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Marashli S, Janz P, Redondo RL. Age-dependent deficits of auditory brainstem responses in juvenile Neurexin1α knockout rats. Sci Rep 2024; 14:22614. [PMID: 39349722 PMCID: PMC11443144 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73920-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal sensory processing is core to neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Developing efficient therapies requires understanding the basic sensory pathways and identifying circuit abnormalities during early development. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) are well-established biomarkers for auditory processing on the brainstem level. Beyond their advantage of being easily applicable in clinics (given their non-invasive nature), ABRs have high reproducibility in rodents and translate well to humans (e.g. wave identity), despite species differences (e.g. wave features). We hypothesized that ABRs would reveal sensory abnormalities in neurodevelopmental models with construct validity, such as Neurexin1α knockout (Nrxn1α KO) rats during their development. In a previous study, adult Nrxn1α KO rats showed altered cortical auditory-evoked potentials and impaired prediction error to auditory stimuli (Janz in Transl Psychiat, 12:455, 2022 ). This study used ABR measurements to assess brainstem physiology during auditory processing in Nrxn1α KO rats and their wild-type littermates. Therefore, we followed the development trajectories of ABRs from the age of 3 weeks to 12 weeks longitudinally. We found that juvenile Nrxn1α KO rats (3 weeks of age) show altered ABRs, which normalized during further development. This alteration was confined to increased latency in waves II, III, and IV of the ABRs, suggesting impaired auditory processing on the level of the superior olivary complex and inferior colliculus. In conclusion, our results suggest that early but transient deficits in the processing of auditory information on the level of the brainstem are present in Nrxn1α KO rats, which may contribute to later cortical auditory processing deficits observed in adulthood. Our study emphasizes the value of ABRs as a functional readout of auditory brainstem circuit function with potential value as a translational biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Marashli
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Janz
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roger L Redondo
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
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2
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Kosmer K, Kulesza R. Cortical dysmorphology and reduced cortico-collicular projections in an animal model of autism spectrum disorder. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:146-160. [PMID: 38696608 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad501] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disability that includes sensory disturbances. Hearing is frequently affected and ranges from deafness to hypersensitivity. In utero exposure to the antiepileptic valproic acid is associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in humans and timed valproic acid exposure is a biologically relevant and validated animal model of autism spectrum disorder. Valproic acid-exposed rats have fewer neurons in their auditory brainstem and thalamus, fewer calbindin-positive neurons, reduced ascending projections to the midbrain and thalamus, elevated thresholds, and delayed auditory brainstem responses. Additionally, in the auditory cortex, valproic acid exposure results in abnormal responses, decreased phase-locking, elevated thresholds, and abnormal tonotopic maps. We therefore hypothesized that in utero, valproic acid exposure would result in fewer neurons in auditory cortex, neuronal dysmorphology, fewer calbindin-positive neurons, and reduced connectivity. We approached this hypothesis using morphometric analyses, immunohistochemistry, and retrograde tract tracing. We found thinner cortical layers but no changes in the density of neurons, smaller pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons in several regions, fewer neurons immunoreactive for calbindin-positive, and fewer cortical neurons projecting to the inferior colliculus. These results support the widespread impact of the auditory system in autism spectrum disorder and valproic acid-exposed animals and emphasize the utility of simple, noninvasive auditory screening for autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara Kosmer
- RWJBH Monmouth Medical CenterLong Branch, NJ 07740, United States
| | - Randy Kulesza
- Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA 16509, United States
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3
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Dejean C, Dupont T, Verpy E, Gonçalves N, Coqueran S, Michalski N, Pucheu S, Bourgeron T, Gourévitch B. Detecting Central Auditory Processing Disorders in Awake Mice. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1539. [PMID: 38002499 PMCID: PMC10669832 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111539] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice are increasingly used as models of human-acquired neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. All these conditions involve central auditory processing disorders, which have been little investigated despite their potential for providing interesting insights into the mechanisms behind such disorders. Alterations of the auditory steady-state response to 40 Hz click trains are associated with an imbalance between neuronal excitation and inhibition, a mechanism thought to be common to many neurological disorders. Here, we demonstrate the value of presenting click trains at various rates to mice with chronically implanted pins above the inferior colliculus and the auditory cortex for obtaining easy, reliable, and long-lasting access to subcortical and cortical complex auditory processing in awake mice. Using this protocol on a mutant mouse model of autism with a defect of the Shank3 gene, we show that the neural response is impaired at high click rates (above 60 Hz) and that this impairment is visible subcortically-two results that cannot be obtained with classical protocols for cortical EEG recordings in response to stimulation at 40 Hz. These results demonstrate the value and necessity of a more complete investigation of central auditory processing disorders in mouse models of neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Dejean
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Institut de l’Audition, Plasticity of Central Auditory Circuits, F-75012 Paris, France
- Cilcare Company, F-34080 Montpellier, France
- Sorbonne Université, Ecole Doctorale Complexité du Vivant, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Typhaine Dupont
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Institut de l’Audition, Plasticity of Central Auditory Circuits, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Elisabeth Verpy
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, IUF, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Noémi Gonçalves
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Institut de l’Audition, Plasticity of Central Auditory Circuits, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Sabrina Coqueran
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, IUF, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Michalski
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Institut de l’Audition, Plasticity of Central Auditory Circuits, F-75012 Paris, France
| | | | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, IUF, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Boris Gourévitch
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, Institut de l’Audition, Plasticity of Central Auditory Circuits, F-75012 Paris, France
- CNRS, F-75016 Paris, France
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4
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Malhotra AS, Kulesza R. Abnormal auditory brainstem responses in an animal model of autism spectrum disorder. Hear Res 2023; 436:108816. [PMID: 37285705 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Auditory dysfunction is a common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ranges from deafness to hypersensitivity. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) permits study of the amplitude and latency of synchronized electrical activity along the ascending auditory pathway in response to clicks and pure tone stimuli. Indeed, numerous studies have shown that subjects with ASD have ABR abnormalities. In utero exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) is associated with human cases of ASD and is used as an animal model of ASD. Previous studies have shown that VPA-exposed animals have significantly fewer neurons in the auditory brainstem and thalamus, reduced ascending projections to the auditory midbrain and thalamus and increased neuronal activation in response to pure tone stimuli. Accordingly, we hypothesized that VPA-exposed animals would have abnormal ABRs throughout their lifespans. We approached this hypothesis in two cohorts. First, we examined ABRs from both ears on postnatal day 22 (P22). Then, we examined monaural ABRs in animals at P28, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360. Our results suggest that at P22, VPA-exposed animals have elevated thresholds and increased peak latencies. However, by P60 these differences largely normalize with differences appearing only near hearing threshold. Additionally, our analysis revealed that maturation of ABR waves occurred at different trajectories in control and VPA-exposed animals. These results, together with our previous work, suggest that VPA exposure not only impacts total neuron number and connectivity, but also auditory evoked responses. Finally, our longitudinal analysis suggests that delayed maturation of auditory brainstem circuits may impact ABRs throughout the lifespan of the animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun S Malhotra
- Department of Anatomy Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA; Millcreek Community Hospital LECOM Health, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Randy Kulesza
- Department of Anatomy Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.
