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Croom K, Rumschlag JA, Molinaro G, Erickson MA, Binder DK, Huber KM, Razak KA. Developmental trajectory and sex differences in auditory processing in a PTEN-deletion model of autism spectrum disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106628. [PMID: 39111703 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) encompass a wide array of debilitating symptoms, including severe sensory deficits and abnormal language development. Sensory deficits early in development may lead to broader symptomatology in adolescents and adults. The mechanistic links between ASD risk genes, sensory processing and language impairment are unclear. There is also a sex bias in ASD diagnosis and symptomatology. The current study aims to identify the developmental trajectory and genotype- and sex-dependent differences in auditory sensitivity and temporal processing in a Pten-deletion (phosphatase and tensin homolog missing on chromosome 10) mouse model of ASD. Auditory temporal processing is crucial for speech recognition and language development and deficits will cause language impairments. However, very little is known about the development of temporal processing in ASD animal models, and if there are sex differences. To address this major gap, we recorded epidural electroencephalography (EEG) signals from the frontal (FC) and auditory (AC) cortex in developing and adult Nse-cre PTEN mice, in which Pten is deleted in specific cortical layers (layers III-V) (PTEN conditional knock-out (cKO). We quantified resting EEG spectral power distribution, auditory event related potentials (ERP) and temporal processing from awake and freely moving male and female mice. Temporal processing is measured using a gap-in-noise-ASSR (auditory steady state response) stimulus paradigm. The experimental manipulation of gap duration and modulation depth allows us to measure cortical entrainment to rapid gaps in sounds. Temporal processing was quantified using inter-trial phase clustering (ITPC) values that account for phase consistency across trials. The results show genotype differences in resting power distribution in PTEN cKO mice throughout development. Male and female cKO mice have significantly increased beta power but decreased high frequency oscillations in the AC and FC. Both male and female PTEN cKO mice show diminished ITPC in their gap-ASSR responses in the AC and FC compared to control mice. Overall, deficits become more prominent in adult (p60) mice, with cKO mice having significantly increased sound evoked power and decreased ITPC compared to controls. While both male and female cKO mice demonstrated severe temporal processing deficits across development, female cKO mice showed increased hypersensitivity compared to males, reflected as increased N1 and P2 amplitudes. These data identify a number of novel sensory processing deficits in a PTEN-ASD mouse model that are present from an early age. Abnormal temporal processing and hypersensitive responses may contribute to abnormal development of language function in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, United States of America
| | - Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Michael A Erickson
- Psychology Department, University of California, Riverside, United States of America
| | - Devin K Binder
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, United States of America; Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, United States of America
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, United States of America; Psychology Department, University of California, Riverside, United States of America.
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Dickinson A, Booth M, Daniel M, Campbell A, Miller N, Lau B, Zempel J, Webb SJ, Elison J, Lee AKC, Estes A, Dager S, Hazlett H, Wolff J, Schultz R, Marrus N, Evans A, Piven J, Pruett JR, Jeste S. Multi-site EEG studies in early infancy: Methods to enhance data quality. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2024; 69:101425. [PMID: 39163782 PMCID: PMC11380169 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain differences linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can manifest before observable symptoms. Studying these early neural precursors in larger and more diverse cohorts is crucial for advancing our understanding of developmental pathways and potentially facilitating earlier identification. EEG is an ideal tool for investigating early neural differences in ASD, given its scalability and high tolerability in infant populations. In this context, we integrated EEG into an existing multi-site MRI study of infants with a higher familial likelihood of developing ASD. This paper describes the comprehensive protocol established to collect longitudinal, high-density EEG data from infants across five sites as part of the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) Network and reports interim feasibility and data quality results. We evaluated feasibility by measuring the percentage of infants from whom we successfully collected each EEG paradigm. The quality of task-free data was assessed based on the duration of EEG recordings remaining after artifact removal. Preliminary analyses revealed low data loss, with average in-session loss rates at 4.16 % and quality control loss rates at 11.66 %. Overall, the task-free data retention rate, accounting for both in-session issues and quality control, was 84.16 %, with high consistency across sites. The insights gained from this preliminary analysis highlight key sources of data attrition and provide practical considerations to guide similar research endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Dickinson
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Madison Booth
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Manjari Daniel
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alana Campbell
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Neely Miller
- Center for Neurobehavioral Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Bonnie Lau
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John Zempel
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sara Jane Webb
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jed Elison
- Institute of Child Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Adrian K C Lee
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annette Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephen Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heather Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jason Wolff
- Center for Neurobehavioral Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Robert Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Natasha Marrus
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alan Evans
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John R Pruett
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shafali Jeste
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Sanglakh Ghoochan Atigh A, Joghataei MT, Moradkhani S, Alizadeh Zarei M, Nazari MA. Early Auditory Temporal Processing Deficit in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Research Domain Criteria Framework. Brain Sci 2024; 14:896. [PMID: 39335392 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14090896] [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: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Altered sensory processing especially in the auditory system is considered a typical observation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Auditory temporal processing is known to be impaired in ASD children. Although research suggests that auditory temporal processing abnormalities could be responsible for the core aspects of ASD, few studies have examined early time processing and their results have been conflicting. The present event-related potential (ERP) study investigated the early neural responses to duration and inter-stimulus interval (ISI) deviants in nonspeech contexts in children with ASD and a control group of typically developing (TD) children matched in terms of age and IQ. A passive auditory oddball paradigm was employed to elicit the mismatch negativity (MMN) for change detection considering both the duration and ISI-based stimulus. The MMN results showed that the ASD group had a relatively diminished amplitude and significant delayed latency in response to duration deviants. The findings are finally discussed in terms of hyper-hyposensitivity of auditory processing and the fact that the observed patterns may potentially act as risk factors for ASD development within the research domain criteria (RDoC) framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atoosa Sanglakh Ghoochan Atigh
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Shadi Moradkhani
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
| | - Mehdi Alizadeh Zarei
- Occupational Therapy Department, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1545913487, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Nazari
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
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Dickinson A, Ryan D, McNaughton G, Levin A, Naples A, Borland H, Bernier R, Chawarska K, Dawson G, Dziura J, Faja S, Kleinhans N, Sugar C, Senturk D, Shic F, Webb SJ, McPartland JC, Jeste S. Parsing evoked and induced gamma response differences in Autism: A visual evoked potential study. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 165:55-63. [PMID: 38959536 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.05.015] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Electroencephalography (EEG) measures of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) provide a targeted approach for investigating neural circuit dynamics. This study separately analyses phase-locked (evoked) and non-phase-locked (induced) gamma responses within the VEP to comprehensively investigate circuit differences in autism. METHODS We analyzed VEP data from 237 autistic and 114 typically developing (TD) children aged 6-11, collected through the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials (ABC-CT). Evoked and induced gamma (30-90 Hz) responses were separately quantified using a wavelet-based time-frequency analysis, and group differences were evaluated using a permutation-based clustering procedure. RESULTS Autistic children exhibited reduced evoked gamma power but increased induced gamma power compared to TD peers. Group differences in induced responses showed the most prominent effect size and remained statistically significant after excluding outliers. CONCLUSIONS Our study corroborates recent research indicating diminished evoked gamma responses in children with autism. Additionally, we observed a pronounced increase in induced power. Building upon existing ABC-CT findings, these results highlight the potential to detect variations in gamma-related neural activity, despite the absence of significant group differences in time-domain VEP components. SIGNIFICANCE The contrasting patterns of decreased evoked and increased induced gamma activity in autistic children suggest that a combination of different EEG metrics may provide a clearer characterization of autism-related circuitry than individual markers alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Dickinson
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
| | - Declan Ryan
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Gabrielle McNaughton
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - April Levin
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, USA
| | - Adam Naples
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Heather Borland
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, USA
| | - Raphael Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, USA
| | | | - Geraldine Dawson
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, USA
| | - James Dziura
- Emergency Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Susan Faja
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, USA
| | | | - Catherine Sugar
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Damla Senturk
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Frederick Shic
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, USA
| | - Sara Jane Webb
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, USA
| | | | - Shafali Jeste
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, USA
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Croom K, Rumschlag JA, Erickson MA, Binder D, Razak KA. Sex differences during development in cortical temporal processing and event related potentials in wild-type and fragile X syndrome model mice. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:24. [PMID: 38720271 PMCID: PMC11077726 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09539-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently diagnosed in approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States, based on a wide array of symptoms, including sensory dysfunction and abnormal language development. Boys are diagnosed ~ 3.8 times more frequently than girls. Auditory temporal processing is crucial for speech recognition and language development. Abnormal development of temporal processing may account for ASD language impairments. Sex differences in the development of temporal processing may underlie the differences in language outcomes in male and female children with ASD. To understand mechanisms of potential sex differences in temporal processing requires a preclinical model. However, there are no studies that have addressed sex differences in temporal processing across development in any animal model of ASD. METHODS To fill this major gap, we compared the development of auditory temporal processing in male and female wildtype (WT) and Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice, a model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading genetic cause of ASD-associated behaviors. Using epidural screw electrodes, we recorded auditory event related potentials (ERP) and auditory temporal processing with a gap-in-noise auditory steady state response (ASSR) paradigm at young (postnatal (p)21 and p30) and adult (p60) ages from both auditory and frontal cortices of awake, freely moving mice. RESULTS The results show that ERP amplitudes were enhanced in both sexes of Fmr1 KO mice across development compared to WT counterparts, with greater enhancement in adult female than adult male KO mice. Gap-ASSR deficits were seen in the frontal, but not auditory, cortex in early development (p21) in female KO mice. Unlike male KO mice, female KO mice show WT-like temporal processing at p30. There were no temporal processing deficits in the adult mice of both sexes. CONCLUSIONS These results show a sex difference in the developmental trajectories of temporal processing and hypersensitive responses in Fmr1 KO mice. Male KO mice show slower maturation of temporal processing than females. Female KO mice show stronger hypersensitive responses than males later in development. The differences in maturation rates of temporal processing and hypersensitive responses during various critical periods of development may lead to sex differences in language function, arousal and anxiety in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | - Michael A Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, USA
| | - Devin Binder
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
- Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, USA.
