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Li T, Decety J, Hua Z, Li G, Yi L. Empathy in autistic children: Emotional overarousal in response to others' physical pain. Autism Res 2024. [PMID: 39087850 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Different empathic responses are often reported in autism but remain controversial. To investigate which component of empathy is most affected by autism, we examined the affective, cognitive, and motivational components of empathy in 25 5- to 8-year-old autistic and 27 neurotypical children. Participants were presented with visual stimuli depicting people's limbs in painful or nonpainful situations while their eye movements, pupillary responses, and verbal ratings of pain intensity and empathic concern were recorded. The results indicate an emotional overarousal and reduced empathic concern to others' pain in autism. Compared with neurotypical children, autistic children displayed larger pupil dilation accompanied by attentional avoidance to others' pain. Moreover, even though autistic children rated others in painful situations as painful, they felt less sorry than neurotypical children. Interestingly, autistic children felt more sorry in nonpainful situations compared with neurotypical children. These findings demonstrated an emotional overarousal in response to others' pain in autistic children, and provide important implications for clinical practice aiming to promote socio-emotional understanding in autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbi Li
- Department of Psychology, Normal College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences & Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jean Decety
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Zihui Hua
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences & Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guoxiang Li
- Qingdao Autism Research Institute, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Li Yi
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences & Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at PKU, Peking University, Beijing, China
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2
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Li T, Xiong Q, Shi R, Yi L. Autistic and Non-autistic Children's Pain Perception is Modulated by Their First-Hand Pain Sensitivity and Theory of Mind. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:1173-1182. [PMID: 38345657 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-024-01176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
The current study examined whether autistic children's perception of others' pain could be modulated by their first-hand pain sensitivity and theory of mind (ToM). We measured the first-hand pain sensitivity, the rating of others' pain intensity, and the performance in the ToM tasks in 43 5- to 8-year-old autistic and 30 neurotypical children. Our results revealed hyposensitivity to first-hand pain, underestimation of others' pain intensity, as well as difficulties in the False Belief subtasks of ToM in autistic children. Furthermore, we detected an interaction between children's first-hand pain sensitivity and ToM in predicting their perception of others' pain. To be specific, for autistic and NT children with normal or hyper-sensitivity to first-hand pain, better performance on ToM predicted higher ratings for others' pain intensity; while for autistic and NT children with hyposensitivity to first-hand pain, ToM did not predict ratings for others' pain intensity. Our study contributes to the understanding of pain perception in young children and provides implications for clinical practices to improve social understanding in autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbi Li
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences & Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qianhan Xiong
- Department of Counseling Psychology, Social Psychology, and Counseling, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
| | - Ruoxi Shi
- Qingdao Autism Research Institute, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Li Yi
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences & Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at PKU Peking University, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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3
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Flasbeck V, Matthiessen A, Alabowitz A, Rusu AC, Brüne M. Is your pain my pain? A study exploring the relation between pain sensitivity, pain thresholds and empathy for somatic and psychological pain. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 62:748-761. [PMID: 37605326 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Research has shown that empathy for both somatic and psychological pain recruits affective components of the so-called pain matrix, a set of brain regions that is activated during the perception of somatic pain. In addition, the subjective evaluation of experimentally induced somatic pain is related to empathy for somatic pain. In contrast, it is unclear whether or not the subjective sensitivity to somatic pain impacts on empathy for psychological pain. METHODS In the present study, 55 healthy participants conducted a pain-pressure-test (PPT) and a cold-pressor test (CPT) in order to assess pain thresholds, pain tolerance and evaluation of pain during the task. They further conducted the social interaction empathy task (SIET), which investigates empathy for somatic as well as psychological pain. All participants completed the interpersonal-reactivity index (IRI) and the pain-sensitivity questionnaire (PSQ). RESULTS Participants who are in general more sensitive to somatic pain, as indicated by high-PSQ scores, showed higher empathy, that is, higher pain ratings, for both somatic and psychological painful situations observed in others as compared to those with low-PSQ scores. High-PSQ scores and high pain and unpleasantness ratings during the CPT were correlated with empathy for pain (both pain conditions), whereas pain thresholds (PPT) and pain tolerance thresholds (CPT) did not correlate with empathy. The IRI subscore 'personal distress' correlated with psychological pain ratings. CONCLUSIONS Thus, empathy for both somatic and psychological pain were related to the subjective evaluation of somatic pain and general pain sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Flasbeck
- Division of Social Neuropsychiatry and Evolutionary Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Annegret Matthiessen
- Division of Social Neuropsychiatry and Evolutionary Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anne Alabowitz
- Division of Social Neuropsychiatry and Evolutionary Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Adina Carmen Rusu
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Martin Brüne
- Division of Social Neuropsychiatry and Evolutionary Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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4
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Olde Heuvel F, Ouali Alami N, Aousji O, Pogatzki-Zahn E, Zahn PK, Wilhelm H, Deshpande D, Khatamsaz E, Catanese A, Woelfle S, Schön M, Jain S, Grabrucker S, Ludolph AC, Verpelli C, Michaelis J, Boeckers TM, Roselli F. Shank2 identifies a subset of glycinergic neurons involved in altered nociception in an autism model. Mol Autism 2023; 14:21. [PMID: 37316943 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00552-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) patients experience disturbed nociception in the form of either hyposensitivity to pain or allodynia. A substantial amount of processing of somatosensory and nociceptive stimulus takes place in the dorsal spinal cord. However, many of these circuits are not very well understood in the context of nociceptive processing in ASD. METHODS We have used a Shank2-/- mouse model, which displays a set of phenotypes reminiscent of ASD, and performed behavioural and microscopic analysis to investigate the role of dorsal horn circuitry in nociceptive processing of ASD. RESULTS We determined that Shank2-/- mice display increased sensitivity to formalin pain and thermal preference, but a sensory specific mechanical allodynia. We demonstrate that high levels of Shank2 expression identifies a subpopulation of neurons in murine and human dorsal spinal cord, composed mainly by glycinergic interneurons and that loss of Shank2 causes the decrease in NMDAR in excitatory synapses on these inhibitory interneurons. In fact, in the subacute phase of the formalin test, glycinergic interneurons are strongly activated in wild type (WT) mice but not in Shank2-/- mice. Consequently, nociception projection neurons in laminae I are activated in larger numbers in Shank2-/- mice. LIMITATIONS Our investigation is limited to male mice, in agreement with the higher representation of ASD in males; therefore, caution should be applied to extrapolate the findings to females. Furthermore, ASD is characterized by extensive genetic diversity and therefore the findings related to Shank2 mutant mice may not necessarily apply to patients with different gene mutations. Since nociceptive phenotypes in ASD range between hyper- and hypo-sensitivity, diverse mutations may affect the circuit in opposite ways. CONCLUSION Our findings prove that Shank2 expression identifies a new subset of inhibitory interneurons involved in reducing the transmission of nociceptive stimuli and whose unchecked activation is associated with pain hypersensitivity. We provide evidence that dysfunction in spinal cord pain processing may contribute to the nociceptive phenotypes in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Najwa Ouali Alami
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- International PhD Program, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Esther Pogatzki-Zahn
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Peter K Zahn
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Hanna Wilhelm
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Alberto Catanese
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sarah Woelfle
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sanjay Jain
- Department of Internal Medicine (Renal), Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA
| | | | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Chiara Verpelli
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Science Council, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany.
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany.
- Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Helmholtzstraße 8/2, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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5
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Fittipaldi S, Armony JL, Migeot J, Cadaveira M, Ibáñez A, Baez S. Overactivation of posterior insular, postcentral and temporal regions during preserved experience of envy in autism. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:705-717. [PMID: 36628571 PMCID: PMC11170468 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Social emotions are critical to successfully navigate in a complex social world because they promote self-regulation of behaviour. Difficulties in social behaviour are at the core of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, social emotions and their neural correlates have been scarcely investigated in this population. In particular, the experience of envy has not been addressed in ASD despite involving neurocognitive processes crucially compromised in this condition. Here, we used an fMRI adapted version of a well-validated task to investigate the subjective experience of envy and its neural correlates in adults with ASD (n = 30) in comparison with neurotypical controls (n = 28). Results revealed that both groups reported similarly intense experience of envy in association with canonical activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula, among other regions. However, in participants with ASD, the experience of envy was accompanied by overactivation of the posterior insula, the postcentral gyrus and the posterior superior temporal gyrus, regions subserving the processing of painful experiences and mentalizing. This pattern of results suggests that individuals with ASD may use compensatory strategies based on the embodied amplification of pain and additional mentalizing efforts to shape their subjective experience of envy. Results have relevant implications to better understand the heterogeneity of this condition and to develop new intervention targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Fittipaldi
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), USA, and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge L. Armony
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Dept. of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Joaquín Migeot
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), USA, and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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6
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Zhang W, Zhuo S, Li X, Peng W. Autistic Traits and Empathy for Others' Pain Among the General Population: Test of the Mediating Effects of First-Hand Pain Sensitivity. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 53:2006-2020. [PMID: 35217943 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by reduced pain empathy-a process that is grounded in first-hand pain perception. Because autistic traits are continuously distributed in the general population, we hypothesized that first-hand pain sensitivity would mediate the link between autistic traits and pain empathy. After controlling for alexithymia, higher autistic traits were associated with lower cognitive and emotional empathy in response to others' pain, as well as lower sensitivity to cold and heat pain (higher cold pain tolerance and lower laser heat pain-intensity ratings). Importantly, pain sensitivity fully mediated the link between autistic traits and pain empathy. These findings highlight the role of atypical first-hand pain sensitivity in the lack of pain empathy observed in people with high autistic traits or ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyun Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Nanhai Ave 3688, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiwei Zhuo
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Nanhai Ave 3688, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Nanhai Ave 3688, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiwei Peng
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Nanhai Ave 3688, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China.
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7
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Helt MS, Sorensen TM, Scheub RJ, Nakhle MB, Luddy AC. Patterns of Contagious Yawning and Itching Differ Amongst Adults With Autistic Traits vs. Psychopathic Traits. Front Psychol 2021; 12:645310. [PMID: 33897548 PMCID: PMC8063025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Both individuals with diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and individuals high in psychopathic traits show reduced susceptibility to contagious yawning; that is, yawning after seeing or hearing another person yawn. Yet it is unclear whether the same underlying processes (e.g., reduced eye gaze) are responsible for the relationship between reduced contagion and these very different types of clinical traits. College Students (n = 97) watched videos of individuals yawning or scratching (a form of contagion not reliant on eye gaze for transmission) while their eye movements were tracked. They completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Psychopathy Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R), and the Adolescent and Adult Sensory Processing Disorder Checklist. Both psychopathic traits and autistic traits showed an inverse relationship to contagious yawning, consistent with previous research. However, the relationship between autistic (but not psychopathic) traits and contagious yawning was moderated by eye gaze. Furthermore, participants high in autistic traits showed typical levels of contagious itching whereas adults high in psychopathic traits showed diminished itch contagion. Finally, only psychopathic traits were associated with lower overall levels of empathy. The findings imply that the underlying processes contributing to the disruptions in contagious yawning amongst individuals high in autistic vs. psychopathic traits are distinct. In contrast to adults high in psychopathic traits, diminished contagion may appear amongst people with high levels of autistic traits secondary to diminished attention to the faces of others, and in the absence of a background deficit in emotional empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly S. Helt
