1
|
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] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Clements CC, Ascunce K, Nelson CA. In Context: A Developmental Model of Reward Processing, With Implications for Autism and Sensitive Periods. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 62:1200-1216. [PMID: 36336205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.07.861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Differences in reward processing have been associated with numerous psychiatric disorders, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many attempts to understand reward processing characterize differences in clinical populations after disorder onset; however, divergence may begin much earlier. In fact, the typical developmental progression of reward processing in infancy and early childhood is poorly understood. We re-conceptualize classic infant developmental constructs such as preferential looking into a Six-Component Developmental Model of Reward Processing: an infant- and young child-focused framework to guide research and assessment of reward processing across development. METHOD The extant developmental literature including recent textbooks, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses was reviewed to build a conceptual framework. We describe experimental paradigms to assess each developmental component of reward processing longitudinally from infancy. A timeline of each component's emergence was estimated. RESULTS Six components of reward processing were identified-association, discrimination, preference/valuation, effort, anticipation, and response. Selected evidence suggests emergence between birth and 6 months. Application of this model to autism led to a reinterpretation of existing disparate results, and illuminated a path to study the developmental processes underlying a popular hypothesis of autism, the motivation hypothesis. Current evidence further suggests that a sensitive period may exist for the emergence of reward processing. CONCLUSION The proposed framework offers a useful reconceptualization of the extant literature. Future longitudinal work using the suggested experimental paradigms with high-risk populations could elucidate the developmental trajectory of the components and timing of potential sensitive period(s) for each component.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin C Clements
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts.
| | | | - Charles A Nelson
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Granerud G, Elvsåshagen T, Arntzen E, Juhasz K, Emilsen NM, Sønderby IE, Nærland T, Malt EA. A family study of symbolic learning and synaptic plasticity in autism spectrum disorder. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:950922. [PMID: 36504626 PMCID: PMC9730282 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.950922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study presents a male with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a 3q29 deletion, and three healthy first-degree relatives. Our magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset included a healthy control subset. We describe a comprehensive multimodal approach, including equivalence class formation, neurocognitive testing, MRI, and electroencephalography (EEG)-based cortical plasticity, which can provide new insights into socio-communicative and learning impairments and neural underpinnings in ASD. On neurocognitive testing, the proband showed reduced processing speed, attending behavior, and executive function. He required more training trials in equivalence class training compared with family members and exhibited impaired priming of words compared with priming with images. The proband had smaller intracranial volume and surface area and a larger visual evoked potential (VEP) C1 amplitude than family members and intact long-term potentiation (LTP)-like visual cortex plasticity. Together, these results suggest that 3q29 deletion-related ASD is associated with impaired problem-solving strategies in complex socio-communicative and learning tasks, smaller intracranial and surface area, altered VEP amplitude, and normal LTP-like visual cortex plasticity. Further studies are needed to clarify whether this multimodal approach can be used to identify ASD subgroups with distinct neurobiological alterations and to uncover mechanisms underlying socio-communicative and learning impairments. Lay Summary: We studied learning, brain activity, and brain structure in a person with autism and a genetic aberration, and his close relatives. Compared with relatives, the person with autism required more training for learning, and visual learning was better than verbal learning. This person had some changes in the activity of the visual cortex, and the size and the surface area of the brain were reduced. Knowledge about learning and brain mechanisms is valuable for the development of training programs for individuals with autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guro Granerud
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway,Department of Behavioral Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway,KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,*Correspondence: Guro Granerud
| | - Torbjørn Elvsåshagen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway,Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erik Arntzen
- Department of Behavioral Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katalin Juhasz
