling He
- School of Electrical Engineering and Information, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
| | - Qi Liu
- School of Electrical Engineering and Information, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
| | - Guangfu Yin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan UniversityChengdu, China
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200
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Cheng N, Alshammari F, Hughes E, Khanbabaei M, Rho JM. Dendritic overgrowth and elevated ERK signaling during neonatal development in a mouse model of autism. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179409. [PMID: 28609458 PMCID: PMC5469475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as “ASD”) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social communication and interactions, and restricted, repetitive activities or interests. Alterations in network connectivity and memory function are frequently observed in autism patients, often involving the hippocampus. However, specific changes during early brain development leading to disrupted functioning remain largely unclear. Here, we investigated the development of dendritic arbor of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in the BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mouse model of autism. BTBR mice display the defining behavioural features of autism, and also exhibit impaired learning and memory. We found that compared to control C57BL/6J (B6) animals, the lengths of both apical and basal dendrites were significantly greater in neonatal BTBR animals. Further, basal dendrites in the BTBR mice had higher branching complexity. In contrast, cross-sectional area of the soma was unchanged. In addition, we observed a similar density of CA1 pyramidal neurons and thickness of the neuronal layer between the two strains. Thus, there was a specific, compartmentalized overgrowth of dendrites during early development in the BTBR animals. Biochemical analysis further showed that the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) pathway was up-regulated in the hippocampus of neonatal BTBR animals. Since dendritic structure is critical for information integration and relay, our data suggest that altered development of dendrites could potentially contribute to impaired hippocampal function and behavior observed in the BTBR model, and that this might be related to increased activation of the ERK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Cheng
- Developmental Neurosciences Research Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Fawaz Alshammari
- O’Brien Centre for the Bachelor of Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Hughes
- Developmental Neurosciences Research Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maryam Khanbabaei
- Developmental Neurosciences Research Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jong M. Rho
- Departments of Pediatrics, Clinical Neurosciences, Physiology & Pharmacology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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