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, United States
| | - Taylor M. Sorensen
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, United States
- New England Center for Children, Southborough, MA, United States
| | - Rachel J. Scheub
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, United States
- Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Mira B. Nakhle
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, United States
- Department of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Anna C. Luddy
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, United States
- Mass General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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8
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Abnormalities in pain sensitivity among individuals with autism spectrum disorder: Evidence from meta-analysis. ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA SINICA 2021. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1041.2021.00613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Dirupo G, Corradi-Dell’Acqua C, Kashef M, Debbané M, Badoud D. The role of interoception in understanding others' affect. Dissociation between superficial and detailed appraisal of facial expressions. Cortex 2020; 130:16-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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10
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Li X, Liu Y, Ye Q, Lu X, Peng W. The linkage between first-hand pain sensitivity and empathy for others' pain: Attention matters. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:4815-4828. [PMID: 32761989 PMCID: PMC7643373 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies suggested shared psychological and neural representations for first-hand physical pain and empathy for others' pain, both of which depend strongly upon top-down controlled mechanisms such as attention. This study aimed to assess the interindividual variation in first-hand physical pain and empathy for pain, and whether their relationship is dependent upon attention. We recruited participants exhibiting high and low sensitivity to first-hand pain (HPS and LPS), and adopted pain empathy paradigms involving attention directed toward or withdrawn from pain of another. Relative to the LPS group, participants in the HPS group estimated greater pain intensity experienced by others, felt greater unpleasantness when viewing others in pain, and exhibited greater sensitivity in discriminating others' pain. Electroencephalographic data showed that when attention was directed toward others' pain, only participants in the HPS group exhibited significant pain empathic effects on the N1 component of event-related potentials and on the α-oscillation response. These empathic neural responses mediated the linkage between first-hand pain sensitivity and empathic behavioral responses. Nevertheless, empathic responses were comparable between two groups when attention was withdrawn from others' pain. These results demonstrate a shared sensitivity to first-hand pain and empathy for pain provided that attention is directed toward pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qian Ye
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuejing Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Peng
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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11
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Abstract
We tested endogenous pain modulation mechanisms in adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Nineteen ASD adults without intellectual disabilities were included, matched with 19 healthy volunteers on the basis of sex and chronological age. An experimental pain model was used to measure excitatory and inhibitory pain mechanisms in a single session. Statistical analyses indicated that endogenous pain modulation mechanisms in ASD group did not differ significantly from those of healthy adults. The pain scores were very disparate in ASD group with a greater range of extreme scores than in control group. Unlike schizophrenic patients, there was no systematic dysfunction of endogenous excitatory pain modulation mechanisms, but the high variability requires to be wise to interpret the results and formulate conclusion.
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12
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Williams ZJ, Failla MD, Davis SL, Heflin BH, Okitondo CD, Moore DJ, Cascio CJ. Thermal Perceptual Thresholds are typical in Autism Spectrum Disorder but Strongly Related to Intra-individual Response Variability. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12595. [PMID: 31467358 PMCID: PMC6715703 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49103-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often reported to exhibit an apparent indifference to pain or temperature. Leading models suggest that this behavior is the result of elevated perceptual thresholds for thermal stimuli, but data to support these assertions are inconclusive. An alternative proposal suggests that the sensory features of ASD arise from increased intra-individual perceptual variability. In this study, we measured method-of-limits warm and cool detection thresholds in 142 individuals (83 with ASD, 59 with typical development [TD], aged 7-54 years), testing relationships with diagnostic group, demographics, and clinical measures. We also investigated the relationship between detection thresholds and a novel measure of intra-individual (trial-to-trial) threshold variability, a putative index of "perceptual noise." This investigation found no differences in thermal detection thresholds between individuals with ASD and typical controls, despite large differences between groups in sensory reactivity questionnaires and modest group differences in intra-individual variability. Lower performance IQ, male sex, and higher intra-individual variability in threshold estimates were the most significant predictors of elevated detection thresholds. Although no psychophysical measure was significantly correlated with questionnaire measures of sensory hyporeactivity, large intra-individual variability may partially explain the elevated psychophysical thresholds seen in a subset of the ASD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J Williams
