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Yang Y, Tang D, Wang Z, Liu Y, Chen F, Jie B, Ni T, Xu C, Li J, Wang C. Identification of high-functioning autism spectrum disorders based on gray-white matter functional network connectivity. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 178:107-113. [PMID: 39128219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
In the field of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), research on functional connectivity between gray matter and white matter remains under-researched. To address this gap, this study innovatively introduced a nested cross-validation method that integrates gray-white matter functional connectivity with an F-Score algorithm. This method calculates the correlation based on signals extracted from functional magnetic resonance imaging data using gray matter and white matter brain region templates. After applying the method to a New York University Langone Medical Center dataset consisting of 55 individuals with high-functioning ASD and 52 healthy subjects, we achieved a classification accuracy of 72.94%. This study found abnormal functional connectivity, primarily involving the left anterior prefrontal cortex and right superior corona radiata, left retrosplenial cortex and left superior corona radiata, as well as the left ventral anterior cingulate cortex and body of corpus callosum. Besides, we discovered that these abnormal connections are closely related to social impairment and restrictive and repetitive behaviors in ASD. In conclusion, this study provides a gray-white matter functional connectivity perspective for the diagnosis and understanding of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Detao Tang
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Yifei Liu
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Fulong Chen
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China.
| | - Biao Jie
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Tianjiao Ni
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Chenglong Xu
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Jintao Li
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Chao Wang
- School of Computer and Information, Anhui Normal University, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center of Medical Big Data Intelligent System, WuHu, 241002, Anhui, China
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2
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Duville MM, Alonso-Valerdi LM, Ibarra-Zarate DI. Improved emotion differentiation under reduced acoustic variability of speech in autism. BMC Med 2024; 22:121. [PMID: 38486293 PMCID: PMC10941423 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Socio-emotional impairments are among the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the actual knowledge has substantiated both altered and intact emotional prosodies recognition. Here, a Bayesian framework of perception is considered suggesting that the oversampling of sensory evidence would impair perception within highly variable environments. However, reliable hierarchical structures for spectral and temporal cues would foster emotion discrimination by autistics. METHODS Event-related spectral perturbations (ERSP) extracted from electroencephalographic (EEG) data indexed the perception of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, neutral, and sadness prosodies while listening to speech uttered by (a) human or (b) synthesized voices characterized by reduced volatility and variability of acoustic environments. The assessment of mechanisms for perception was extended to the visual domain by analyzing the behavioral accuracy within a non-social task in which dynamics of precision weighting between bottom-up evidence and top-down inferences were emphasized. Eighty children (mean 9.7 years old; standard deviation 1.8) volunteered including 40 autistics. The symptomatology was assessed at the time of the study via the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition, and parents' responses on the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales. A mixed within-between analysis of variance was conducted to assess the effects of group (autism versus typical development), voice, emotions, and interaction between factors. A Bayesian analysis was implemented to quantify the evidence in favor of the null hypothesis in case of non-significance. Post hoc comparisons were corrected for multiple testing. RESULTS Autistic children presented impaired emotion differentiation while listening to speech uttered by human voices, which was improved when the acoustic volatility and variability of voices were reduced. Divergent neural patterns were observed from neurotypicals to autistics, emphasizing different mechanisms for perception. Accordingly, behavioral measurements on the visual task were consistent with the over-precision ascribed to the environmental variability (sensory processing) that weakened performance. Unlike autistic children, neurotypicals could differentiate emotions induced by all voices. CONCLUSIONS This study outlines behavioral and neurophysiological mechanisms that underpin responses to sensory variability. Neurobiological insights into the processing of emotional prosodies emphasized the potential of acoustically modified emotional prosodies to improve emotion differentiation by autistics. TRIAL REGISTRATION BioMed Central ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN18117434. Registered on September 20, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Marie Duville
- Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Col: Tecnológico, Monterrey, N.L, 64700, México.