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Torrens WA, Pablo JN, Berryhill ME, Haigh SM. Pattern glare sensitivity distinguishes subclinical autism and schizotypy. Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2024; 29:155-172. [PMID: 38551240 PMCID: PMC11296901 DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2024.2335103] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder are distinct neurodevelopmental disorders sharing clinically relevant behaviours. However, early sensory responses show divergent responses. Individuals with schizophrenia typically exhibit cortical hypo-excitability whereas individuals with autism show cortical hyperexcitability. Identifying reliable neurobiological differences between the disorders can diminish misdiagnosis and optimise treatments. METHODS The pattern glare test (PGT) is a simple measure of behavioural hyperexcitability. It measures the number of illusions seen in a static horizontal grating. We collected PGT data from non-clinical adults varying in traits of autism and schizophrenia (schizotypy). 576 undergraduate students completed an online survey consisting of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire - Brief Revised, the Autism Spectrum Quotient, and the PGT. RESULTS Subclinical autism and schizotypy traits were highly positively correlated. However, only schizotypy scores were significantly predictive of reporting more pattern glare (PG) illusions. When assessing the subcomponents of the schizotypy and autism scores, positive and disorganised schizotypy traits were predictive of reporting more PG illusions. Whereas, subclinical autism factors were not predictive of PG illusions. CONCLUSIONS High schizotypy performed the PGT in a manner consistent with behavioural hyperexcitability. The PGT distinguished subclinical autistic traits from schizotypy, suggesting potential clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy A Torrens
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
| | - Jenna N Pablo
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
| | - Marian E Berryhill
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
| | - Sarah M Haigh
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
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Molinaro G, Bowles JE, Croom K, Gonzalez D, Mirjafary S, Birnbaum SG, Razak KA, Gibson JR, Huber KM. Female-specific dysfunction of sensory neocortical circuits in a mouse model of autism mediated by mGluR5 and estrogen receptor α. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114056. [PMID: 38581678 PMCID: PMC11112681 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114056] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Little is known of the brain mechanisms that mediate sex-specific autism symptoms. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-risk gene, Pten, in neocortical pyramidal neurons (NSEPten knockout [KO]) results in robust cortical circuit hyperexcitability selectively in female mice observed as prolonged spontaneous persistent activity states. Circuit hyperexcitability in females is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling to mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk1/2) and de novo protein synthesis. Pten KO layer 5 neurons have a female-specific increase in mGluR5 and mGluR5-dependent protein synthesis. Furthermore, mGluR5-ERα complexes are generally elevated in female cortices, and genetic reduction of ERα rescues enhanced circuit excitability, protein synthesis, and neuron size selectively in NSEPten KO females. Female NSEPten KO mice display deficits in sensory processing and social behaviors as well as mGluR5-dependent seizures. These results reveal mechanisms by which sex and a high-confidence ASD-risk gene interact to affect brain function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Molinaro
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob E Bowles
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Darya Gonzalez
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Saba Mirjafary
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shari G Birnbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jay R Gibson
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- Department of Neuroscience, O'Donnell Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Smith JR, Hopkins CE, Xiong J, Luccarelli J, Shultz E, Vandekar S. Use of ECT in Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disability: A Single Site Retrospective Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:963-982. [PMID: 36528758 PMCID: PMC10276173 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05868-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) are heterogenous and prevalent conditions which may occur in isolation or as a co-morbidity. Psychiatric co-morbidity is common with limited treatment options. Preliminary research into electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for these conditions has been encouraging. Thus, further research in this patient population is warranted. We conducted a 10-year retrospective review of the electronic medical record and identified intellectually capable individuals with ASD (IC-ASD), and those with ASD+ID or ID who received at least three ECT treatments. 32 patients were identified of which 30 (94%) experienced positive clinical response, defined as a clinical global impression-improvement (CGI-I) score of 3 or less. The average retrospective CGI-I score across all groups was 1.97, and results of a t-test performed on CGI-I scores indicated improvement across all groups [t = - 16.54, df = 31, p < 0.001, 95% CI = (1.72, 2.22)]. No significant adverse events were identified based on clinical documentation. Our findings further support previous ECT research in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Smith
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center at Village of Vanderbilt, 1500 21st Avenue South, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, 110 Magnolia Circle, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
| | - Corey E Hopkins
- Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Ave South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Jiangmei Xiong
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, 2424 West End Avenue, Suite 1100, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
| | - James Luccarelli
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth Shultz
- Division of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Ave South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Simon Vandekar
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, 2424 West End Avenue, Suite 1100, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA
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Molinaro G, Bowles JE, Croom K, Gonzalez D, Mirjafary S, Birnbaum S, Razak KA, Gibson JR, Huber KM. Female specific dysfunction of sensory neocortical circuits in a mouse model of autism mediated by mGluR5 and Estrogen Receptor α. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.10.552857. [PMID: 37609208 PMCID: PMC10441407 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.10.552857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Autism manifests differently in males and females and the brain mechanisms that mediate these sex-dependent differences are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the ASD-risk gene, Pten, in neocortical pyramidal neurons (NSE Pten KO) results in robust hyperexcitability of local neocortical circuits in female, but not male, mice, observed as prolonged, spontaneous persistent activity states (UP states). Circuit hyperexcitability in NSE Pten KO mice is mediated by enhanced and/or altered signaling of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) to ERK and protein synthesis selectively in Pten deleted female neurons. In support of this idea, Pten deleted Layer 5 cortical neurons have female-specific increases in mGluR5 and mGluR5-driven protein synthesis. In addition, mGluR5-ERα complexes are elevated in female cortex and genetic reduction of ERα in Pten KO cortical neurons rescues circuit excitability, protein synthesis and enlarged neurons selectively in females. Abnormal timing and hyperexcitability of neocortical circuits in female NSE Pten KO mice are associated with deficits in temporal processing of sensory stimuli and social behaviors as well as mGluR5-dependent seizures. Female-specific cortical hyperexcitability and mGluR5-dependent seizures are also observed in a human disease relevant mouse model, germline Pten +/- mice. Our results reveal molecular mechanisms by which sex and a high impact ASD-risk gene interact to affect brain function and behavior.
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Mazer P, Garcez H, Macedo I, Pasion R, Silveira C, Sempf F, Ferreira-Santos F. Autistic traits and event-related potentials in the general population: A scoping review and meta-analysis. Biol Psychol 2024; 186:108758. [PMID: 38309513 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differences in short and long-latency Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) can help us infer abnormalities in brain processing, considering early and later stages of stimuli processing across tasks and conditions. In autism research, the adult population remains largely understudied compared to samples at early stages of development. In this context, this scoping review briefly summarises what has been described in community and subclinical adult samples of autism. METHOD The current scoping review and meta-analysis includes 50 records (N = 1652) and comprehensively explores short and long-latency ERP amplitudes and their relationship with autistic traits in adult community samples. RESULTS This meta-analysis identified, with small to medium effect sizes, distinctive patterns in late ERP amplitudes, indicating enhanced responses to visual stimuli and the opposite patterns to auditory tasks in the included sample. Additionally, a pattern of higher amplitudes was also found for the component P3b in autistic traits. DISCUSSION Differential effects in visual and auditory domains are explored in light of the predictive processing framework for Autism. It remains possible that different brain mechanisms operate to explain symptoms related with different sensory modalities. P3b is discussed as a possible component of interest in future studies as it revealed a more robust effect for differentiating severity in the expression of autistic traits in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prune Mazer
- ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal; Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal.