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nina Merete Emilsen
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida Elken Sønderby
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway,Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Terje Nærland
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,NevSom Department of Rare Disorders and Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eva Albertsen Malt
- Department of Adult Habilitation, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sheela P, Puthankattil SD. MVME-RCMFDE framework for discerning hyper-responsivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Comput Biol Med 2022; 149:105958. [PMID: 36007291 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105958] [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: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), characterized by impaired sensory processing, has a wide range of clinical heterogeneity, which handicaps effective therapeutic interventions. Therefore, it is imperative to develop potential mechanisms for delineating clinically meaningful subgroups, so as to provide individualised medical treatment. In this study, an attempt is being made to differentiate the hyper-responsive subgroup from ASD by analysing the complexity pattern of Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs), recorded from a group of 30 ASD participants, in the presence of vertical achromatic sinewave gratings at varying contrast conditions of low (5%), medium (50%) and high (90%). METHOD This study proposes a new diagnostic framework incorporating a novel signal decomposition method termed as Modified Variational Mode Extraction (MVME) and a multiscale entropy approach. MVME segments the signal into five constituent modes with less spectral overlap in lower frequencies. Refined Composite Multiscale Fluctuation-based Dispersion entropy (RCMFDE) is extracted from these constituent modes, thereby facilitating the identification of hyper-responsive subgroup in ASD. RESULTS When tested on both simulated and real VEPs, MVME displays appreciable performance in terms of root mean square error and minimal spectral overlap in the lower frequencies, in comparison with the other state-of-the-art techniques. Relative Complexity analysis with RCMFDE exhibits a rising trend in 43%-50% of ASD in modes 1, 2, 3 and 4. CONCLUSION The proposed MVME-RCMFDE approach is efficient in discriminating the hyper-responsive subgroup in ASD in multiple modes namely mode 1, 2, 3 and 4, which correspond to delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands of brain signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyalakshmi Sheela
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, 673601, Kerala, India
| | - Subha D Puthankattil
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, 673601, Kerala, India.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jasim H, Hamdan F, Shareef H. Visual evoked potential findings and correlation between visual evoked potential and clinical severity in children with autism spectrum disorder. MEDICAL JOURNAL OF BABYLON 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/mjbl.mjbl_88_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
|
7
|
Brittenham C, Gordon J, Zemon VM, Siper PM. Objective frequency analysis of transient visual evoked potentials in autistic children. Autism Res 2021; 15:464-480. [PMID: 34908250 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2654] [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: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) provide a means to examine neural mechanisms in autism with high temporal resolution. Conventional VEP analysis relies on subjective inspection of a few points (peaks and troughs) in the time-domain waveform. The current study applied power spectral analysis and magnitude-squared coherence (MSC) statistics (frequency-domain measures) to VEPs recorded during 1-minute runs and with a recently developed short-duration technique that allow for objective examination of the responses (Zemon & Gordon, European Journal of Neuroscience, 2018, 48, 1765-1788) from nonautistic and autistic children. Results indicate that, for both groups, early time-domain measures (P60 , N75 , P100 ) are highly correlated with middle- and high-frequency (14-28 and 30-48 Hz, respectively) mechanisms, and late measures are highly correlated with a low-frequency (6-12 Hz) mechanism. One frequency-domain measure (power in the middle-frequency band) is capable of predicting the key amplitude measure (N75 -P100 ) with high accuracy. MSC and power measures were combined to yield separate measures of signal and noise strength to evaluate alternate hypotheses in autism. Linear mixed-effects modeling demonstrated selective differences in early time-domain and middle-to-high frequency-domain measures in autistic children as compared to nonautistic children given both recording techniques, implicating weaker excitatory input to the cortex. Receiver-operating-characteristic curve analysis showed predictive diagnostic accuracy for middle- and high-frequency bands based on MSC. These findings support the value of frequency analysis measures (power spectral analysis and MSC) in the objective examination of neural differences in autism. LAY SUMMARY: Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are used to assess neural mechanisms. Typically, VEPs are analyzed by subjective examination of time-series waveforms; but here objective techniques were applied to quantify VEP frequency components to investigate neural differences between autistic and nonautistic children. The objective measures demonstrate group differences in brain function that point to weaker excitatory input to the cortex in autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Brittenham