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5
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Cardon G, Cate M, Cordingley S, Bown B. Auditory Brainstem Response in Autistic Children: Implications for Sensory Processing. HEARING, BALANCE AND COMMUNICATION 2023; 21:224-232. [PMID: 38223460 PMCID: PMC10786617 DOI: 10.1080/21695717.2023.2181558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Autistic individuals frequently experience sensory processing difficulties. Such difficulties can significantly impact important functions and quality of life. We are only beginning to understand the neural mechanisms of atypical sensory processing. However, one established way to measure aspects of auditory function is the auditory brainstem response (ABR). While ABR has been primarily hypothesized thus far as a means of early detection/diagnosis in autism, it has the potential to aid in examining sensory processing in this population. Method Thus, we investigated standard ABR waveform characteristics in age-matched groups of autistic and typically developing children during various stimulus and intensity conditions. We also examined within ear waveform cross correlations and inter-aural cross correlations (IACC) to assess replicability and synchrony of participants' ABRs, which was a novel approach to ABR analysis in this population. Results We observed longer peak latencies (esp. wave III and V) and interpeak latencies in the autism and typically developing groups in different conditions. There were no statistically significant results in cross correlation or IACC. Conclusions These results suggest that brainstem auditory function may differ slightly, but is mostly similar, between autistic and typically developing children. We discuss these findings in terms of their implications for sensory processing and future utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett Cardon
- Brigham Young University, Department of Communication Disorders, Provo, UT
| | - Madelyn Cate
- Brigham Young University, Department of Communication Disorders, Provo, UT
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Delgado CF, Simpson EA, Zeng G, Delgado RE, Miron O. Newborn Auditory Brainstem Responses in Children with Developmental Disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:776-788. [PMID: 34181140 PMCID: PMC9549590 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05126-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We integrated data from a newborn hearing screening database and a preschool disability database to examine the relationship between newborn click evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and developmental disabilities. This sample included children with developmental delay (n = 2992), speech impairment (SI, n = 905), language impairment (n = 566), autism spectrum disorder (ASD, n = 370), and comparison children (n = 128,181). We compared the phase of the ABR waveform, a measure of sound processing latency, across groups. Children with SI and children with ASD had greater newborn ABR phase values than both the comparison group and the developmental delay group. Newborns later diagnosed with SI or ASD have slower neurological responses to auditory stimuli, suggesting sensory differences at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine F Delgado
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL, 33124-0721, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Simpson
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL, 33124-0721, USA
| | - Guangyu Zeng
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL, 33124-0721, USA
| | - Rafael E Delgado
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
- Intelligent Hearing Systems Corp., Miami, FL, USA
| | - Oren Miron
- Department of Health Systems Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Department of Biomedical-Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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7
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Silva VAR, Pauna HF, Lavinsky J, Hyppolito MA, Vianna MF, Leal M, Massuda ET, Hamerschmidt R, Bahmad F, Cal RV, Sampaio ALL, Felix F, Chone CT, Castilho AM. Task force Guideline of Brazilian Society of Otology ‒ hearing loss in children - Part I ‒ Evaluation. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 89:159-189. [PMID: 36529647 PMCID: PMC9874360 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To provide an overview of the main evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of hearing loss in children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years. METHODS Task force members were educated on knowledge synthesis methods, including electronic database search, review and selection of relevant citations, and critical appraisal of selected studies. Articles written in English or Portuguese on childhood hearing loss were eligible for inclusion. The American College of Physicians' guideline grading system and the American Thyroid Association's guideline criteria were used for critical appraisal of evidence and recommendations for therapeutic interventions. RESULTS The evaluation and diagnosis of hearing loss: universal newborn hearing screening, laboratory testing, congenital infections (especially cytomegalovirus), genetic testing and main syndromes, radiologic imaging studies, vestibular assessment of children with hearing loss, auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and noise-induced hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS Every child with suspected hearing loss has the right to diagnosis and appropriate treatment if necessary. This task force considers 5 essential rights: (1) Otolaryngologist consultation; (2) Speech assessment and therapy; (3) Diagnostic tests; (4) Treatment; (5) Ophthalmologist consultation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vagner Antonio Rodrigues Silva
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | - Henrique Furlan Pauna
- Hospital Universitário Cajuru, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Joel Lavinsky
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Departamento de Cirurgia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Miguel Angelo Hyppolito
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Oftalmologia, Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Melissa Ferreira Vianna
- Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana Leal
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Departamento de Cirurgia, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Tanaka Massuda
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Oftalmologia, Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Rogério Hamerschmidt
- Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Fayez Bahmad
- Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Instituto Brasiliense de Otorrinolaringologia (IBO), Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Renato Valério Cal
- Centro Universitário do Estado do Pará (CESUPA), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Lopes Sampaio
- Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Faculdade de Medicina, Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Otorrinolaringologia, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Felippe Felix
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF), Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Takahiro Chone
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Arthur Menino Castilho
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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8
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Wang X, Carroll X, Zhang P, du Prel JB, Wang H, Xu H, Leeper-Woodford S. Exploring brainstem auditory evoked potentials and mental development index as early indicators of autism spectrum disorders in high-risk infants. Autism Res 2022; 15:2012-2025. [PMID: 36135806 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This study of infants from Hubei Province, China examined brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and mental development index (MDI) as possible early indicators associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The 34 ASD cases and 102 controls who had recovered from perinatal conditions were matched for age, sex, gestational age, birth weight and maternal age. BAEP absolute latencies (AL) I, III, V and interpeak latencies (IPL) I-III, III-V, I-V were compared in ASD cases and controls at ages 1, 3 and 6 months. MDI scores were compared in these infants from 1 month to 2 years old. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to test associations among ASD, BAEP and MDI. Results showed BAEP AL I, V and IPL III-V prolonged in the ASD group (p < 0.001), and MDI scores in ASD cases sharply declining from 12 to 24 months (p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed odds ratios (OR) indicating that ASD was likely associated with abnormal values of BAEP AL I at 1 and 3 months (ORAL I : 4.27; ORAL I : 4.13), and AL V at 6 months (ORAL V : 7.85). Lower MDI scores (MDI < 80) in infants at 1, 3, and 6 months were likely associated with ASD (ORMDI : 2.58; ORMDI : 3.83; ORMDI : 4.87). These data show that abnormal BAEP values and low MDI scores are independent factors associated with ASD, and that monitoring of BAEP and MDI during infancy might facilitate screening for ASD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Child Health Care, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianming Carroll