| | - Helena Garcez
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Rita Pasion
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal; HEI-LAB, Lusófona University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Celeste Silveira
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Psychiatry Department, Hospital S. João, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Fernando Ferreira-Santos
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal
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11
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Smith JR, DiSalvo M, Green A, Ceranoglu TA, Anteraper SA, Croarkin P, Joshi G. Treatment Response of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Intellectually Capable Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:834-855. [PMID: 36161554 PMCID: PMC10039963 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09564-1] [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: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To examine current clinical research on the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of pediatric and young adult autism spectrum disorder in intellectually capable persons (IC-ASD). We searched peer-reviewed international literature to identify clinical trials investigating TMS as a treatment for behavioral and cognitive symptoms of IC-ASD. We identified sixteen studies and were able to conduct a meta-analysis on twelve of these studies. Seven were open-label or used neurotypical controls for baseline cognitive data, and nine were controlled trials. In the latter, waitlist control groups were often used over sham TMS. Only one study conducted a randomized, parallel, double-blind, and sham controlled trial. Favorable safety data was reported in low frequency repetitive TMS, high frequency repetitive TMS, and intermittent theta burst studies. Compared to TMS research of other neuropsychiatric conditions, significantly lower total TMS pulses were delivered in treatment and neuronavigation was not regularly utilized. Quantitatively, our multivariate meta-analysis results report improvement in cognitive outcomes (pooled Hedges' g = 0.735, 95% CI = 0.242, 1.228; p = 0.009) and primarily Criterion B symptomology of IC-ASD (pooled Hedges' g = 0.435, 95% CI = 0.359, 0.511; p < 0.001) with low frequency repetitive TMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis data indicate that TMS may offer a promising and safe treatment option for pediatric and young adult patients with IC-ASD. However, future work should include use of neuronavigation software, theta burst protocols, targeting of various brain regions, and robust study design before clinical recommendations can be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Smith
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center at Village of Vanderbilt, 1500 21st Avenue South, Suite 2200, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, 110 Magnolia Circle, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Maura DiSalvo
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Allison Green
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Tolga Atilla Ceranoglu
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | | | - Paul Croarkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 1216 2nd Street Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Gagan Joshi
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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12
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Chen B, Jiang L, Lu G, Li Y, Zhang S, Huang X, Xu P, Li F, Yao D. Altered dynamic network interactions in children with ASD during face recognition revealed by time-varying EEG networks. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:11170-11180. [PMID: 37750334 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad355] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the electrophysiological event-related potential in face processing (e.g. N170) is widely accepted as a face-sensitivity biomarker that is deficient in children with autism spectrum disorders, the time-varying brain networks during face recognition are still awaiting further investigation. To explore the social deficits in autism spectrum disorder, especially the time-varying brain networks during face recognition, the current study analyzed the N170, cortical activity, and time-varying networks under 3 tasks (face-upright, face-inverted, and house-upright) in autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children. The results revealed a smaller N170 amplitude in autism spectrum disorder compared with typically developing, along with decreased cortical activity mainly in occipitotemporal areas. Concerning the time-varying networks, the atypically stronger information flow and brain network connections across frontal, parietal, and temporal regions in autism spectrum disorder were reported, which reveals greater effort was exerted by autism spectrum disorder to obtain comparable performance to the typically developing children, although the amplitude of N170 was still smaller than that of the typically developing children. Different brain activation states and interaction patterns of brain regions during face processing were discovered between autism spectrum disorder and typically developing. These findings shed light on the face-processing mechanisms in children with autism spectrum disorder and provide new insight for understanding the social dysfunction of autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baodan Chen
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Guoqing Lu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 600054, China
| | - Yuqin Li
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xunan Huang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Peng Xu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Research Unit of Neuro Information, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 2019RU035, China
- Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Fali Li
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Research Unit of Neuro Information, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 2019RU035, China
| | - Dezhong Yao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Research Unit of Neuro Information, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 2019RU035, China
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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13
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Van der Donck S, Hendriks M, Vos S, Op de Beeck H, Boets B. Neural sensitivity to facial identity and facial expression discrimination in adults with autism. Autism Res 2023; 16:2110-2124. [PMID: 37823568 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3036] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The fluent processing of faces can be challenging for autistic individuals. Here, we assessed the neural sensitivity to rapid changes in subtle facial cues in 23 autistic men and 23 age and IQ matched non-autistic (NA) controls using frequency-tagging electroencephalography (EEG). In oddball paradigms examining the automatic and implicit discrimination of facial identity and facial expression, base rate images were presented at 6 Hz, periodically interleaved every fifth image with an oddball image (i.e. 1.2 Hz oddball frequency). These distinctive frequency tags for base rate and oddball stimuli allowed direct and objective quantification of the neural discrimination responses. We found no large differences in the neural sensitivity of participants in both groups, not for facial identity discrimination, nor for facial expression discrimination. Both groups also showed a clear face-inversion effect, with reduced brain responses for inverted versus upright faces. Furthermore, sad faces generally elicited significantly lower neural amplitudes than angry, fearful and happy faces. The only minor group difference is the larger involvement of high-level right-hemisphere visual areas in NA men for facial expression processing. These findings are discussed from a developmental perspective, as they strikingly contrast with robust face processing deficits observed in autistic children using identical EEG paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Van der Donck
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michelle Hendriks
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuve, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Silke Vos
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Op de Beeck
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuve, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Schwartz S, Wang L, Uribe S, Shinn-Cunningham B, Tager-Flusberg H. Auditory evoked potentials in adolescents with autism: An investigation of brain development, intellectual impairment, and neural encoding. Autism Res 2023; 16:1859-1876. [PMID: 37735966 PMCID: PMC10676753 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3003] [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: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Limited research has evaluated neural encoding of sounds from a developmental perspective in individuals with autism (ASD), especially among those with intellectual disability. We compared auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in autistic adolescents with a wide range of intellectual abilities (n = 40, NVIQ 30-160) to both age-matched cognitively able neurotypical adolescent controls (NT-A, n = 37) and younger neurotypical children (NT-C, n = 27) to assess potential developmental delays. In addition to a classic measure of peak amplitude, we calculated a continuous measure of intra-class correlation (ICC) between each adolescent participant's AEP and the age-normative, average AEP waveforms calculated from NT-C and NT-A to study differences in signal morphology. We found that peak amplitudes of neural responses were significantly smaller in autistic adolescents compared to NT-A. We also found that the AEP morphology of autistic adolescents looked more like NT-A peers than NT-C but was still significantly different from NT-A AEP waveforms. Results suggest that AEPs of autistic adolescents present differently from NTs, regardless of age, and differences cannot be accounted for by developmental delay. Nonverbal intelligence significantly predicted how closely each adolescent's AEP resembled the age-normed waveform. These results support an evolving theory that the degree of disruption in early neural responses to low-level inputs is reflected in the severity of intellectual impairments in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Schwartz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sofia Uribe
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Helen Tager-Flusberg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Hidaka S, Chen N, Ishii N, Iketani R, Suzuki K, Longo MR, Wada M. No differences in implicit hand maps among different degrees of autistic traits. Autism Res 2023; 16:1750-1764. [PMID: 37409496 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or higher levels of autistic traits have atypical characteristics in sensory processing. Atypicalities have been reported for proprioceptive judgments, which are tightly related to internal bodily representations underlying position sense. However, no research has directly investigated whether self-bodily representations are different in individuals with ASD. Implicit hand maps, estimated based on participants' proprioceptive sensations without sight of their hand, are known to be distorted such that the shape is stretched along the medio-lateral hand axis even for neurotypical participants. Here, with the view of ASD as falling on a continuous distribution among the general population, we explored differences in implicit body representations along with autistic traits by focusing on relationships between autistic traits and the magnitudes of the distortions in implicit hand maps (N ~ 100). We estimated the magnitudes of distortions in implicit hand maps both for fingers and hand surfaces on the dorsal and palmar sides of the hand. Autistic traits were measured by questionnaires (Autism Spectrum [AQ] and Empathy/Systemizing [EQ-SQ] Quotients). The distortions in implicit hand maps were replicated in our experimental situations. However, there were no significant relationships between autistic traits and the magnitudes of the distortions as well as within-individual variabilities in the maps and localization performances. Consistent results were observed from comparisons between IQ-matched samples of people with and without a diagnosis of ASD. Our findings suggest that there exist perceptual and neural processes for implicit body representations underlying position sense consistent across levels of autistic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souta Hidaka
- Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Na Chen
- Developmental Disorders Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa City, Japan
- The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Naomi Ishii
- Developmental Disorders Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa City, Japan
| | - Risa Iketani
- Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kirino Suzuki
- Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Matthew R Longo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Makoto Wada
- Developmental Disorders Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa City, Japan
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16
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Morrel J, Singapuri K, Landa RJ, Reetzke R. Neural correlates and predictors of speech and language development in infants at elevated likelihood for autism: a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1211676. [PMID: 37662636 PMCID: PMC10469683 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1211676] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly prevalent and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition, characterized by social communicative differences, and a combination of repetitive behaviors, focused interests, and sensory sensitivities. Early speech and language delays are characteristic of young autistic children and are one of the first concerns reported by parents; often before their child's second birthday. Elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying these delays has the potential to improve early detection and intervention efforts. To fill this gap, this systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on early neurobiological correlates and predictors of speech and language development across different neuroimaging modalities in infants with and without a family history of autism [at an elevated (EL infants) and low likelihood (LL infants) for developing autism, respectively]. A comprehensive, systematic review identified 24 peer-reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2023, utilizing structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; n = 2), functional MRI (fMRI; n = 4), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS; n = 4), and electroencephalography (EEG; n = 14). Three main themes in results emerged: compared to LL infants, EL infants exhibited (1) atypical language-related neural lateralization; (2) alterations in structural and functional connectivity; and (3) mixed profiles of neural sensitivity to speech and non-speech stimuli, with some differences detected as early as 6 weeks of age. These findings suggest that neuroimaging techniques may be sensitive to early indicators of speech and language delays well before overt behavioral delays emerge. Future research should aim to harmonize experimental paradigms both within and across neuroimaging modalities and additionally address the feasibility, acceptability, and scalability of implementing such methodologies in non-academic, community-based settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Morrel
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kripi Singapuri
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rebecca J. Landa
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rachel Reetzke
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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17
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Croom K, Rumschlag JA, Erickson MA, Binder DK, Razak KA. Developmental delays in cortical auditory temporal processing in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:23. [PMID: 37516865 PMCID: PMC10386252 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09496-8] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) encompass a wide array of debilitating symptoms, including sensory dysfunction and delayed language development. Auditory temporal processing is crucial for speech perception and language development. Abnormal development of temporal processing may account for the language impairments associated with ASD. Very little is known about the development of temporal processing in any animal model of ASD. METHODS In the current study, we quantify auditory temporal processing throughout development in the Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading genetic cause of intellectual disability and ASD-associated behaviors. Using epidural electrodes in awake and freely moving wildtype (WT) and KO mice, we recorded auditory event related potentials (ERP) and auditory temporal processing with a gap-in-noise auditory steady state response (gap-ASSR) paradigm. Mice were recorded at three different ages in a cross sectional design: postnatal (p)21, p30 and p60. Recordings were obtained from both auditory and frontal cortices. The gap-ASSR requires underlying neural generators to synchronize responses to gaps of different widths embedded in noise, providing an objective measure of temporal processing across genotypes and age groups. RESULTS We present evidence that the frontal, but not auditory, cortex shows significant temporal processing deficits at p21 and p30, with poor ability to phase lock to rapid gaps in noise. Temporal processing was similar in both genotypes in adult mice. ERP amplitudes were larger in Fmr1 KO mice in both auditory and frontal cortex, consistent with ERP data in humans with FXS. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate cortical region-specific delays in temporal processing development in Fmr1 KO mice. Developmental delays in the ability of frontal cortex to follow rapid changes in sounds may shape language delays in FXS, and more broadly in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katilynne Croom
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
| | | | - Devin K Binder
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA
- Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Graduate Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, USA.
