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Moser C, Campanelli A, Friedman L, Thurman AJ, Roberts JE, Abbeduto L, Klusek J. Characterising the social interaction style of autism in young adult males with fragile X syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2024; 68:464-476. [PMID: 38258970 PMCID: PMC11023774 DOI: 10.1111/jir.13121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The characterisation of autism in fragile X syndrome (FXS) has been a source of controversy due to the complexity of disentangling autism traits from common features of the FXS phenotype. Autism in FXS is significantly underdiagnosed in the community, which may be partly due to insufficient clinical description of the social interaction profile of autism within the FXS phenotype. In this study, we applied a classic framework for characterising social interaction styles in autism to a sample of young adult males with FXS and co-occurring autism to enhance understanding of how the social challenges associated with autism manifest within FXS. METHODS Participants were 41 males (M age = 18 years) with FXS and co-occurring autism. Interaction samples were coded for expression of predominately 'active' (characterised by a desire to make social approaches) or 'passive' (characterised by lack of initiation of social approach towards others) interaction profiles. Differences in the expression of phenotypic features of FXS, including anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, cognitive, adaptive and language impairments and autism symptom severity, were examined across those with passive and active interaction styles. RESULTS Approximately half of the sample was classified as active and half as passive, demonstrating diversity in the social phenotype of autism associated with FXS. The two subtypes did not differ in autism severity, anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms or in cognitive, adaptive or language abilities. CONCLUSIONS This study enhances understanding of FXS-associated autism by documenting phenotypic variability in the social interaction profile in this group, with active and passive social interaction styles represented. The two social interaction styles were not associated with differential expression of common phenotypic features of FXS, suggesting similar support needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Moser
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, 1705 College Street, Columbia SC 29208, USA
| | - Alyssa Campanelli
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, 1705 College Street, Columbia SC 29208, USA
| | - Laura Friedman
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, 1705 College Street, Columbia SC 29208, USA
| | - Angela John Thurman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jane E. Roberts
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, 1512 Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina, 29208, USA
| | - Leonard Abbeduto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jessica Klusek
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, 1705 College Street, Columbia SC 29208, USA
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Dubois-Sage M, Jacquet B, Jamet F, Baratgin J. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder Could Interact More Easily with a Robot than with a Human: Reasons and Limits. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:131. [PMID: 38392485 PMCID: PMC10886012 DOI: 10.3390/bs14020131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder show deficits in communication and social interaction, as well as repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. Interacting with robots could bring benefits to this population, notably by fostering communication and social interaction. Studies even suggest that people with Autism Spectrum Disorder could interact more easily with a robot partner rather than a human partner. We will be looking at the benefits of robots and the reasons put forward to explain these results. The interest regarding robots would mainly be due to three of their characteristics: they can act as motivational tools, and they are simplified agents whose behavior is more predictable than that of a human. Nevertheless, there are still many challenges to be met in specifying the optimum conditions for using robots with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Dubois-Sage
- Laboratoire Cognitions Humaine et Artificielle, RNSR 200515259U, UFR de Psychologie, Université Paris 8, 93526 Saint-Denis, France
| | - Baptiste Jacquet
- Laboratoire Cognitions Humaine et Artificielle, RNSR 200515259U, UFR de Psychologie, Université Paris 8, 93526 Saint-Denis, France
- Association P-A-R-I-S, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Frank Jamet
- Laboratoire Cognitions Humaine et Artificielle, RNSR 200515259U, UFR de Psychologie, Université Paris 8, 93526 Saint-Denis, France
- Association P-A-R-I-S, 75005 Paris, France
- UFR d'Éducation, CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Cergy-Pontoise, France
| | - Jean Baratgin
- Laboratoire Cognitions Humaine et Artificielle, RNSR 200515259U, UFR de Psychologie, Université Paris 8, 93526 Saint-Denis, France
- Association P-A-R-I-S, 75005 Paris, France