- Department of Public Health, Mercer University College of Health Professions, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Child Health Care, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Jean-Baptist du Prel
- Department of Occupational Health Science, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Child Health Care, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Haiqing Xu
- Department of Child Health Care, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Sandra Leeper-Woodford
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA
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Janz P, Bainier M, Marashli S, Schoenenberger P, Valencia M, Redondo RL. Neurexin1α knockout rats display oscillatory abnormalities and sensory processing deficits back-translating key endophenotypes of psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:455. [PMID: 36307390 PMCID: PMC9616904 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02224-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurexins are presynaptic transmembrane proteins crucial for synapse development and organization. Deletion and missense mutations in all three Neurexin genes have been identified in psychiatric disorders, with mutations in the NRXN1 gene most strongly linked to schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While the consequences of NRXN1 deletion have been extensively studied on the synaptic and behavioral levels, circuit endophenotypes that translate to the human condition have not been characterized yet. Therefore, we investigated the electrophysiology of cortico-striatal-thalamic circuits in Nrxn1α-/- rats and wildtype littermates focusing on a set of translational readouts, including spontaneous oscillatory activity, auditory-evoked oscillations and potentials, as well as mismatch negativity-like (MMN) responses and responses to social stimuli. On the behavioral level Nrxn1α-/- rats showed locomotor hyperactivity. In vivo freely moving electrophysiology revealed pronounced increases of spontaneous oscillatory power within the gamma band in all studied brain areas and elevation of gamma coherence in cortico-striatal and thalamocortical circuits of Nrxn1α-/- rats. In contrast, auditory-evoked oscillations driven by chirp-modulated tones showed reduced power in cortical areas confined to slower oscillations. Finally, Nrxn1α-/- rats exhibited altered auditory evoked-potentials and profound deficits in MMN-like responses, explained by reduced prediction error. Despite deficits for auditory stimuli, responses to social stimuli appeared intact. A central hypothesis for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders is that a disbalance of excitation-to-inhibition is underlying oscillatory and sensory deficits. In a first attempt to explore the impact of inhibitory circuit modulation, we assessed the effects of enhancing tonic inhibition via δ-containing GABAA receptors (using Gaboxadol) on endophenotypes possibly associated with network hyperexcitability. Pharmacological experiments applying Gaboxadol showed genotype-specific differences, but failed to normalize oscillatory or sensory processing abnormalities. In conclusion, our study revealed endophenotypes in Nrxn1α-/- rats that could be used as translational biomarkers for drug development in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Janz
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery & Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marie Bainier
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery & Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Marashli
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery & Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Schoenenberger
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery & Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Valencia
- Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Program of Neuroscience, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Universidad de Navarra, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Roger L Redondo
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery & Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
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10
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Wilde M, Constantin L, Thorne PR, Montgomery JM, Scott EK, Cheyne JE. Auditory processing in rodent models of autism: a systematic review. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:48. [PMID: 36042393 PMCID: PMC9429780 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09458-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a complex condition with many traits, including differences in auditory sensitivity. Studies in human autism are plagued by the difficulty of controlling for aetiology, whereas studies in individual rodent models cannot represent the full spectrum of human autism. This systematic review compares results in auditory studies across a wide range of established rodent models of autism to mimic the wide range of aetiologies in the human population. A search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases to find primary research articles in mouse or rat models of autism which investigate central auditory processing. A total of 88 studies were included. These used non-invasive measures of auditory function, such as auditory brainstem response recordings, cortical event-related potentials, electroencephalography, and behavioural tests, which are translatable to human studies. They also included invasive measures, such as electrophysiology and histology, which shed insight on the origins of the phenotypes found in the non-invasive studies. The most consistent results across these studies were increased latency of the N1 peak of event-related potentials, decreased power and coherence of gamma activity in the auditory cortex, and increased auditory startle responses to high sound levels. Invasive studies indicated loss of subcortical inhibitory neurons, hyperactivity in the lateral superior olive and auditory thalamus, and reduced specificity of responses in the auditory cortex. This review compares the auditory phenotypes across rodent models and highlights those that mimic findings in human studies, providing a framework and avenues for future studies to inform understanding of the auditory system in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Wilde
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Lena Constantin
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Peter R Thorne
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Section of Audiology, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Johanna M Montgomery
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ethan K Scott
- The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Juliette E Cheyne
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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11