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18
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Inokuchi R, Ichikawa H, Yamamoto M, Takemura H. Neurotypicals with higher autistic traits have delayed visual processing of an approaching life-sized avatar's gait: an event-related potentials study. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1113362. [PMID: 37151904 PMCID: PMC10157047 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1113362] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which is reportedly related to difficulties in the visual processing of human motion, such as biological motion and gestures. Moreover, neurotypical (here, we mention it as individuals without a diagnosis) adults with autistic traits are clumsier than those without autistic traits when passing by others. It is still unclear whether the clumsiness derived from atypical visual processing of another's approaching gait motion. We aim to address this question by investigating the association between autistic traits in neurotypical adults and the visual processing of an approaching life-sized avatar's gait. Methods We clarified a typical visual motion processing and autistic traits in daily life in 26 neurotypical adults by analyzing the subthreshold autism trait questionnaire (SATQ) score, a 24-item self-report scale of ASD, and event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to walking motion of a passing avatar. Videos of walking life-sized virtual avatars approaching and retreating were presented as visual stimuli. Results and discussion The association between the participants' SATQ scores and the latencies and amplitudes of the ERPs was examined. ERP components (N170 and P200) components were identified at T5 and T6 electrodes. Participants reporting higher SATQ scores had longer latencies of P200 at T6 and lower amplitudes of P200 at T5 and T6 electrodes for the approaching avatar than those reporting lower SATQ scores. These findings indicate that adults with autistic traits have delayed and less sensitive visual processing of the approaching avatar. It suggests that while passing another person, these individuals have atypical visual processing of their approach. This study may contribute to elucidating autistic traits from the perspective of visual processing in an environment simulating daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Inokuchi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroko Ichikawa
- Institute of Arts and Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masataka Yamamoto
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takemura
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
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19
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Knight EJ, Freedman EG, Myers EJ, Berruti AS, Oakes LA, Cao CZ, Molholm S, Foxe JJ. Severely Attenuated Visual Feedback Processing in Children on the Autism Spectrum. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2424-2438. [PMID: 36859306 PMCID: PMC10072299 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1192-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals on the autism spectrum often exhibit atypicality in their sensory perception, but the neural underpinnings of these perceptual differences remain incompletely understood. One proposed mechanism is an imbalance in higher-order feedback re-entrant inputs to early sensory cortices during sensory perception, leading to increased propensity to focus on local object features over global context. We explored this theory by measuring visual evoked potentials during contour integration as considerable work has revealed that these processes are largely driven by feedback inputs from higher-order ventral visual stream regions. We tested the hypothesis that autistic individuals would have attenuated evoked responses to illusory contours compared with neurotypical controls. Electrophysiology was acquired while 29 autistic and 31 neurotypical children (7-17 years old, inclusive of both males and females) passively viewed a random series of Kanizsa figure stimuli, each consisting of four inducers that were aligned either at random rotational angles or such that contour integration would form an illusory square. Autistic children demonstrated attenuated automatic contour integration over lateral occipital regions relative to neurotypical controls. The data are discussed in terms of the role of predictive feedback processes on perception of global stimulus features and the notion that weakened "priors" may play a role in the visual processing anomalies seen in autism.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Children on the autism spectrum differ from typically developing children in many aspects of their processing of sensory stimuli. One proposed mechanism for these differences is an imbalance in higher-order feedback to primary sensory regions, leading to an increased focus on local object features rather than global context. However, systematic investigation of these feedback mechanisms remains limited. Using EEG and a visual illusion paradigm that is highly dependent on intact feedback processing, we demonstrated significant disruptions to visual feedback processing in children with autism. This provides much needed experimental evidence that advances our understanding of the contribution of feedback processing to visual perception in autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Knight
- Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
- Development and Behavioral Pediatrics, Golisano Children's Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Edward G Freedman
- Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Evan J Myers
- Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Alaina S Berruti
- Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
| | - Leona A Oakes
- Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
- Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
| | - Cody Zhewei Cao
- Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Sophie Molholm
- Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
| | - John J Foxe
- Frederick J. and Marion A. Schindler Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
- Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461
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Sakihara K, Kita Y, Suzuki K, Inagaki M. Modulation effects of the intact motor skills on the relationship between social skills and motion perceptions in children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study. Brain Dev 2023; 45:39-48. [PMID: 36184381 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has social skill, motor skill, and motion perception deficits. However, the relationship among them was not clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of motor skills on social skills and motion perception. METHODS Five typically developed children and fourteen children with ASD participated in our study. The N200 component, a brain activity indicating motion perception, was induced in mid-temporal (MT/V5) brain area by watching a random dot kinematograph, and was recorded using a scalp electroencephalogram. Furthermore, the social responsiveness scale (SRS) indicating the social skill deficit, the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire (DCDQ) estimating the developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and the movement assessment battery for children second edition (MABC-2) indicating motor skills were recorded in the children with ASD. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the modulation effects of motor skills on the relationship between social skills and motion perception. The dependent variable was the N200 latency, and the independent variables were SRS, MABC-2, and combined MABC-2 and SRS. RESULTS The N200 latency was more delayed in children with ASD relative that in typically developed children. Intact balance ability modulated the relationship between social skills and N200 latency in children with ASD. Within the high balance ability, when the social skills worsened, the N200 latency was shortened. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report that intact motor skills could modulate the relationship between social skills and motion perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotoe Sakihara
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Japan; Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Japan.