| | - Luz María Alonso-Valerdi
- Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Col: Tecnológico, Monterrey, N.L, 64700, México
| | - David I Ibarra-Zarate
- Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Col: Tecnológico, Monterrey, N.L, 64700, México
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3
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Oberman LM, Francis SM, Beynel L, Hynd M, Jaime M, Robins PL, Deng ZD, Stout J, van der Veen JW, Lisanby SH. Design and methodology for a proof of mechanism study of individualized neuronavigated continuous Theta burst stimulation for auditory processing in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1304528. [PMID: 38389984 PMCID: PMC10881663 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1304528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that aberrant excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance and dysfunctional structure and function of relevant brain networks may underlie the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the nomological network linking these constructs to quantifiable measures and mechanistically relating these constructs to behavioral symptoms of ASD is lacking. Herein we describe a within-subject, controlled, proof-of-mechanism study investigating the pathophysiology of auditory/language processing in adolescents with ASD. We utilize neurophysiological and neuroimaging techniques including magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and magnetoencephalography (MEG) metrics of language network structure and function. Additionally, we apply a single, individually targeted session of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) as an experimental probe of the impact of perturbation of the system on these neurophysiological and neuroimaging outcomes. MRS, fMRI, and MEG measures are evaluated at baseline and immediately prior to and following cTBS over the posterior superior temporal cortex (pSTC), a region involved in auditory and language processing deficits in ASD. Also, behavioral measures of ASD and language processing and DWI measures of auditory/language network structures are obtained at baseline to characterize the relationship between the neuroimaging and neurophysiological measures and baseline symptom presentation. We hypothesize that local gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate concentrations (measured with MRS), and structural and functional activity and network connectivity (measured with DWI and fMRI), will significantly predict MEG indices of auditory/language processing and behavioral deficits in ASD. Furthermore, a single session of cTBS over left pSTC is hypothesized to lead to significant, acute changes in local glutamate and GABA concentration, functional activity and network connectivity, and MEG indices of auditory/language processing. We have completed the pilot phase of the study (n=20 Healthy Volunteer adults) and have begun enrollment for the main phase with adolescents with ASD (n=86; age 14-17). If successful, this study will establish a nomological network linking local E/I balance measures to functional and structural connectivity within relevant brain networks, ultimately connecting them to ASD symptoms. Furthermore, this study will inform future therapeutic trials using cTBS to treat the symptoms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M Oberman
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sunday M Francis
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lysianne Beynel
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Megan Hynd
- Clinical Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Miguel Jaime
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Pei L Robins
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Zhi-De Deng
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jeff Stout
- Magnetoencephalography Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jan Willem van der Veen
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sarah H Lisanby
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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4
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Reis SL, Monteiro P. From synaptic dysfunction to atypical emotional processing in autism. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:269-282. [PMID: 38233224 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14801] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition mainly characterized by social impairments and repetitive behaviors. Among these core symptoms, a notable aspect of ASD is the presence of emotional complexities, including high rates of anxiety disorders. The inherent heterogeneity of ASD poses a unique challenge in understanding its etiological origins, yet the utilization of diverse animal models replicating ASD traits has enabled researchers to dissect the intricate relationship between autism and atypical emotional processing. In this review, we delve into the general findings about the neural circuits underpinning one of the most extensively researched and evolutionarily conserved emotional states: fear and anxiety. Additionally, we explore how distinct ASD animal models exhibit various anxiety phenotypes, making them a crucial tool for dissecting ASD's multifaceted nature. Overall, to a proper display of fear response, it is crucial to properly process and integrate sensorial and visceral cues to the fear-induced stimuli. ASD individuals exhibit altered sensory processing, possibly contributing to the emergence of atypical phobias, a prevailing anxiety disorder manifested in this population. Moreover, these individuals display distinctive alterations in a pivotal fear and anxiety processing hub, the amygdala. By examining the neurobiological mechanisms underlying fear and anxiety regulation, we can gain insights into the factors contributing to the distinctive emotional profile observed in individuals with ASD. Such insights hold the potential to pave the way for more targeted interventions and therapies that address the emotional challenges faced by individuals within the autism spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Reis
- Department of Biomedicine - Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Department of Biomedicine - Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Portugal
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McKenna K, Prasad S, Cooper J, King AM, Shahzeidi S, Mittal J, Zalta M, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Incidence of Otolaryngological Manifestations in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Special Focus on Auditory Disorders. Audiol Res 2024; 14:35-61. [PMID: 38247561 PMCID: PMC10801499 DOI: 10.3390/audiolres14010005] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by stereotyped and repetitive behavior patterns. In addition to neurological and behavioral problems, individuals with ASD commonly experience otolaryngological comorbidities. Individuals with ASD often have auditory disorders including hearing loss and auditory processing disorders such as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), as well as both chronic and recurrent otitis media. These challenges negatively impact a person's ability to effectively communicate and may further impact their neurological functioning, particularly when not appropriately treated. Individuals diagnosed with ASD also have difficulty sleeping which contributes to increased irritability and may further aggravate the core behavioral symptoms of autism. The individuals with ASD also have a higher rate of sinusitis which contributes to the worsening of the autism behavior phenotype. The high prevalence of otolaryngological comorbidities in individuals with ASD warrants a better collaboration between their various healthcare providers and otolaryngologists with expertise in auditory, sleep, and sinus disorders in pursuit of improving the quality of life of affected individuals and their families/caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keelin McKenna