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Talge NM, Adkins M, Kileny PR, Frownfelter I. Click-evoked auditory brainstem responses and autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analytic investigation of disorder specificity. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:40-46. [PMID: 34497358 PMCID: PMC8901768 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01730-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Click-evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR) alterations are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the specificity of these findings to the disorder is unclear. We therefore performed a meta-analysis on ABRs and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that shares some etiologic and symptom overlap with ASD. METHODS Seven papers compared ABR latency components (I, III, V, I-III, III-V, and I-V) between participants with and without ADHD. We used random-effects regression to generate component-specific estimates (Hedges's g) that adjusted for study sample sizes and the number of studies contributing to each estimate. We compared these estimates to our recently published meta-analysis of ABRs and ASD. RESULTS All ADHD studies employed cross-sectional designs. ADHD was associated with longer latencies for waves III and V (g = 0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3, 1.0 and g = 0.6, 95% CI 0.3, 0.9) and waves I-III and I-V (g = 0.7, 95% CI 0.2, 1.3 and g = 0.6, 95% CI 0.3, 1.0). Effect sizes from the ASD and ADHD meta-analyses did not differ from each other. CONCLUSIONS Similar patterns of ABR alterations are observed in ADHD and ASD. However, studies rarely screen for middle ear dysfunction or hearing loss and rely upon cross-sectional designs. Addressing these issues will inform the viability of ABRs as a prognostic and/or etiologic biomarker for these disorders. IMPACT Click-evoked ABR alterations are associated with ASD, but the specificity of these findings to the disorder is unclear. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of the association between ABRs and ADHD, a disorder that shares some etiologic and symptom overlap with ASD. ADHD was associated with longer ABR latencies for several components. These components are identical to those implicated in ASD. Effect sizes were similar in magnitude across disorders. The viability of ABRs as prognostic and/or etiologic biomarkers for neurodevelopmental risk requires addressing limitations in the literature (e.g., cross-sectional data, non-standardized ABR protocols, minimal characterization of symptom heterogeneity).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Talge
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824,College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Melanie Adkins
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824,College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Paul R. Kileny
- Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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12
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Burstein O, Geva R. The Brainstem-Informed Autism Framework: Early Life Neurobehavioral Markers. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:759614. [PMID: 34858145 PMCID: PMC8631363 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.759614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have long-term implications on functioning at multiple levels. In this perspective, we offer a brainstem-informed autism framework (BIAF) that traces the protracted neurobehavioral manifestations of ASD to early life brainstem dysfunctions. Early life brainstem-mediated markers involving functions of autonomic/arousal regulation, sleep-wake homeostasis, and sensorimotor integration are delineated. Their possible contributions to the early identification of susceptible infants are discussed. We suggest that the BIAF expands our multidimensional understanding of ASD by focusing on the early involvement of brainstem systems. Importantly, we propose an integrated BIAF screener that brings about the prospect of a sensitive and reliable early life diagnostic scheme for weighing the risk for ASD. The BIAF screener could provide clinicians substantial gains in the future and may carve customized interventions long before the current DSM ASD phenotype is manifested using dyadic co-regulation of brainstem-informed autism markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Burstein
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ronny Geva
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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13
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Gopal KV, Schafer EC, Nandy R, Brown A, Caldwell J, Phillips B, Ballard G. Characteristic Deviations of Auditory Evoked Potentials in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32:379-385. [PMID: 34731905 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurological, structural, and behavioral abnormalities are widely reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); yet there are no objective markers to date. We postulated that by using dominant and nondominant ear data, underlying differences in auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) between ASD and control groups can be recognized. PURPOSE The primary purpose was to identify if significant differences exist in AEPs recorded from dominant and nondominant ear stimulation in (1) children with ASD and their matched controls, (2) adults with ASD and their matched controls, and (3) a combined child and adult ASD group and control group. The secondary purpose was to explore the association between the significant findings of this study with those obtained in our previous study that evaluated the effects of auditory training on AEPs in individuals with ASD. RESEARCH DESIGN Factorial analysis of variance with interaction was performed. STUDY SAMPLE Forty subjects with normal hearing between the ages of 9 and 25 years were included. Eleven children and 9 adults with ASD were age- and gender-matched with neurotypical peers. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and auditory late responses (ALRs) were recorded. Adult and child ASD subjects were compared with non-ASD adult and child control subjects, respectively. The combined child and adult ASD group was compared with the combined child and adult control group. RESULTS No significant differences in ABR latency or amplitude were observed between ASD and control groups. ALR N1 amplitude in the dominant ear was significantly smaller for the ASD adult group compared with their control group. Combined child and adult data showed significantly smaller amplitude for ALR N1 and longer ALR P2 latency in the dominant ear for the ASD group compared with the control group. In our earlier study, the top predictor of behavioral improvement following auditory training was ALR N1 amplitude in the dominant ear. Correspondingly, the ALR N1 amplitude in the dominant ear yielded group differences in the current study. CONCLUSIONS ALR peak N1 amplitude is proposed as the most feasible AEP marker in the evaluation of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamakshi V Gopal
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Erin C Schafer
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Rajesh Nandy
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas
| | - Ashley Brown
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Joshua Caldwell
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Bryce Phillips
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Gabrielle Ballard
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
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14
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Mansour Y, Burchell A, Kulesza RJ. Central Auditory and Vestibular Dysfunction Are Key Features of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:743561. [PMID: 34658804 PMCID: PMC8513787 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.743561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors, poor social skills, and difficulties with communication. Beyond these core signs and symptoms, the majority of subjects with ASD have some degree of auditory and vestibular dysfunction. Dysfunction in these sensory modalities is significant as normal cognitive development depends on an accurate representation of our environment. The hearing difficulties in ASD range from deafness to hypersensitivity and subjects with ASD have abnormal sound-evoked brainstem reflexes and brainstem auditory evoked potentials. Vestibular dysfunction in ASD includes postural instability, gait dysfunction, and impaired gaze. Untreated vestibular dysfunction in children can lead to delayed milestones such as sitting and walking and poor motor coordination later in life. Histopathological studies have revealed that subjects with ASD have significantly fewer neurons in the auditory hindbrain and surviving neurons are smaller and dysmorphic. These findings are consistent with auditory dysfunction. Further, the cerebellum was one of the first brain structures implicated in ASD and studies have revealed loss of Purkinje cells and the presence of ectopic neurons. Together, these studies suggest that normal auditory and vestibular function play major roles in the development of language and social abilities, and dysfunction in these systems may contribute to the core symptoms of ASD. Further, auditory and vestibular dysfunction in children may be overlooked or attributed to other neurodevelopmental disorders. Herein we review the literature on auditory and vestibular dysfunction in ASD. Based on these results we developed a brainstem model of central auditory and vestibular dysfunction in ASD and propose that simple, non-invasive but quantitative testing of hearing and vestibular function be added to newborn screening protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusra Mansour