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - James Gordon
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vance M Zemon
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Paige M Siper
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Norcia AM, Lee A, Meredith WJ, Kohler PJ, Pei F, Ghassan SA, Libove RA, Phillips JM, Hardan AY. A case-control study of visual, auditory and audio-visual sensory interactions in children with autism spectrum disorder. J Vis 2021; 21:5. [PMID: 33830169 PMCID: PMC8039569 DOI: 10.1167/jov.21.4.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess the relative integrity of early visual and auditory processes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we used frequency-tagged visual and auditory stimulation and high-density electroencephalogram recordings of unimodal and dual-modality responses in a case-control design. To test for the specificity of effects on ASD, we recorded from a smaller group of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Horizontal 3 cycle per degree (cpd) gratings were presented at 5 Hz, and a random stream of /ba/, /da/, /ga/ syllables was presented at 6 Hz. Grating contrast response functions were measured unimodally and in the presence of a 64-dB auditory input. Auditory response functions were measured unimodally and in the presence of a 40% contrast grating. Children with ASD (n = 34) and ADHD (n = 13) showed a common lack of audio-visual interaction compared to typically developing children (n = 40) when measured at the first harmonic of the visual stimulus frequency. Both patient groups also showed depressed first harmonic responses at low contrast, but the ADHD group had consistently higher first-harmonic responses at high contrast. Children with ASD had a preferential loss of second-harmonic (transient) responses. The alteredtransient responses in ASD are likely to arise very early in the visual pathway and could thus have downstream consequences for many other visual mechanisms and processes. The alteration in audio-visual interaction could be a signature of a comorbid phenotype shared by ASD and ADHD, possibly due to alterations in attentional selection systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M Norcia
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Azalea Lee
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Peter J Kohler
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Francesca Pei
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie A Ghassan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robin A Libove
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Phillips
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Antonio Y Hardan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kovarski K, Charpentier J, Roux S, Batty M, Houy-Durand E, Gomot M. Emotional visual mismatch negativity: a joint investigation of social and non-social dimensions in adults with autism. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:10. [PMID: 33414385 PMCID: PMC7791028 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Unusual behaviors and brain activity to socio-emotional stimuli have been reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Atypical reactivity to change and intolerance of uncertainty are also present, but little is known on their possible impact on facial expression processing in autism. The visual mismatch negativity (vMMN) is an electrophysiological response automatically elicited by changing events such as deviant emotional faces presented among regular neutral faces. While vMMN has been found altered in ASD in response to low-level changes in simple stimuli, no study has investigated this response to visual social stimuli. Here two deviant expressions were presented, neutral and angry, embedded in a sequence of repetitive neutral stimuli. vMMN peak analyses were performed for latency and amplitude in early and late time windows. The ASD group presented smaller amplitude of the late vMMN to both neutral and emotional deviants compared to the typically developed adults (TD) group, and only the TD group presented a sustained activity related to emotional change (i.e., angry deviant). Source reconstruction of the vMMNs further revealed that any change processing elicited a reduced activity in ASD group compared to TD in the saliency network, while the specific processing emotional change elicited activity in the temporal region and in the insula. This study confirms atypical change processing in ASD and points to a specific difficulty in the processing of emotional changes, potentially playing a crucial role in social interaction deficits. Nevertheless, these results require to be further replicated with a greater sample size and generalized to other emotional expressions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Kovarski
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France. .,Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France. .,Université de Paris, CNRS, Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center, 75006, Paris, France.