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
| | - Michelle D Failla
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Samona L Davis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Brynna H Heflin
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Christian D Okitondo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - David J Moore
- Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 5UA, UK
| | - Carissa J Cascio
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
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14
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Abstract
Pain is a universal, multidimensional experience with sensory, emotional, cognitive, and social components, which is fundamental to our environmental learning when functioning typically. Understanding pain processing in psychiatric conditions could provide unique insight into the underlying pathophysiology or psychiatric disease, especially given the psychobiological overlap with pain processing pathways. Studying pain in psychiatric conditions is likely to provide important insights, yet, there is a limited understanding beyond the work in depression and anxiety. This is a missed opportunity to describe psychiatric conditions in terms of neurobiological alterations. To examine the research into the pain experiences of these groups and the extent to which a-typicality is present, a systematic review was conducted. An electronic search strategy was developed and conducted in several databases. The current systematic review included 46 studies covering five Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) disorders: autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, personality disorder, and eating disorders, confirming tentative evidence of altered pain and touch processing. Specifically, hyposensitivity is reported in schizophrenia, personality disorder and eating disorder, hypersensitivity in ADHD, and mixed results for autism. Review of the research highlights a degree of methodological inconsistency in the utilization of comprehensive protocols, the lack of which fails to allow us to understand whether a-typicality is systemic or modality specific.
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15
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Chen C, Martínez RM, Cheng Y. The Developmental Origins of the Social Brain: Empathy, Morality, and Justice. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2584. [PMID: 30618998 PMCID: PMC6302010 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The social brain is the cornerstone that effectively negotiates and navigates complex social environments and relationships. When mature, these social abilities facilitate the interaction and cooperation with others. Empathy, morality, and justice, among others, are all closely intertwined, yet the relationships between them are quite complex. They are fundamental components of our human nature, and shape the landscape of our social lives. The various facets of empathy, including affective arousal/emotional sharing, empathic concern, and perspective taking, have unique contributions as subcomponents of morality. This review helps understand how basic forms of empathy, morality, and justice are substantialized in early ontogeny. It provides valuable information as to gain new insights into the underlying neurobiological precursors of the social brain, enabling future translation toward therapeutic and medical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyi Chen
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Research Center of Brain and Consciousness, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Róger Marcelo Martínez
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan.,Institute of Neuroscience and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yawei Cheng
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan.,Institute of Neuroscience and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Bileviciute-Ljungar I, Maroti D, Bejerot S. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome do not score higher on the autism-spectrum quotient than healthy controls: Comparison with autism spectrum disorder. Scand J Psychol 2018; 59:428-432. [DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Indre Bileviciute-Ljungar
- Department of Clinical Sciences; Danderyd University Hospital; Karolinska Institutet; and ME/CFS-rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine; Danderyd University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- ME/CFS-unit; Pain and Rehabilitation Center; Region Östergotland; Linköping Sweden
| | - Daniel Maroti
- Department of Clinical Sciences; Danderyd University Hospital; Karolinska Institutet; and ME/CFS-rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine; Danderyd University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Susanne Bejerot
- Department of Medical Sciences; Örebro University; Örebro Sweden
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17