- Department of Otolaryngology, Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, United States
| | - Alyson Burchell
- Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, United States
| | - Randy J. Kulesza
- Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, United States
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15
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Williams ZJ, Abdelmessih PG, Key AP, Woynaroski TG. Cortical Auditory Processing of Simple Stimuli Is Altered in Autism: A Meta-analysis of Auditory Evoked Responses. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 6:767-781. [PMID: 33229245 PMCID: PMC8639293 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Auditory perceptual abnormalities are common in persons on the autism spectrum. The neurophysiologic underpinnings of these differences have frequently been studied using auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related magnetic fields (ERFs). However, no study to date has quantitatively synthesized this literature to determine whether early auditory ERP/ERF latencies or amplitudes in autistic persons differ from those of typically developing control subjects. METHODS We searched PubMed and ProQuest for studies comparing 1) latencies/amplitudes of P1/M50, N1b, N1c, M100, P2/M200, and/or N2 ERP/ERF components evoked by pure tones and 2) paired-click sensory gating (P1/N1b amplitude suppression) in autistic individuals and typically developing control subjects. Effects were synthesized using Bayesian 3-level meta-analysis. RESULTS In response to pure tones, autistic individuals exhibited prolonged P1/M50 latencies (g = 0.341 [95% credible interval = 0.166, 0.546]), prolonged M100 latencies (g = 0.319 [0.093, 0.550]), reduced N1c amplitudes (g = -0.812 [-1.278, -0.187]), and reduced N2 amplitudes (g = -0.374 [-0.633, -0.179]). There were no practically significant group differences in P2/M200 latencies, N2 latencies, P1/M50 amplitudes, N1b amplitudes, M100 amplitudes, or P2/M200 amplitudes. Paired-click sensory gating was also reduced in autistic individuals (g = -0.389 [-0.619, -0.112]), although this effect was primarily driven by smaller responses to the first click stimulus. CONCLUSIONS Relative to typically developing control subjects, autistic individuals demonstrate multiple alterations in early cortical auditory processing of simple stimuli. However, most group differences were modest in size and based on small numbers of heterogeneous studies with variable quality. Future work is necessary to understand whether these neurophysiologic measures can predict clinically meaningful outcomes or serve as stratification biomarkers for the autistic population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J Williams
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
| | - Peter G Abdelmessih
- Neuroscience Undergraduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Alexandra P Key
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Tiffany G Woynaroski
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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16
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Sininger YS, Condon CG, Gimenez LA, Shuffrey LC, Myers MM, Elliott AJ, Thai T, Nugent JD, Pini N, Sania A, Odendaal HJ, Angal J, Tobacco D, Hoffman HJ, Simmons DD, Fifer WP. Prenatal Exposure to Tobacco and Alcohol Alters Development of the Neonatal Auditory System. Dev Neurosci 2021; 43:358-375. [PMID: 34348289 DOI: 10.1159/000518130] [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: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposures to alcohol (PAE) and tobacco (PTE) are known to produce adverse neonatal and childhood outcomes including damage to the developing auditory system. Knowledge of the timing, extent, and combinations of these exposures on effects on the developing system is limited. As part of the physiological measurements from the Safe Passage Study, Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs) and Transient Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAEs) were acquired on infants at birth and one-month of age. Research sites were in South Africa and the Northern Plains of the U.S. Prenatal information on alcohol and tobacco exposure was gathered prospectively on mother/infant dyads. Cluster analysis was used to characterize three levels of PAE and three levels of PTE. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were conducted for newborn and one-month-old infants for ABR peak latencies and amplitudes and TEOAE levels and signal-to-noise ratios. Analyses controlled for hours of life at test, gestational age at birth, sex, site, and other exposure. Significant main effects of PTE included reduced newborn ABR latencies from both ears. PTE also resulted in a significant reduction of ABR peak amplitudes elicited in infants at 1-month of age. PAE led to a reduction of TEOAE amplitude for 1-month-old infants but only in the left ear. Results indicate that PAE and PTE lead to early disruption of peripheral, brainstem, and cortical development and neuronal pathways of the auditory system, including the olivocochlear pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne S Sininger
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- C&Y Consultants, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
| | - Carmen G Condon
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lissete A Gimenez
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lauren C Shuffrey
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael M Myers
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amy J Elliott
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Tracy Thai
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - James D Nugent
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicolò Pini
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ayesha Sania
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hein J Odendaal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jyoti Angal
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Deborah Tobacco
- Center for Pediatric & Community Research, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Howard J Hoffman
- Epidemiology and Statistics Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - William P Fifer
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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17
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Fujihira H, Itoi C, Furukawa S, Kato N, Kashino M. Auditory brainstem responses in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Clin Neurophysiol Pract 2021; 6:179-184. [PMID: 34235293 PMCID: PMC8249870 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate possible differences in the auditory peripheral and brainstem functions between adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypical (NT) adults. METHODS Click-evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were obtained from 17 high-functioning ASD adults (aged 21-38 years) and 20 NT adults (aged 22-36 years). A relatively large number of stimulus presentations (6000) were adopted, and ABRs by horizontal and vertical electrode montages were evaluated, in order to allow precise evaluations of early ABR components. RESULTS Waves I, II, III, and V were identified in the vertical electrode montage, and wave I and the summating potential (SP) in electrocochleograms were identified in the horizontal electrode montage. There were no significant group differences in the wave I, II, III, and V latencies or the interpeak latencies (IPLs) in the vertical electrode montage. In the horizontal montage, the ASD adults exhibited significantly shortened SP latencies compared with the NT adults, whereas there was no significant group difference in the wave I latency. CONCLUSION The ASD adults may have the abnormalities of processing more in the peripheral auditory system than in the brainstem. SIGNIFICANCE The current study suggests that the peripheral abnormality is associated with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Fujihira
- NTT Communication Science Laboratories, Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - C. Itoi
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Chuo University, Higashinakano, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - S. Furukawa
- NTT Communication Science Laboratories, Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - N. Kato
- Medical Institute of Developmental Disabilities Research, Showa University, Kitakarasuyama, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - M. Kashino