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Marrus N, Botteron KN, Hawks Z, Pruett JR, Elison JT, Jackson JJ, Markson L, Eggebrecht AT, Burrows CA, Zwaigenbaum L, Dager S, Estes A, Hazlett H, Schultz RT, Piven J, Constantino JN. Social motivation in infancy is associated with familial recurrence of ASD. Dev Psychopathol 2024; 36:101-111. [PMID: 36189644 PMCID: PMC10067534 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422001006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Pre-diagnostic deficits in social motivation are hypothesized to contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a heritable neurodevelopmental condition. We evaluated psychometric properties of a social motivation index (SMI) using parent-report item-level data from 597 participants in a prospective cohort of infant siblings at high and low familial risk for ASD. We tested whether lower SMI scores at 6, 12, and 24 months were associated with a 24-month ASD diagnosis and whether social motivation's course differed relative to familial ASD liability. The SMI displayed good internal consistency and temporal stability. Children diagnosed with ASD displayed lower mean SMI T-scores at all ages and a decrease in mean T-scores across age. Lower group-level 6-month scores corresponded with higher familial ASD liability. Among high-risk infants, strong decline in SMI T-scores was associated with 10-fold odds of diagnosis. Infant social motivation is quantifiable by parental report, differentiates children with versus without later ASD by age 6 months, and tracks with familial ASD liability, consistent with a diagnostic and susceptibility marker of ASD. Early decrements and decline in social motivation indicate increased likelihood of ASD, highlighting social motivation's importance to risk assessment and clarification of the ontogeny of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Marrus
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine
| | | | - Zoë Hawks
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - John R. Pruett
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Jed T. Elison
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota
| | - Joshua J. Jackson
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Lori Markson
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Adam T. Eggebrecht
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | - Annette Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington
| | - Heather Hazlett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | - Joseph Piven
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Neuhaus E, Bernier RA, Webb SJ. Social motivation by self- and caregiver-report: Reporter concordance and social correlates among autistic and neurotypical youth. Autism Res 2024; 17:55-65. [PMID: 37987233 PMCID: PMC10843724 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3054] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Differences in social motivation underlie the core social-communication features of autism according to several theoretical models, with decreased social motivation among autistic youth relative to neurotypical peers. However, research on social motivation often relies on caregiver reports and rarely includes firsthand perspectives of children and adolescents with autism. Furthermore, social motivation is typically assumed to be constant across social settings when it may actually vary by social context. Among a sample of 58 verbally fluent youth (8-13 years old; 22 with autism, 36 neurotypical), we examined correspondence between youth and caregiver reports of social motivation with peers and with adults, as well as diagnostic group differences and associations with social outcomes. Results suggest youth and caregivers provide overlapping but distinct information. Autistic youth had lower levels of social motivation relative to neurotypical youth, and reported relatively consistent motivation toward peers and adults. Youth self- and caregiver-report were correlated for motivation toward adults, but not toward peers. Despite low correspondence between self- and caregiver-reported motivation toward peers, autistic youths' self-report corresponded to caregiver-reported social skills and difficulties whereas caregiver-report of peer motivation did not. For neurotypical youth, self- and caregiver-reported motivation toward adults was correlated, but motivation by both reporters was largely independent of broader social outcomes. Findings highlight the unique value of self-report among autistic children and adolescents, and warrant additional work exploring the development, structure, and correlates of social motivation among autistic and neurotypical youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Neuhaus
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute; Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development
- University of Washington Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
| | - Raphael A. Bernier
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute; Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development
- University of Washington Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
| | - Sara Jane Webb
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute; Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development
- University of Washington Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
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Lestarevic S, Kalanj M, Milutinovic L, Grujicic R, Vasic J, Maslak J, Mitkovic-Voncina M, Ljubomirovic N, Pejovic-Milovancevic M. Internal Consistency of the Serbian Translation of the Stanford Social Dimensions Scale and Association to Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Scores in Male and Female Individuals on the Autism Spectrum and Non-autistic Individuals. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06061-z. [PMID: 37480441 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06061-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the internal consistency of Stanford Social Dimensions Scale (SSDS) translated to Serbian and to test it against the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The sample consisted of 200 patients (32% ASD) of the Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade, Serbia (68 females, 132 males, Mage=9.61, SDage=4.06). Internal consistency coefficients were within good/acceptable range for Social Motivation, Affiliation, Recognition and Unusual Approach subscales and below acceptable for Expressive Social Communication subscale. The non-autistic group scored higher on all subscales compared to the ASD group. All SSDS subscales positively correlated with SDQ Prosocial Behaviors scale. The SSDS is a valuable instrument for accessing sociobehavioral phenotype in both individuals on the autism spectrum and non-autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marija Mitkovic-Voncina
- Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Beograd, Serbia
| | - Natasa Ljubomirovic
- Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade, Serbia
- College of Social Work, Belgrade, Serbia
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McNaughton KA, Kirby LA, Warnell KR, Alkire D, Merchant JS, Moraczewski D, Yarger HA, Thurm A, Redcay E. Social-interactive reward elicits similar neural response in autism and typical development and predicts future social experiences. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 59:101197. [PMID: 36640623 PMCID: PMC9852551 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Challenges in initiating and responding to social-interactive exchanges are a key diagnostic feature of autism spectrum disorder, yet investigations into the underlying neural mechanisms of social interaction have been hampered by reliance on non-interactive approaches. Using an innovative social-interactive neuroscience approach, we investigated differences between youth with autism and youth with typical development in neural response to a chat-based social-interactive reward, as well as factors such as age and self-reported social enjoyment that may account for heterogeneity in that response. We found minimal group differences in neural and behavioral response to social-interactive reward, and variation within both groups was related to self-reported social enjoyment during the task. Furthermore, neural sensitivity to social-interactive reward predicted future enjoyment of a face-to-face social interaction with a novel peer. These findings have important implications for understanding the nature of social reward and peer interactions in typical development as well as for future research informing social interactions in individuals on the autism spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A. McNaughton
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland College Park, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, USA,Correspondence to: 1121 Biology-Psychology Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| | | | | | - Diana Alkire
- Division of Extramural Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, USA
| | - Junaid S. Merchant
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland College Park, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, USA
| | | | - Heather A. Yarger
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland College Park, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, USA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute of Mental Health, USA
| | - Elizabeth Redcay
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland College Park, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, USA
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Tang B, Levine M, Adamek JH, Wodka EL, Caffo BS, Ewen JB. Evaluating causal psychological models: A study of language theories of autism using a large sample. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1060525. [PMID: 36910768 PMCID: PMC9998497 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1060525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
We used a large convenience sample (n = 22,223) from the Simons Powering Autism Research (SPARK) dataset to evaluate causal, explanatory theories of core autism symptoms. In particular, the data-items collected supported the testing of theories that posited altered language abilities as cause of social withdrawal, as well as alternative theories that competed with these language theories. Our results using this large dataset converge with the evolution of the field in the decades since these theories were first proposed, namely supporting primary social withdrawal (in some cases of autism) as a cause of altered language development, rather than vice versa. To accomplish the above empiric goals, we used a highly theory-constrained approach, one which differs from current data-driven modeling trends but is coherent with a very recent resurgence in theory-driven psychology. In addition to careful explication and formalization of theoretical accounts, we propose three principles for future work of this type: specification, quantification, and integration. Specification refers to constraining models with pre-existing data, from both outside and within autism research, with more elaborate models and more veridical measures, and with longitudinal data collection. Quantification refers to using continuous measures of both psychological causes and effects, as well as weighted graphs. This approach avoids "universality and uniqueness" tests that hold that a single cognitive difference could be responsible for a heterogeneous and complex behavioral phenotype. Integration of multiple explanatory paths within a single model helps the field examine for multiple contributors to a single behavioral feature or to multiple behavioral features. It also allows integration of explanatory theories across multiple current-day diagnoses and as well as typical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohao Tang
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Jack H Adamek
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ericka L Wodka
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.,School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brian S Caffo
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joshua B Ewen
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.,School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
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