| | - Yosuke Kita
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan; Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kota Suzuki
- Faculty of Education, Shitennoji University, Japan
| | - Masumi Inagaki
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Japan; Tottori Prefectural Tottori Rehabilitation Center, Japan
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21
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McDonald RG, Khawar S, Yacoub N, Cargill MI, Lerner MD, Kang E. Performance- and Theater-Based Interventions for Supporting Social Cognition and Social Communication in Autistic Youth: A Review and Theoretical Synthesis. Semin Speech Lang 2022; 43:255-276. [PMID: 35896405 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Social skills interventions (SSIs) are commonly used to improve social functioning in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is a condition characterized by differences in social cognition and social communication. Although more traditional SSIs have used knowledge-based, didactic instruction, recent research has explored the utility of performance-based SSIs, which use various activities to support implicit learning of social skills in supportive, enriched environments. This article reviews the extant literature evaluating the effectiveness or efficacy of five performance-based SSIs using theater-based approaches on social cognition and social communication. Overall, this body of literature suggests social communication gains that include increased peer interactions, peer liking, and reciprocal friendships, as well as social cognitive gains in theory of mind and affect recognition. This review also discusses theoretical models that may help explain the emerging strengths of performance- and theater-based SSIs with underlying hypotheses related to the social communication and social cognitive differences in ASD. Limitations of performance-based SSIs in the evidence-base include several approaches in initial stages of research with small sample sizes and limited maintenance of effects. Future research should aim to bridge the research-to-practice gap and use more rigorous designs and more diverse samples, including those with cooccurring intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel G McDonald
- Psychology Department, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
| | - Sadaf Khawar
- Psychology Department, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
| | - Nardin Yacoub
- Psychology Department, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
| | - Mary Isaac Cargill
- Psychology Department, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
| | - Matthew D Lerner
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Erin Kang
- Psychology Department, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
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22
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Brout JJ. A Brief Commentary on the Consensus Definition of Misophonia. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:879070. [PMID: 35873831 PMCID: PMC9300890 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.879070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
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23
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Zhao S, Liu Y, Wei K. Pupil-Linked Arousal Response Reveals Aberrant Attention Regulation among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Neurosci 2022; 42:5427-5437. [PMID: 35641188 PMCID: PMC9270919 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0223-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by difficulties with social interaction and interpersonal communication. It has been argued that abnormal attentional function to exogenous stimuli precedes and contributes to the core ASD symptoms. Notably, the locus ceruleus (LC) and its noradrenergic projections throughout the brain modulate attentional function, but the extent to which this locus ceruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system influences attention in individuals with ASD, who frequently exhibit dysregulated alerting and attention orienting, is unknown. We examined dynamic attention control in girls and boys with ASD at rest using the pupil dilation response (PDR) as a noninvasive measure of LC-NE activity. When gender- and age-matched neurotypical participants were passively exposed to an auditory stream, their PDR decreased for recurrent stimuli but remained sensitive to surprising deviant stimuli. In contrast, children with ASD showed less habituation to recurrent stimuli as well as a diminished phasic response to deviants, particularly those containing social information. Their tonic habituation impairment predicts their phasic orienting impairment, and both impairments correlated with the severity of ASD symptom. Because of the fact that these pupil-linked responses are observed when individuals passively listen without any task engagement, our findings imply that the intricate and dynamic attention allocation mechanism, mediated by the subcortical LC-NE system, is impaired in ASD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Autistic individuals show attentional abnormalities to even simple sensory inputs, which emerge even before formal diagnosis. One possible mechanism behind these abnormalities is a malfunctioning pacemaker of their attention system, the locus ceruleus-norepinephrine pathway. Here we found, according to the pupillary response (a noradrenergic activity proxy), autistic children are hypersensitive to repeated sounds but hyposensitive to surprising deviant sounds when compared with age-matched controls. Importantly, hypersensitivity to repetitions predicts hyposensitivity to deviant sounds, and both abnormalities positively correlate to the severity of autistic symptoms. This provides strong evidence that autistic children have faulty noradrenergic regulation, which might underly the attentional atypicalities previously evidenced in various cortical responses in autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Zhao
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6AE, United Kingdom
| | - Yajie Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100080, China
- Key Laboratory of Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Kunlin Wei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100080, China
- Key Laboratory of Machine Perception (Ministry of Education), Peking University, Beijing 100080, China
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24
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Hours C, Recasens C, Baleyte JM. ASD and ADHD Comorbidity: What Are We Talking About? Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:837424. [PMID: 35295773 PMCID: PMC8918663 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.837424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the scientific literature, 50 to 70% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also present with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). From a clinical perspective, this high rate of comorbidity is intriguing. What is the real significance of this dual diagnosis? Is ADHD in fact always present in such cases? Might the attentional impairment reported among our ASD patients actually be a distinct trait of their ASD-namely, impaired joint attention-rather than an ADHD attention deficit? Could their agitation be the consequence of this joint attention impairment or related to a physical restlessness etiologically very different from the agitation typical of ADHD? The neurobiological reality of ASD-ADHD comorbidity is a subject of debate, and amphetamine-based treatment can have paradoxical or undesirable effects in the ASD population. Consequently, does a dual diagnosis, notwithstanding its currency in the literature, prevent us from shedding sufficient light on major physiopathologic questions raised by the clinical picture of ASD?
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Hours
- Service universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Centre hospitalier Intercomunal de Créteil, Créteil, France
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25
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Berchio C, Micali N. Cognitive assessment using ERP in child and adolescent psychiatry: Difficulties and opportunities. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2022; 319:111424. [PMID: 34883368 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2021.111424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Event related potentials (ERPs) represent powerful tools to investigate cognitive functioning in child and adolescent psychiatry. So far, the available body of research has largely focused on advancements in analysis methods, with little attention given to the perspective of assessment. The aim of this brief report is to provide recommendations for cognitive ERPs assessment that can be applied across diagnostic categories in child and adolescent psychiatry research. First, we discuss major issues for ERPs testing using examples from common psychiatric disorders. We conclude by summing up our recommendations for methodological standards and highlighting the potential role of ERPs in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Berchio
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Nadia Micali
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland; Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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26
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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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27
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Guy MW, Black CJ, Hogan AL, Coyle RE, Richards JE, Roberts JE. A single-session behavioral protocol for successful event-related potential recording in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22194. [PMID: 34674246 PMCID: PMC9523962 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Event-related potentials (ERPs) are an ideal tool for measuring neural responses in a wide range of participants, including children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, due to perceived barriers regarding participant compliance, much of this work has excluded children with low IQ and/or reduced adaptive functioning, significant anxiety symptoms, and/or sensory processing difficulties, including heterogeneous samples of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with fragile X syndrome (FXS). We have developed a behavioral support protocol designed to obtain high-quality ERP data from children in a single session. Using this approach, ERP data were successfully collected from participants with ASD, FXS, and typical development (TD). Higher success rates were observed for children with ASD and TD than children with FXS. Unique clinical-behavioral characteristics were associated with successful data collection across these groups. Higher chronological age, nonverbal mental age, and receptive language skills were associated with a greater number of valid trials completed in children with ASD. In contrast, higher language ability, lower autism severity, increased anxiety, and increased sensory hyperresponsivity were associated with a greater number of valid trials completed in children with FXS. This work indicates that a "one-size-fits-all" approach cannot be taken to ERP research on children with NDDs, but that a single-session paradigm is feasible and is intended to promote increased representation of children with NDDs in neuroscience research through development of ERP methods that support inclusion of diverse and representative samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie W. Guy
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60660, USA
| | - Conner J. Black
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Abigail L. Hogan
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ramsey E. Coyle
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - John E. Richards
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jane E. Roberts
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
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28
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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: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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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29
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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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30
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Atypical Mediofrontal Theta Oscillations Underlying Cognitive Control in Kindergarteners With Autism Spectrum Disorder. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 7:566-575. [PMID: 33866025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit deficits in cognitive control. Neuroimaging approaches have implicated disruptions to mediofrontal cortex structure and function. However, previous work is limited in testing whether young children with ASD exhibit disruptions to task-related theta oscillations thought to arise from the mediofrontal cortex. METHODS Children with ASD (n = 43) and age- and sex-matched typically developing peers (n = 24) at kindergarten entry performed a child-friendly Go/NoGo task while 64-channel electroencephalography was recorded. Time-frequency approaches were employed to assess the magnitude of mediofrontal theta oscillations immediately after error (vs. correct) responses (early theta) as well as later emerging theta oscillations (late theta). We tested whether error-related mediofrontal theta oscillations differed as a function of diagnosis (ASD/typical) and timing (early/late theta). In addition, links to social and academic outcomes were tested. RESULTS Overall, children showed increased theta power after error versus correct responses. Compared with typically developing children, children with ASD exhibited a selective reduction in error-related mediofrontal theta power during the late time window. There were no significant group differences for early theta power. Moreover, reduced error-related theta power during the late, but not early, time window significantly predicted poorer academic and social skills. CONCLUSIONS Kindergarteners with ASD demonstrated a selective reduction in error-related mediofrontal theta power during a relatively late time window, which is consistent with impairments in specific cognitive processes that recruit top-down control. Targeting these particular cognitive control processes via intervention prior to school entry may promote more successful functional outcomes for children with ASD.
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31
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Trial by trial EEG based BCI for distress versus non distress classification in individuals with ASD. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6000. [PMID: 33727625 PMCID: PMC7971030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85362-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is often accompanied by impaired emotion regulation (ER). There has been increasing emphasis on developing evidence-based approaches to improve ER in ASD. Electroencephalography (EEG) has shown success in reducing ASD symptoms when used in neurofeedback-based interventions. Also, certain EEG components are associated with ER. Our overarching goal is to develop a technology that will use EEG to monitor real-time changes in ER and perform intervention based on these changes. As a first step, an EEG-based brain computer interface that is based on an Affective Posner task was developed to identify patterns associated with ER on a single trial basis, and EEG data collected from 21 individuals with ASD. Accordingly, our aim in this study is to investigate EEG features that could differentiate between distress and non-distress conditions. Specifically, we investigate if the EEG time-locked to the visual feedback presentation could be used to classify between WIN (non-distress) and LOSE (distress) conditions in a game with deception. Results showed that the extracted EEG features could differentiate between WIN and LOSE conditions (average accuracy of 81%), LOSE and rest-EEG conditions (average accuracy 94.8%), and WIN and rest-EEG conditions (average accuracy 94.9%).