- NTT Communication Science Laboratories, Morinosato Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan
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18
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Norcia AM, Lee A, Meredith WJ, Kohler PJ, Pei F, Ghassan SA, Libove RA, Phillips JM, Hardan AY. A case-control study of visual, auditory and audio-visual sensory interactions in children with autism spectrum disorder. J Vis 2021; 21:5. [PMID: 33830169 PMCID: PMC8039569 DOI: 10.1167/jov.21.4.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess the relative integrity of early visual and auditory processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we used frequency-tagged visual and auditory stimulation and high-density electroencephalogram recordings of unimodal and dual-modality responses in a case-control design. To test for the specificity of effects on ASD, we recorded from a smaller group of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Horizontal 3 cycle per degree (cpd) gratings were presented at 5 Hz, and a random stream of /ba/, /da/, /ga/ syllables was presented at 6 Hz. Grating contrast response functions were measured unimodally and in the presence of a 64-dB auditory input. Auditory response functions were measured unimodally and in the presence of a 40% contrast grating. Children with ASD (n = 34) and ADHD (n = 13) showed a common lack of audio-visual interaction compared to typically developing children (n = 40) when measured at the first harmonic of the visual stimulus frequency. Both patient groups also showed depressed first harmonic responses at low contrast, but the ADHD group had consistently higher first-harmonic responses at high contrast. Children with ASD had a preferential loss of second-harmonic (transient) responses. The alteredtransient responses in ASD are likely to arise very early in the visual pathway and could thus have downstream consequences for many other visual mechanisms and processes. The alteration in audio-visual interaction could be a signature of a comorbid phenotype shared by ASD and ADHD, possibly due to alterations in attentional selection systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M Norcia
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Azalea Lee
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Peter J Kohler
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Francesca Pei
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie A Ghassan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robin A Libove
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Phillips
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Antonio Y Hardan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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19
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Chen J, Wei Z, Liang C, Liu B, Guo J, Kong X, Huang M, Peng Z, Wan G. Dysfunction of the Auditory Brainstem as a Neurophysiology Subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:637079. [PMID: 33815042 PMCID: PMC8010248 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.637079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is very heterogeneous, particularly in language. Studies have suggested that language impairment is linked to auditory-brainstem dysfunction in ASD. However, not all ASD children have these deficits, which suggests potential subtypes of ASD. We classified ASD children into two subtypes according to their speech-evoked auditory brainstem response (speech-ABR) and explored the neural substrates for possible subtypes. Twenty-nine children with ASD and 25 typically developing (TD) peers were enrolled to undergo speech-ABR testing and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). There were significant differences between the ASD group and TD group in surface area, cortical volume and cortical thickness. According to speech-ABR results, ASD participants were divided into the ASD-typical (ASD-T) group and ASD-atypical (ASD-A) group. Compared with the ASD-T group, the ASD-A group had a lower score in language of the Gesell Developmental Diagnosis Scale (GDDS), increased left rostral middle frontal gyrus (lRMFG) area and decreased local gyrification index of the right superior temporal gyrus. GDDS-language and surface area of lRMFG were correlated to the wave-A amplitude in ASD. Surface area of lRMFG had an indirect effect on language performance via alteration of the wave-V amplitude. Thus, cortical deficits may impair language ability in children with ASD by causing subcortical dysfunction at preschool age. These evidences support dysfunction of the auditory brainstem as a potential subtype of ASD. Besides, this subtype-based method may be useful for various clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jierong Chen
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhen Wei
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chun Liang
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Binguang Liu
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jimin Guo
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xuejun Kong
- Martinos Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Minshi Huang
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ziwen Peng
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guobin Wan
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
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20
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Williams ZJ, He JL, Cascio CJ, Woynaroski TG. A review of decreased sound tolerance in autism: Definitions, phenomenology, and potential mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 121:1-17. [PMID: 33285160 PMCID: PMC7855558 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Atypical behavioral responses to environmental sounds are common in autistic children and adults, with 50-70 % of this population exhibiting decreased sound tolerance (DST) at some point in their lives. This symptom is a source of significant distress and impairment across the lifespan, contributing to anxiety, challenging behaviors, reduced community participation, and school/workplace difficulties. However, relatively little is known about its phenomenology or neurocognitive underpinnings. The present article synthesizes a large body of literature on the phenomenology and pathophysiology of DST-related conditions to generate a comprehensive theoretical account of DST in autism. Notably, we argue against conceptualizing DST as a unified construct, suggesting that it be separated into three phenomenologically distinct conditions: hyperacusis (the perception of everyday sounds as excessively loud or painful), misophonia (an acquired aversive reaction to specific sounds), and phonophobia (a specific phobia of sound), each responsible for a portion of observed DST behaviors. We further elaborate our framework by proposing preliminary neurocognitive models of hyperacusis, misophonia, and phonophobia that incorporate neurophysiologic findings from studies of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J Williams
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 221 Eskind Biomedical Library and Learning Center, 2209 Garland Ave., Nashville, TN, 37240, United States; Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue South, Medical Center East, Room 8310, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, 7203 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States; Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, 2414 Highland Avenue, Suite 115, Nashville, TN, 37212, United States.
| | - Jason L He
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Strand Building, Strand Campus, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Carissa J Cascio
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, 7203 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States; Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, 2414 Highland Avenue, Suite 115, Nashville, TN, 37212, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2254 Village at Vanderbilt, 1500 21st Ave South, Nashville, TN, 37212, United States; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 110 Magnolia Cir, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States.
| | - Tiffany G Woynaroski
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue South, Medical Center East, Room 8310, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, 7203 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States; Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, 2414 Highland Avenue, Suite 115, Nashville, TN, 37212, United States; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 110 Magnolia Cir, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States.