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DuBois D, Lymer E, Gibson BE, Desarkar P, Nalder E. Assessing Sensory Processing Dysfunction in Adults and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review. Brain Sci 2017; 7:brainsci7080108. [PMID: 28825635 PMCID: PMC5575628 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci7080108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory reactivity is a diagnostic criterion for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and has been associated with poorer functional outcomes, behavioral difficulties, and autism severity across the lifespan. Yet, there is little consensus on best practice approaches to assessing sensory processing dysfunction in adolescents and adults with ASD. Despite growing evidence that sensory symptoms persist into adolescence and adulthood, there is a lack of norms for older age groups, and pediatric assessments may not target appropriate functional outcomes or environments. This review identified approaches used to measure sensory processing in the scientific literature, and to describe and compare these approaches to current best practice guidelines that can be incorporated into evidence-based practice. Method and Analysis: A search of scientific databases and grey literature (professional association and ASD society websites), from January 1987–May 2017, uncovered 4769 articles and 12 clinical guidelines. Study and sample characteristics were extracted, charted, and categorized according to assessment approach. Results: There were 66 articles included after article screening. Five categories of assessment approaches were identified: Self- and Proxy-Report Questionnaires, Psychophysical Assessment, Direct Behavioral Observation, Qualitative Interview Techniques, and Neuroimaging/EEG. Sensory research to date has focused on individuals with high-functioning ASD, most commonly through the use of self-report questionnaires. The Adolescent and Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) is the most widely used assessment measure (n = 22), however, a number of other assessment approaches may demonstrate strengths specific to the ASD population. Multi-method approaches to assessment (e.g., combining psychophysical or observation with questionnaires) may have clinical applicability to interdisciplinary clinical teams serving adolescents and adults with ASD. Contribution: A comprehensive knowledge of approaches is critical in the clinical assessment of a population characterized by symptomatic heterogeneity and wide-ranging cognitive profiles. This review should inform future development of international interdisciplinary clinical guidelines on sensory processing assessment in ASD across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise DuBois
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada.
- Adult Neurodevelopmental Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada.
| | - Erin Lymer
- Adult Neurodevelopmental Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
| | - Barbara E Gibson
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada.
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON M4G 1R8, Canada.
| | - Pushpal Desarkar
- Adult Neurodevelopmental Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada.
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
| | - Emily Nalder
- Adult Neurodevelopmental Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
- March of Dimes Canada, Toronto, ON M4H 1A4, Canada.
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18
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Pellissier LP, Gandía J, Laboute T, Becker JAJ, Le Merrer J. μ opioid receptor, social behaviour and autism spectrum disorder: reward matters. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 175:2750-2769. [PMID: 28369738 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The endogenous opioid system is well known to relieve pain and underpin the rewarding properties of most drugs of abuse. Among opioid receptors, the μ receptor mediates most of the analgesic and rewarding properties of opioids. Based on striking similarities between social distress, physical pain and opiate withdrawal, μ receptors have been proposed to play a critical role in modulating social behaviour in humans and animals. This review summarizes experimental data demonstrating such role and proposes a novel model, the μ opioid receptor balance model, to account for the contribution of μ receptors to the subtle regulation of social behaviour. Interestingly, μ receptor null mice show behavioural deficits similar to those observed in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including severe impairment in social interactions. Therefore, after a brief summary of recent evidence for blunted (social) reward processes in subjects with ASD, we review here arguments for altered μ receptor function in this pathology. This article is part of a themed section on Emerging Areas of Opioid Pharmacology. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie P Pellissier
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, Université de Tours Rabelais, IFCE, Inserm, Nouzilly, France
| | - Jorge Gandía
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, Université de Tours Rabelais, IFCE, Inserm, Nouzilly, France
| | - Thibaut Laboute
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, Université de Tours Rabelais, IFCE, Inserm, Nouzilly, France
| | - Jérôme A J Becker
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, Université de Tours Rabelais, IFCE, Inserm, Nouzilly, France
| | - Julie Le Merrer
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA UMR-0085, CNRS UMR-7247, Université de Tours Rabelais, IFCE, Inserm, Nouzilly, France
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Sener EF, Sahin MC, Taheri S, Bayramov KK, Marasli MK, Zararsiz G, Canpolat M, Sahin N, Oztop DB. A preliminary study of the genes related to aggression and insensitivity to pain in autism spectrum disorders. PSYCHIAT CLIN PSYCH 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/24750573.2017.1293248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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