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32
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Styliadis C, Leung R, Özcan S, Moulton EA, Pang E, Taylor MJ, Papadelis C. Atypical spatiotemporal activation of cerebellar lobules during emotional face processing in adolescents with autism. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:2099-2114. [PMID: 33528852 PMCID: PMC8046060 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25349] [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: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social deficits and atypical facial processing of emotional expressions. The underlying neuropathology of these abnormalities is still unclear. Recent studies implicate cerebellum in emotional processing; other studies show cerebellar abnormalities in ASD. Here, we elucidate the spatiotemporal activation of cerebellar lobules in ASD during emotional processing of happy and angry faces in adolescents with ASD and typically developing (TD) controls. Using magnetoencephalography, we calculated dynamic statistical parametric maps across a period of 500 ms after emotional stimuli onset and determined differences between group activity to happy and angry emotions. Following happy face presentation, adolescents with ASD exhibited only left‐hemispheric cerebellar activation in a cluster extending from lobule VI to lobule V (compared to TD controls). Following angry face presentation, adolescents with ASD exhibited only midline cerebellar activation (posterior IX vermis). Our findings indicate an early (125–175 ms) overactivation in cerebellar activity only for happy faces and a later overactivation for both happy (250–450 ms) and angry (250–350 ms) faces in adolescents with ASD. The prioritized hemispheric activity (happy faces) could reflect the promotion of a more flexible and adaptive social behavior, while the latter midline activity (angry faces) may guide conforming behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charis Styliadis
- Laboratory of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Selin Özcan
- Laboratory of Children's Brain Dynamics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric A Moulton
- Center for Pain and the Brain, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth Pang
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Autism Research Unit, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christos Papadelis
- Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center, Cook Children's Health Care System, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Wagley N, Lajiness-O'Neill R, Hay JSF, Ugolini M, Bowyer SM, Kovelman I, Brennan JR. Predictive Processing during a Naturalistic Statistical Learning Task in ASD. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0069-19.2020. [PMID: 33199412 PMCID: PMC7729300 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0069-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Children's sensitivity to regularities within the linguistic stream, such as the likelihood that syllables co-occur, is foundational to speech segmentation and language acquisition. Yet, little is known about the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying speech segmentation in typical development and in neurodevelopmental disorders that impact language acquisition such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here, we investigate the neural signals of statistical learning in 15 human participants (children ages 8-12) with a clinical diagnosis of ASD and 14 age-matched and gender-matched typically developing peers. We tracked the evoked neural responses to syllable sequences in a naturalistic statistical learning corpus using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the left primary auditory cortex, posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), across three repetitions of the passage. In typically developing children, we observed a neural index of learning in all three regions of interest (ROIs), measured by the change in evoked response amplitude as a function of syllable surprisal across passage repetitions. As surprisal increased, the amplitude of the neural response increased; this sensitivity emerged after repeated exposure to the corpus. Children with ASD did not show this pattern of learning in all three regions. We discuss two possible hypotheses related to children's sensitivity to bottom-up sensory deficits and difficulty with top-down incremental processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelima Wagley
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37205
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | | | - Jessica S F Hay
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
| | - Margaret Ugolini
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Susan M Bowyer
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202
| | - Ioulia Kovelman
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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Yaguchi A, Hidaka S. Autistic Communication and Imagination Sub-Traits Are Related to Audiovisual Temporal Integration in the Stream-Bounce Illusion. Multisens Res 2020; 34:1-16. [PMID: 33535164 DOI: 10.1163/22134808-bja10042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypical social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors; such traits are continuously distributed across nonclinical and clinical populations. Recently, relationships between ASD traits and low-level multisensory processing have been investigated, because atypical sensory reactivity has been regarded as a diagnostic criterion of ASD. Studies regarding an audiovisual illusion (the double-flash illusion) reported that social communication difficulties are related to temporal aspects of audiovisual integration. This study investigated whether similar relationships exist in another audiovisual illusion (the stream-bounce effect). In this illusion, two visual objects move toward each other, coincide, and pass each other, and the presentation of a transient sound at their coincidence induces a dominant perception that they bounce away from each other. Typically developing adults were recruited to perform experimental trials involving the stream-bounce effect. We measured their ASD traits using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. The total quotient score was not related to any behavioral measurements of the effect. In contrast, for participants with higher difficulty in communication, the greatest magnitude of the stream-bounce effect occurred when the presentation timing of the sound tended to follow the visual coincidence. Participants with higher difficulty in imagination also showed the greatest magnitude of the effect when the presentation timing of the sound preceded that of the visual coincidence. Our findings regarding the stream-bounce effect, along with previous findings regarding the double-flash illusion, suggest that atypical temporal audiovisual integration is uniquely related to ASD sub-traits, especially in social communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Yaguchi
- 1Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, 1-2-26, Kitano, Niiza-shi, Saitama, 352-8558, Japan
- 2Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8555, Japan
- 3Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, 102-0083, Japan
| | - Souta Hidaka
- 1Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, 1-2-26, Kitano, Niiza-shi, Saitama, 352-8558, Japan
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Knight EJ, Oakes L, Hyman SL, Freedman EG, Foxe JJ. Individuals With Autism Have No Detectable Deficit in Neural Markers of Prediction Error When Presented With Auditory Rhythms of Varied Temporal Complexity. Autism Res 2020; 13:2058-2072. [PMID: 32881408 PMCID: PMC9073708 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The brain's ability to encode temporal patterns and predict upcoming events is critical for speech perception and other aspects of social communication. Deficits in predictive coding may contribute to difficulties with social communication and overreliance on repetitive predictable environments in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a mismatch negativity (MMN) task involving rhythmic tone sequences of varying complexity, we tested the hypotheses that (1) individuals with ASD have reduced MMN response to auditory stimuli that deviate in presentation timing from expected patterns, particularly as pattern complexity increases and (2) amplitude of MMN signal is inversely correlated with level of impairment in social communication and repetitive behaviors. Electroencephalography was acquired as individuals (age 6-21 years) listened to repeated five-rhythm tones that varied in the Shannon entropy of the rhythm across three conditions (zero, medium-1 bit, and high-2 bit entropy). The majority of the tones conformed to the established rhythm (standard tones); occasionally the fourth tone was temporally shifted relative to its expected time of occurrence (deviant tones). Social communication and repetitive behaviors were measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale and Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised. Both neurotypical controls (n = 19) and individuals with ASD (n = 21) show stepwise decreases in MMN as a function of increasing entropy. Contrary to the result forecasted by a predictive coding hypothesis, individuals with ASD do not differ from controls in these neural mechanisms of prediction error to auditory rhythms of varied temporal complexity, and there is no relationship between these signals and social communication or repetitive behavior measures. LAY SUMMARY: We tested the idea that the brain's ability to use previous experience to influence processing of sounds is weaker in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in neurotypical individuals. We found no difference between individuals with ASD and neurotypical controls in brain wave responses to sounds that occurred earlier than expected in either simple or complex rhythms. There was also no relationship between these brain waves and social communication or repetitive behavior scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Knight
- The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Leona Oakes
- The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Susan L. Hyman
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Edward G. Freedman
- The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - John J. Foxe
- The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Samaey C, Van der Donck S, van Winkel R, Boets B. Facial Expression Processing Across the Autism-Psychosis Spectra: A Review of Neural Findings and Associations With Adverse Childhood Events. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:592937. [PMID: 33281648 PMCID: PMC7691238 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.592937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and primary psychosis are classified as distinct neurodevelopmental disorders, yet they display overlapping epidemiological, environmental, and genetic components as well as endophenotypic similarities. For instance, both disorders are characterized by impairments in facial expression processing, a crucial skill for effective social communication, and both disorders display an increased prevalence of adverse childhood events (ACE). This narrative review provides a brief summary of findings from neuroimaging studies investigating facial expression processing in ASD and primary psychosis with a focus on the commonalities and differences between these disorders. Individuals with ASD and primary psychosis activate the same brain regions as healthy controls during facial expression processing, albeit to a different extent. Overall, both groups display altered activation in the fusiform gyrus and amygdala as well as altered connectivity among the broader face processing network, probably indicating reduced facial expression processing abilities. Furthermore, delayed or reduced N170 responses have been reported in ASD and primary psychosis, but the significance of these findings is questioned, and alternative frequency-tagging electroencephalography (EEG) measures are currently explored to capture facial expression processing impairments more selectively. Face perception is an innate process, but it is also guided by visual learning and social experiences. Extreme environmental factors, such as adverse childhood events, can disrupt normative development and alter facial expression processing. ACE are hypothesized to induce altered neural facial expression processing, in particular a hyperactive amygdala response toward negative expressions. Future studies should account for the comorbidity among ASD, primary psychosis, and ACE when assessing facial expression processing in these clinical groups, as it may explain some of the inconsistencies and confound reported in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Samaey
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Clinical Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephanie Van der Donck
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Developmental Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ruud van Winkel
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Clinical Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- University Psychiatric Center (UPC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Developmental Psychiatry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Mehta T, Mannem N, Yarasi NK, Bollu PC. Biomarkers for ADHD: the Present and Future Directions. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-020-00196-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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38
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O’Brien AM, Bayet L, Riley K, Nelson CA, Sahin M, Modi ME. Auditory Processing of Speech and Tones in Children With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:14. [PMID: 32327979 PMCID: PMC7161665 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) have atypical white matter integrity and neural connectivity in the brain, including language pathways. To explore functional activity associated with auditory and language processing in individuals with TSC, we used electroencephalography (EEG) to examine basic auditory correlates of detection (P1, N2, N4) and discrimination (mismatch negativity, MMN) of speech and non-speech stimuli for children with TSC and age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) children. Children with TSC (TSC group) and without TSC (typically developing, TD group) participated in an auditory MMN paradigm containing two blocks of vowels (/a/and/u/) and two blocks of tones (800 Hz and 400 Hz). Continuous EEG data were collected. Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was used to explore functional specificity of neural auditory processing. Speech-specific P1, N2, and N4 waveform components of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) were compared, and the mismatch response was calculated for both speech and tones. MVPA showed that the TD group, but not the TSC group, demonstrated above-chance pairwise decoding between speech and tones. The AEP component analysis suggested that while the TD group had an increased P1 amplitude in response to vowels compared to tones, the TSC group did not show this enhanced response to vowels. Additionally, the TD group had a greater N2 amplitude in response to vowels, but not tones, compared to the TSC group. The TSC group also demonstrated a longer N4 latency to vowels compared to tones, which was not seen in the TD group. No group differences were observed in the MMN response. In this study we identified features of the auditory response to speech sounds, but not acoustically matched tones, which differentiate children with TSC from TD children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. O’Brien
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Laurie Bayet
- Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Katherine Riley
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Charles A. Nelson
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Meera E. Modi
- Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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39
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Comparing different EEG connectivity methods in young males with ASD. Behav Brain Res 2020; 383:112482. [PMID: 31972185 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Although EEG connectivity data are often used to build models of the association between overt behavioural signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and underlying brain connectivity indices, use of a large number of possible connectivity methods across studies has produced a fairly inconsistent set of results regarding this association. To explore the level of agreement between results from five commonly-used EEG connectivity models (i.e., Coherence, Weighted Phased Lag Index- Debiased, Phase Locking Value, Phase Slope Index, Granger Causality), a sample of 41 young males with ASD provided EEG data under eyes-opened and eyes-closed conditions. There were relatively few statistically significant and/or meaningful correlations between the results obtained from the five connectivity methods, arguing for a re-estimation of the methodology used in such studies so that specific connectivity methods may be matched to particular research questions regarding the links between neural connectivity and overt behaviour within this population.