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21
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Aberrant auditory system and its developmental implications for autism. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 64:861-878. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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22
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Miron O, Delgado RE, Delgado CF, Simpson EA, Yu KH, Gutierrez A, Zeng G, Gerstenberger JN, Kohane IS. Prolonged Auditory Brainstem Response in Universal Hearing Screening of Newborns with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 14:46-52. [PMID: 33140578 PMCID: PMC7894135 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies report prolonged auditory brainstem response (ABR) in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite its promise as a biomarker, it is unclear whether healthy newborns who later develop ASD also show ABR abnormalities. In the current study, we extracted ABR data on 139,154 newborns from their Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, including 321 newborns who were later diagnosed with ASD. We found that the ASD newborns had significant prolongations of their ABR phase and V‐negative latency compared with the non‐ASD newborns. Newborns in the ASD group also exhibited greater variance in their latencies compared to previous studies in older ASD samples, likely due in part to the low intensity of the ABR stimulus. These findings suggest that newborns display neurophysiological variation associated with ASD at birth. Future studies with higher‐intensity stimulus ABRs may allow more accurate predictions of ASD risk, which could augment the universal ABR test that currently screens millions of newborns worldwide. Lay Summary Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have slow brain responses to sounds. We examined these brain responses from newborns' hearing tests and found that newborns who were later diagnosed with autism also had slower brain responses to sounds. Future studies might use these findings to better predict autism risk, with a hearing test that is already used on millions of newborns worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Miron
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rafael E Delgado
- Intelligent Hearing Systems, Miami, Florida, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - Kun-Hsing Yu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anibal Gutierrez
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
| | - Guangyu Zeng
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
| | | | - Isaac S Kohane
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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23
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Li A, Gao G, Fu T, Pang W, Zhang X, Qin Z, Ge R. Continued development of auditory ability in autism spectrum disorder children: A clinical study on click-evoked auditory brainstem response. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 138:110305. [PMID: 32836141 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study aimed to analyze the developmental mode of auditory at the level of brainstem in preschool autistic children using click-evoked auditory brainstem response (click-ABR). METHODS Twenty children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 20 age matched typical development children (TD) were recruited. The detail data recorded from click-ABR were collected at two time periods (T1 and T2). RESULTS There was no significant change in TD group at two time periods. In ASD group, wave V latency was significantly shortened at T2 compared to that recorded at T1. The interpeak latency of I-V was short at T2 versus at T1 in the autistic children. Compared to the TD group, ASD was associated with longer latencies for waves V and longer interpeak latencies of I-III, I-V at T1. In addition, ASD group also indicated longer latencies of wave III and wave V, longer interpeak latencies of I-III and I-V at T2 compared to the TD group. CONCLUSIONS ASD group had immature and dysfunction developmental mode in auditory stimuli perception at the level of brainstem. The performance of auditory ability in children with ASD improved gradually with ages. However, there are still differences compared with TD children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifeng Li
- Key Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Guoqiang Gao
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, China
| | - Tao Fu
- Key Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenhui Pang
- Key Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zuorong Qin
- Key Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruifeng Ge
- Key Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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24
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Tecoulesco L, Skoe E, Naigles LR. Phonetic discrimination mediates the relationship between auditory brainstem response stability and syntactic performance. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2020; 208:104810. [PMID: 32683226 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Syntactic, lexical, and phonological/phonetic knowledge are vital aspects of macro level language ability. Prior research has predominantly focused on environmental or cortical sources of individual differences in these areas; however, a growing literature suggests an auditory brainstem contribution to language performance in both typically developing (TD) populations and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigates whether one aspect of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), neural response stability, which is a metric reflecting trial-by-trial consistency in the neural encoding of sound, can predict syntactic, lexical, and phonetic performance in TD and ASD school-aged children. Pooling across children with ASD and TD, results showed that higher neural stability in response to the syllable /da/ was associated with better phonetic discrimination, and with better syntactic performance on a standardized measure. Furthermore, phonetic discrimination was a successful mediator of the relationship between neural stability and syntactic performance. This study supports the growing body of literature that stable subcortical neural encoding of sound is important for successful language performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Tecoulesco
- University of Connecticut Psychological Sciences, United States.
| | - Erika Skoe
- University of Connecticut, Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, United States
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25
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Three dimensional reconstructions of the superior olivary complex from children with autism spectrum disorder. Hear Res 2020; 393:107974. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.107974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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26
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Jones MK, Kraus N, Bonacina S, Nicol T, Otto-Meyer S, Roberts MY. Auditory Processing Differences in Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2020; 63:1608-1617. [PMID: 32407656 PMCID: PMC7842119 DOI: 10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Auditory processing measures have been used in an attempt to understand the relationship between neurological mechanisms and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomatology in school-age children. The focus of the current study was to understand neural auditory processing in 2- to 3-year-olds with ASD. Method Auditory processing measures (click auditory brainstem responses and speech-evoked frequency-following responses) were hypothesized to differ between typically developing children (n = 18) and children with ASD (n = 18). Auditory processing measures were hypothesized to relate to language development in children with ASD. Results The current study found limited differences in auditory processing measures between the two groups. No relationships were found between auditory processing measures and language development measures. Conclusions Future research is necessary to characterize auditory processing in toddlers with ASD. Longitudinal approaches should be considered when studying auditory processing in children with ASD in order to explore its developmental relationship with ASD symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maranda K. Jones
- The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Nina Kraus
- The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Department of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Silvia Bonacina
- The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Trent Nicol
- The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Sebastian Otto-Meyer
- The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
| | - Megan Y. Roberts
- The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
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27
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Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) reportedly possess preserved or superior music-processing skills compared to their typically developing counterparts. We examined auditory imagery and earworms (tunes that get "stuck" in the head) in adults with ASD and controls. Both groups completed a short earworm questionnaire together with the Bucknell Auditory Imagery Scale. Results showed poorer auditory imagery in the ASD group for all types of auditory imagery. However, the ASD group did not report fewer earworms than matched controls. These data suggest a possible basis in poor auditory imagery for poor prosody in ASD, but also highlight a separability between auditory imagery and control of musical memories. The separability is present in the ASD group but not in typically developing individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Bacon
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
| | - C Philip Beaman
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK.