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Soumil Prasad
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Jaimee Cooper
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Ava M. King
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
| | | | - Jeenu Mittal
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Max Zalta
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
| | - Adrien A. Eshraghi
- Hearing Research and Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (K.M.); (S.P.); (J.C.); (A.M.K.); (J.M.); (R.M.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Parrella NF, Hill AT, Dipnall LM, Loke YJ, Enticott PG, Ford TC. Inhibitory dysfunction and social processing difficulties in autism: A comprehensive narrative review. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 169:113-125. [PMID: 38016393 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has a prominent role in regulating neural development and function, with disruption to GABAergic signalling linked to behavioural phenotypes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism. Such neurochemical disruption, likely resulting from diverse genetic and molecular mechanisms, particularly during early development, can subsequently affect the cellular balance of excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits, which may account for the social processing difficulties observed in autism and related conditions. This comprehensive narrative review integrates diverse streams of research from several disciplines, including molecular neurobiology, genetics, epigenetics, and systems neuroscience. In so doing it aims to elucidate the relevance of inhibitory dysfunction to autism, with specific focus on social processing difficulties that represent a core feature of this disorder. Many of the social processing difficulties experienced in autism have been linked to higher levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and/or lower levels of inhibitory GABA. While current therapeutic options for social difficulties in autism are largely limited to behavioural interventions, this review highlights the psychopharmacological studies that explore the utility of GABA modulation in alleviating such difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aron T Hill
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lillian M Dipnall
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Early Life Epigenetics Group, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Yuk Jing Loke
- Epigenetics Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Talitha C Ford
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Caragli V, Monzani D, Genovese E, Palma S, Persico AM. Cochlear Implantation in Children with Additional Disabilities: A Systematic Review. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1653. [PMID: 37892316 PMCID: PMC10605071 DOI: 10.3390/children10101653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the last 10 years of medical literature on the benefits of cochlear implantation in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) with additional disabilities. The most recent literature concerning cochlear implants (CIs) in DHH children with additional disabilities was systematically explored through PubMed, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science from January 2012 to July 2023. Our two-stage search strategy selected a total of 61 articles concerning CI implantation in children with several forms of additional disabilities: autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, motor disorders, developmental delay, genetic syndromes, and intellectual disability. Overall, many children with additional disabilities benefit from CIs by acquiring greater environmental sound awareness. This, in turn, improves non-verbal communication and adaptive skills, with greater possibilities to relate to others and to be connected with the environment. Instead, despite some improvement, expressive language tends to develop more slowly and to a lesser extent compared to children affected by hearing loss only. Further studies are needed to better appreciate the specificities of each single disability and to personalize interventions, not restricting the analysis to auditory and language skills, but rather applying or developing cross-culturally validated instruments able to reliably assess the developmental trajectory and the quality of life of DHH children with additional disabilities before and after CI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Caragli
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Audiology Program, Department of Diagnostic Clinical and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Daniele Monzani
- Department of Surgery Dentistry Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy;
| | - Elisabetta Genovese
- Audiology Program, Department of Diagnostic Clinical and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy;
| | - Silvia Palma
- Audiology, Primary Care Department, AUSL Modena, 41100 Modena, Italy;
| | - Antonio M. Persico
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena University Hospital, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Gonçalves AM, Sousa N, Jacinto L, Monteiro P. The Shank3-InsG3680(+/+) mouse model of autism spectrum disorder displays auditory avoidance in a novel behavioral test. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1205507. [PMID: 37693284 PMCID: PMC10483143 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1205507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and sensory alterations, with auditory hypersensitivity being one of the most commonly reported sensory-perceptual abnormalities. Several candidate genes for involvement in this disorder have emerged from patient studies, including SHANK3, a gene that encodes a protein (SHANK3) in the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses. Previous work has shown that mutant mice carrying a human ASD mutation in the Shank3 gene (InsG3680) exhibit repetitive behaviors and social interaction deficits, indicating important construct and face validity for this genotype as an animal model of ASD. Methods To further address whether these mice also present auditory sensory-perceptual alterations, we developed a novel behavioral test in which mice can choose between different soundscapes. Results Our results reveal that, in comparison to wild-type mice, Shank3 mutants display a strong behavioral preference toward silent regions of the arena. Discussion These data suggest that Shank3- mutant mice might express an auditory hypersensitivity phenotype, further adding to the face validity of this genotype as an animal model of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Luis Jacinto
- Experimental Biology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Experimental Biology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
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