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40
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Sarmukadam K, Sharpley CF, Bitsika V, McMillan MME, Agnew LL. A review of the use of EEG connectivity to measure the neurological characteristics of the sensory features in young people with autism. Rev Neurosci 2020; 30:497-510. [PMID: 30269108 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2018-0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting about 1 in 100 children and is currently incurable. ASD represents a challenge to traditional methods of assessment and diagnosis, and it has been suggested that direct measures of brain activity and connectivity between brain regions during demanding tasks represents a potential pathway to building more accurate models of underlying brain function and ASD. One of the key behavioural diagnostic indicators of ASD consists of sensory features (SF), often characterised by over- or under-reactivity to environmental stimuli. SF are associated with behavioural difficulties that impede social and education success in these children as well as anxiety and depression. This review examines the previous literature on the measurement of EEG connectivity and SF observed in individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimaya Sarmukadam
- Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale 2350, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher F Sharpley
- Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale 2350, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vicki Bitsika
- Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bond University, Gold Coast 4229, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mary M E McMillan
- Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale 2350, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Linda L Agnew
- Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale 2350, New South Wales, Australia
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41
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Yaguchi A, Hidaka S. Unique Relationships Between Autistic Traits and Visual, Auditory, and Tactile Sensory Thresholds in Typically Developing Adults. Perception 2020; 49:405-421. [PMID: 32122223 DOI: 10.1177/0301006620907827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by symptoms such as social deficits and restricted interests and behavior. Several studies have investigated specific sensory processing in relation to ASD traits. However, findings appear to be inconsistent and inconclusive because of variation in ASD traits among participants and differences in the tasks adopted. In this study, we investigated relationships between sensory thresholds in visual, auditory, and tactile modalities and various ASD traits to account for individual variability of traits in typically developing adults using the same experimental tasks. We estimated detection and discrimination thresholds for brightness, sound pressure, and vibrotactile stimulus strength. We also estimated the degree of ASD traits in each participant with a questionnaire. We found that higher tactile detection and visual discrimination thresholds were related to ASD traits in difficulty of communication. A lower tactile discrimination threshold and higher visual detection threshold was also related to the ASD trait of strong focus of attention. These findings suggest the existence of unique relationships between particular low-level sensory processing and specific ASD traits, indicating that irregularities in sensory processing may underlie variation in ASD traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Yaguchi
- Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Souta Hidaka
- Department of Psychology, Rikkyo University, Saitama, Japan
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42
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Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics 2020; 145:peds.2019-3447. [PMID: 31843864 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-3447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 484] [Impact Index Per Article: 121.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with reported prevalence in the United States of 1 in 59 children (approximately 1.7%). Core deficits are identified in 2 domains: social communication/interaction and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. Children and youth with ASD have service needs in behavioral, educational, health, leisure, family support, and other areas. Standardized screening for ASD at 18 and 24 months of age with ongoing developmental surveillance continues to be recommended in primary care (although it may be performed in other settings), because ASD is common, can be diagnosed as young as 18 months of age, and has evidenced-based interventions that may improve function. More accurate and culturally sensitive screening approaches are needed. Primary care providers should be familiar with the diagnostic criteria for ASD, appropriate etiologic evaluation, and co-occurring medical and behavioral conditions (such as disorders of sleep and feeding, gastrointestinal tract symptoms, obesity, seizures, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and wandering) that affect the child's function and quality of life. There is an increasing evidence base to support behavioral and other interventions to address specific skills and symptoms. Shared decision making calls for collaboration with families in evaluation and choice of interventions. This single clinical report updates the 2007 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical reports on the evaluation and treatment of ASD in one publication with an online table of contents and section view available through the American Academy of Pediatrics Gateway to help the reader identify topic areas within the report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Hyman
- Golisano Children's Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York;
| | - Susan E Levy
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Scott M Myers
- Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Danville, Pennsylvania
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43
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Okumura T, Kumazaki H, Singh AK, Touhara K, Okamoto M. Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder Show Altered Event-Related Potentials in the Late Stages of Olfactory Processing. Chem Senses 2020; 45:37-44. [PMID: 31711116 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjz070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical sensory reactivities are pervasive among people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With respect to olfaction, most previous studies have used psychophysical or questionnaire-based methodologies; thus, the neural basis of olfactory processing in ASD remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the stages of olfactory processing that are altered in ASD. Fourteen young adults with high-functioning ASD (mean age, 21 years; 3 females) were compared with 19 age-matched typically developing (TD) controls (mean age, 21 years; 4 females). Olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) for 2-phenylethyl alcohol-a rose-like odor-were measured with 64 scalp electrodes while participants performed a simple odor detection task. Significant group differences in OERPs were found in 3 time windows 542 ms after the stimulus onset. The cortical source activities in these time windows, estimated using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography, were significantly higher in ASD than in TD in and around the posterior cingulate cortex, which is known to play a crucial role in modality-general cognitive processing. Supplemental Bayesian analysis provided substantial evidence for an alteration in the later stages of olfactory processing, whereas conclusive evidence was not provided for the earlier stages. These results suggest that olfactory processing in ASD is altered at least at the later, modality-general processing stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiki Okumura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Kumazaki
- Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Archana K Singh
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazushige Touhara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,WPI International Research Center for Neurointelligence, University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masako Okamoto
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Donkers FC, Carlson M, Schipul SE, Belger A, Baranek GT. Auditory event-related potentials and associations with sensory patterns in children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and typical development. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2019; 24:1093-1110. [PMID: 31845589 DOI: 10.1177/1362361319893196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Atypical sensory response patterns are common in children with autism and developmental delay. Expanding on previous work, this observational electroencephalogram study assessed auditory event-related potentials and their associations with clinically evaluated sensory response patterns in children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 28), developmental delay (n = 17), and typical development (n = 39). Attention-orienting P3a responses were attenuated in autism spectrum disorder relative to both developmental delay and typical development, but early sensory N2 responses were attenuated in both autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay relative to typical development. Attenuated event-related potentials involving N2 or P3a components, or a P1 × N2 interaction, were related to more severe hyporesponsive or sensory-seeking response patterns across children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay. Thus, although attentional disruptions may be unique to autism spectrum disorder, sensory disruptions appear across developmental delay and are associated with atypical sensory behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franc Cl Donkers
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.,Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Aysenil Belger
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.,Duke University, USA
| | - Grace T Baranek
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.,University of Southern California, USA
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45
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Smith A, Storti S, Lukose R, Kulesza RJ. Structural and Functional Aberrations of the Auditory Brainstem in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Osteopath Med 2019; 119:41-50. [PMID: 30615041 DOI: 10.7556/jaoa.2019.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with difficulties in the social, communicative, and behavioral domains. Most cases of ASD arise from an unknown etiologic process, but there are numerous risk factors, including comorbidities and maternal exposures. Although it is not part of the diagnostic criteria, hearing difficulties ranging from deafness to hyperacusis are present in the majority of persons with ASD. High-functioning children with ASD have been found to have significantly slower and asymmetric auditory brainstem reflexes. Additionally, histopathological studies of postmortem brainstems in decedents who had ASD have consistently revealed significantly fewer neurons in auditory nuclei compared with those in people who did not have ASD. The authors review the literature implicating auditory dysfunction in ASD along with results from human study participants and postmortem human brain tissue. Together, these results implicate significant structural and functional abnormalities in the auditory brainstem in ASD and support the utility of auditory testing to screen for ASD.