| | - Fang Liu
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK
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28
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Pfeiffer B, Stein Duker L, Murphy A, Shui C. Effectiveness of Noise-Attenuating Headphones on Physiological Responses for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 13:65. [PMID: 31798424 PMCID: PMC6863142 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proof of concept of an intervention to decrease sympathetic activation as measured by skin conductivity (electrodermal activity, EDA) in children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and auditory hypersensitivity (hyperacusis). In addition, researchers examined if the intervention provided protection against the negative effects of decibel level of environmental noises on electrodermal measures between interventions. The feasibility of implementation and outcome measures within natural environments were evaluated. Method: A single-subject multi-treatment design was used with six children, aged 8–16 years, with a form of Autism (i.e., Autism, PDD-NOS). Participants used in-ear (IE) and over-ear (OE) headphones for two randomly sequenced treatment phases. Each child completed four phases: (1) a week of baseline data collection; (2) a week of an intervention; (3) a week of no intervention; and (4) a week of the other intervention. Empatica E4 wristbands collected EDA data. Data was collected on 16–20 occasions per participant, with five measurements per phase. Results: Separated tests for paired study phases suggested that regardless of intervention type, noise attenuating headphones led to a significance difference in both skin conductance levels (SCL) and frequency of non-specific conductance responses (NS-SCRs) between the baseline measurement and subsequent phases. Overall, SCL and NS-SCR frequency significantly decreased between baseline and the first intervention phase. A protective effect of the intervention was tested by collapsing intervention results into three phases. Slope correlation suggested constant SCL and NS-SCR frequency after initial use of the headphones regardless of the increase in environmental noises. A subsequent analysis of the quality of EDA data identified that later phases of data collection were associated with better data quality. Conclusion: Many children with ASD have hypersensitivities to sound resulting in high levels of sympathetic nervous system reactivity, which is associated with problematic behaviors and distress. The findings of this study suggest that the use of noise attenuating headphones for individuals with ASD and hyperacusis may reduce sympathetic activation. Additionally, results suggest that the use of wearable sensors to collect physiological data in natural environments is feasible with established protocols and training procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Pfeiffer
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Leah Stein Duker
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - AnnMarie Murphy
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Chengshi Shui
- School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Chen J, Liang C, Wei Z, Cui Z, Kong X, Dong C, Lai Y, Peng Z, Wan G. Atypical longitudinal development of speech‐evoked auditory brainstem response in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Res 2019; 12:1022-1031. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.2110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jierong Chen
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare HospitalSouthern Medical University Shenzhen China
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of PsychologySouth China Normal University Guangzhou China
| | - Chun Liang
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare HospitalSouthern Medical University Shenzhen China
| | - Zhen Wei
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare HospitalSouthern Medical University Shenzhen China
| | - Zitian Cui
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare HospitalSouthern Medical University Shenzhen China
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of PsychologySouth China Normal University Guangzhou China
| | - Xuejun Kong
- Martinos Center, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical School Charlestown Massachusetts
| | - Cun‐jian Dong
- Martinos Center, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical School Charlestown Massachusetts
| | - Yuan Lai
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of PsychologySouth China Normal University Guangzhou China
| | - Ziwen Peng
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of PsychologySouth China Normal University Guangzhou China
- Department of Child PsychiatryShenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen University School of Medicine Shenzhen China
| | - Guobin Wan
- Department of Child Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare HospitalSouthern Medical University Shenzhen China
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30
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Perception of Cry Characteristics in 1-Month-Old Infants Later Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:834-844. [PMID: 30361941 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3788-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates parental perceptions of cries of 1-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and non-ASD controls. Parents of children with and without ASD listened to cry recordings of infants later diagnosed with ASD and comparison infants and rated them on cry perception scales. Parents completed the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) to assess the potential relations between traits associated with autism and cry perception. Across parents, ASD infant cries were rated as more distressed, less typical, and reflecting greater pain, with no significant differences between parent groups. Parents of children with ASD scored higher on the BAPQ compared to parents of children without ASD. Follow up analyses explored the relations between BAPQ score and cry ratings.
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31
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Atypical Auditory Brainstem Response and Protein Expression Aberrations Related to ASD and Hearing Loss in the Adnp Haploinsufficient Mouse Brain. Neurochem Res 2019; 44:1494-1507. [PMID: 30659505 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02723-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a wide spread neurodevelopmental disorder with growing morbidity rates, affecting more boys than girls worldwide. Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) was recently recognized as a leading gene accounted for 0.17% of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases globally. Respectively, mutations in the human ADNP gene (ADNP syndrome), cause multi-system body dysfunctions with apparent ASD-related traits, commencing as early as childhood. The Adnp haploinsufficient (Adnp+/-) mouse model was researched before in relations to Alzheimer's disease and autism. Adnp+/- mice suffer from deficient social memory, vocal and motor impediments, irregular tooth eruption and short stature, all of which corresponds with reported phenotypes in patients with the ADNP syndrome. Recently, a more elaborated description of the ADNP syndrome was published, presenting impediments such as hearing disabilities in > 10% of the studied children. Irregular auditory brainstem response (ABR) has been connected to ASD-related cases and has been suggested as a potential hallmark for autism, allowing diagnosis of ASD risk and early intervention. Herein, we present detriment hearing in the Adnp+/- mice with atypical ABR and significant protein expression irregularities that coincides with ASD and hearing loss studies in the brain.
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32
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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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33
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Ocak E, Eshraghi RS, Danesh A, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Central Auditory Processing Disorders in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Balkan Med J 2018; 35:367-372. [PMID: 29952312 PMCID: PMC6158468 DOI: 10.4274/balkanmedj.2018.0853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiology and the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders are still largely unknown. This article provides a comprehensive review of the studies that are relevant to autism spectrum disorders and central auditory processing disorders and also discusses the relationship between autism spectrum disorders and central auditory processing disorders in the light of recent studies on this subject, which may provide new pathways in a therapeutic perspective. Several studies confirm that most of the individuals with an autism spectrum disorder have some degree of sensory dysfunction related to disorders of processing auditory, visual, vestibular, and/or tactile stimuli. Among these studies, some have addressed central auditory processing disorders. There is an increasing amount of effort for studies regarding the link between autism spectrum disorders and central auditory processing disorders. Most of the studies investigating central auditory processing disorders in patients with autism spectrum disorders have used electrophysiological measurements such as mismatch negativity and P300 event-related potentials. In addition to these, several studies have reported deterioration in speech perception and expression in patients with autism spectrum disorders, which may also be related to central auditory processing disorders in this unique group of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Ocak
- Department of Otolaryngology and Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Rebecca S. Eshraghi
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami USA
| | - Ali Danesh
- Department of Audiology, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology and Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Adrien A. Eshraghi
- Department of Otolaryngology and Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA
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