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46
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Test-retest reliability of the N2 event-related potential in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Clin Neurophysiol 2019; 131:406-413. [PMID: 31877490 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The N2 ERP component is used as a biomeasure of executive function in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of N2 amplitude in this population. METHODS ERPs were recorded from 7 to 11-year-old children with ASD during Flanker (n = 21) and Go/Nogo tasks (n = 14) administered at two time points separated by approximately three months. Reliability of the N2 component was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS Reliability for mean N2 amplitude obtained during the Flanker task was moderate (congruent: ICC = 0.542, 95% CI [0.173, 0.782]; incongruent: ICC = 0.629, 95% CI [0.276, 0.831]). Similarly, reliability for the Go/Nogo task ranged from moderate to good ('go': ICC = 0.817, 95% CI [0.535, 0.937]; 'nogo': ICC = 0.578, 95% CI [0.075, 0.843]). CONCLUSIONS These findings support the use of N2 amplitude as a biomeasure of executive function in school-aged children with ASD. SIGNIFICANCE This research addresses a critical gap in clinical neurophysiology, as an understanding of the stability and reliability of the N2 component is needed in order to differentiate variance explained by repeated measurement versus targeted treatments and interventions.
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47
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Van der Donck S, Dzhelyova M, Vettori S, Thielen H, Steyaert J, Rossion B, Boets B. Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation EEG Reveals Reduced Neural Sensitivity to Fearful Faces in Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:4658-4673. [PMID: 31468275 PMCID: PMC6813754 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04172-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We objectively quantified the neural sensitivity of school-aged boys with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to detect briefly presented fearful expressions by combining fast periodic visual stimulation with frequency-tagging electroencephalography. Images of neutral faces were presented at 6 Hz, periodically interleaved with fearful expressions at 1.2 Hz oddball rate. While both groups equally display the face inversion effect and mainly rely on information from the mouth to detect fearful expressions, boys with ASD generally show reduced neural responses to rapid changes in expression. At an individual level, fear discrimination responses predict clinical status with an 83% accuracy. This implicit and straightforward approach identifies subtle deficits that remain concealed in behavioral tasks, thereby opening new perspectives for clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Van der Donck
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Milena Dzhelyova
- Institute of Research in Psychological Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, Université de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Sofie Vettori
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hella Thielen
- Department of Brain and Cognition, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno Rossion
- Institute of Research in Psychological Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, Université de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, France
- Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, Service de Neurologie, Nancy, France
| | - Bart Boets
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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48
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Ethridge LE, De Stefano LA, Schmitt LM, Woodruff NE, Brown KL, Tran M, Wang J, Pedapati EV, Erickson CA, Sweeney JA. Auditory EEG Biomarkers in Fragile X Syndrome: Clinical Relevance. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 13:60. [PMID: 31649514 PMCID: PMC6794497 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory hypersensitivities are common and distressing features of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). While there are many drug interventions that reduce behavioral deficits in Fmr1 mice and efforts to translate these preclinical breakthroughs into clinical trials for FXS, evidence-based clinical interventions are almost non-existent potentially due to lack of valid neural biomarkers. Local circuit function in sensory networks is dependent on the dynamic balance of activity in inhibitory/excitatory synapses. Studies are needed to examine the association of electrophysiological alterations in neural systems with sensory and other clinical features of FXS to establish their clinical relevance. Adolescents and adults with FXS (n = 38, Mean age = 25.5, std = 10.1; 13 females) and age matched typically developing controls (n = 40, Mean age = 27.7, std = 12.1; 17 females) completed auditory chirp and auditory habituation tasks while undergoing dense array electroencephalography (EEG). Amplitude, latency, and percent change (habituation) in N1 and P2 event-related potential (ERP) components were characterized for the habituation task; time-frequency calculations using Morlet wavelets characterized phase-locking and single trial power for the habituation and chirp tasks. FXS patients showed increased amplitude but some evidence for reduced habituation of the N1 ERP, and reduced phase-locking in the low and high gamma frequency range and increased low gamma power to the chirp stimulus. FXS showed increased theta power in both tasks. While the habituation finding was weaker than previously found, the remaining findings replicate our previous work in a new sample of patients with FXS. Females showed less deficit in the chirp task but not the habituation task. Abnormal increases in gamma power were related to more severe behavioral and psychiatric features as well as reductions in neurocognitive abilities. Replicating electrophysiological deficits in a new group of patients using different EEG equipment at a new data collection site with differing levels of environmental noise that were robust to data processing techniques utilizing multiple researchers, indicates a potential for scalability to multi-site clinical trials. Given the robust replicability, relevance to clinical measures, and preclinical evidence for sensitivity of these EEG measures to pharmacological intervention, the observed abnormalities may provide novel translational markers of target engagement and potentially outcome measures in large-scale studies evaluating new treatments targeting neural hyperexcitability in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Ethridge
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States.,Department of Psychology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Lisa A De Stefano
- Department of Psychology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Lauren M Schmitt
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Nicholas E Woodruff
- Department of Psychology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Kara L Brown
- Department of Psychology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Morgan Tran
- Department of Psychology, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Ernest V Pedapati
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Division of Child Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Craig A Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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49
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Jin Y, Choi J, Lee S, Kim JW, Hong Y. Pathogenetical and Neurophysiological Features of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Phenomena and Diagnoses. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1588. [PMID: 31581672 PMCID: PMC6832208 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is accompanied by social deficits, repetitive and restricted interests, and altered brain development. The majority of ASD patients suffer not only from ASD itself but also from its neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Alterations in brain structure, synaptic development, and misregulation of neuroinflammation are considered risk factors for ASD and neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Electroencephalography has been developed to quantitatively explore effects of these neuronal changes of the brain in ASD. The pineal neurohormone melatonin is able to contribute to neural development. Also, this hormone has an inflammation-regulatory role and acts as a circadian key regulator to normalize sleep. These functions of melatonin may play crucial roles in the alleviation of ASD and its neuropsychiatric comorbidities. In this context, this article focuses on the presumable role of melatonin and suggests that this hormone could be a therapeutic agent for ASD and its related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunho Jin
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
| | - Jeonghyun Choi
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
| | - Seunghoon Lee
- Gimhae Industry Promotion & Biomedical Foundation, Gimhae 50969, Korea.
| | - Jong Won Kim
- Department of Healthcare Information Technology, College of Bio-Nano Information Technology, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
| | - Yonggeun Hong
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Ubiquitous Healthcare & Anti-aging Research Center (u-HARC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 50834, Korea.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Harvard Medical School-Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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50
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De Meo-Monteil R, Nordahl CW, Amaral DG, Rogers SJ, Harootonian SK, Martin J, Rivera SM, Saron CD. Differential Altered Auditory Event-Related Potential Responses in Young Boys on the Autism Spectrum With and Without Disproportionate Megalencephaly. Autism Res 2019; 12:1236-1250. [PMID: 31157516 PMCID: PMC7282708 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by impairments in social communication and repetitive behaviors, often includes altered responses to sensory inputs as part of its phenotype. The neurobiological basis for altered sensory processing is not well understood. The UC Davis Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute Autism Phenome Project is a longitudinal, multidisciplinary study of young children with ASD and age-matched typically developing (TD) controls. Previous analyses of the magnetic resonance imaging data from this cohort have shown that ∼15% of boys with ASD have disproportionate megalencephaly (DM) or brain size to height ratio, that is 1.5 standard deviations above the TD mean. Here, we investigated electrophysiological responses to auditory stimuli of increasing intensity (50-80 dB) in young toddlers (27-48 months old). Analyses included data from 36 age-matched boys, of which 24 were diagnosed with ASD (12 with and 12 without DM; ASD-DM and ASD-N) and 12 TD controls. We found that the two ASD subgroups differed in their electrophysiological response patterns to sounds of increasing intensity. At early latencies (55-115 ms), ASD-N does not show a loudness-dependent response like TD and ASD-DM, but tends to group intensities by soft vs. loud sounds, suggesting differences in sensory sensitivity in this group. At later latencies (145-195 ms), only the ASD-DM group shows significantly higher amplitudes for loud sounds. Because no similar effects were found in ASD-N and TD groups, this may be related to their altered neuroanatomy. These results contribute to the effort to delineate ASD subgroups and further characterize physiological responses associated with observable phenotypes. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1236-1250. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Approximately 15% of boys with ASD have much bigger brains when compared to individuals with typical development. By recording brain waves (electroencephalography) we compared how autistic children, with or without big brains, react to sounds compared to typically developing controls. We found that brain responses in the big-brained group are different from the two other groups, suggesting that they represent a specific autism subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine Wu Nordahl
- UC Davis Health MIND Institute, Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - David G Amaral
- UC Davis Health MIND Institute, Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - Sally J Rogers
- UC Davis Health MIND Institute, Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | | | - Joshua Martin
- UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain, Davis, California
| | - Susan M Rivera
- UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain, Davis, California
- UC Davis Health MIND Institute, Medical Center, Sacramento, California
- UC Davis Department of Psychology, Davis, California
| | - Clifford D Saron
- UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain, Davis, California
- UC Davis Health MIND Institute, Medical Center, Sacramento, California
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