| | | | - Sylvie Roux
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Magali Batty
- grid.508721.9Université de Toulouse, CERPPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Emmanuelle Houy-Durand
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France ,grid.411167.40000 0004 1765 1600CHRU de Tours, Centre Universitaire de Pédopsychiatrie, Tours, France
| | - Marie Gomot
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ophthalmological findings in children with autism spectrum disorder. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2020; 258:909-916. [PMID: 31919663 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-019-04594-7] [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: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Eye pathology could be related to atypical visual behaviours and impaired social communication through visual cues in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main purpose of this prospective study was to assess ophthalmological disorders in children with ASD and to investigate the relationships with intellectual disability (ID) and ASD severity. METHODS In this prospective study, comprehensive ophthalmological and oculomotor examinations were performed. ASD severity and verbal and performance intelligence quotients were determined using adapted scales. These clinical data were compared between groups of children based on the presence or absence of ophthalmological disorders and the achievement or not of visual acuity (VA) testing by using non-parametric statistical tests. RESULTS Amongst a sample of 51 children, ophthalmological disorders were found in 39% of cases, with 35% having significant refractive errors and 10% presenting with strabismus. Children with ASD and ophthalmological disorders had significantly lower verbal (29.8 ± 14.7 compared with 44.3 ± 21.5; p = 0.010) and performance quotients (57.8 ± 18.3 compared with 67.59 ± 20; p = 0.049) but no significant result was found between the presence of ophthalmological disorders and ASD severity, level of communication and social contact, or modulating behaviour when changes occur. Children who did not achieve monocular VA testing (39%) had significantly lower verbal (25.1 ± 9.7 compared with 46.1 ± 20.9; p < 0.001) and performance quotients (52.7 ± 17 compared with 69.8 ± 18.8; p = 0.001), also presented higher social interaction impairment (p = 0.002), and expressed more important behavioural signs (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Ophthalmological disorders are frequently found in children with ASD, especially in those with ID. Ophthalmologists and child psychiatrists should pay attention to perform ophthalmological examination in children with ASD since eye disorders might remain undetected. A comprehensive examination by a paediatric ophthalmologist would help to improve the individual clinical description and the global intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical trial registration number: NCT02444117.
Collapse
|
11
|
Kovarski K, Malvy J, Khanna RK, Arsène S, Batty M, Latinus M. Reduced visual evoked potential amplitude in autism spectrum disorder, a variability effect? Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:341. [PMID: 31852886 PMCID: PMC6920480 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0672-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical sensory behaviours represent a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Investigating early visual processing is crucial to deepen our understanding of higher-level processes. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to pattern-reversal checkerboards were recorded in ASD children and age-matched controls. Peak analysis of the P100 component and two types of single-trial analyses were carried out. P100 amplitude was reduced in the ASD group, consistent with previous reports. The analysis of the proportion of trials with a positive activity in the latency range of the P100, measuring inter-trial (in)consistency, allowed identifying two subgroups of ASD participants: the first group, as control children, showed a high inter-trial consistency, whereas the other group showed an inter-trial inconsistency. Analysis of median absolute deviation of single-trial P100 (st-P100) latencies revealed an increased latency variability in the ASD group. Both single-trial analyses revealed increased variability in a subset of children with ASD. To control for this variability, VEPs were reconstructed by including only positive trials or trials with homogeneous st-P100 latencies. These control analyses abolished group differences, confirming that the reduced P100 amplitude results from increased inter-trial variability in ASD. This increased variability in ASD supports the neural noise theory. The existence of subgroups in ASD suggests that the neural response variability is not a genuine characteristic of the entire autistic spectrum, but rather characterized subgroups of children. Exploring the relationship between sensory responsiveness and inter-trial variability could provide more precise bioclinical profiles in children with ASD, and complete the functional diagnostic crucial for the development of individualized therapeutical projects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Kovarski
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France. .,CNRS (Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Center, UMR 8002), Paris, France. .,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France. .,Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild, Paris, France.
| | - Joëlle Malvy
- 0000 0001 2182 6141grid.12366.30UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France ,0000 0004 1765 1600grid.411167.4CHRU de Tours, Centre Universitaire de Pédopsychiatrie, Tours, France
| | - Raoul K. Khanna
- 0000 0001 2182 6141grid.12366.30UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France ,0000 0004 1765 1600grid.411167.4CHRU de Tours, Département d’Ophtalmologie, Tours, France
| | - Sophie Arsène
- 0000 0004 1765 1600grid.411167.4CHRU de Tours, Département d’Ophtalmologie, Tours, France
| | - Magali Batty
- 0000 0001 2353 1689grid.11417.32Université de Toulouse, CERPPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Marianne Latinus
- 0000 0001 2182 6141grid.12366.30UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Aoki S, Kagitani-Shimono K, Matsuzaki J, Hanaie R, Nakanishi M, Tominaga K, Nagai Y, Mohri I, Taniike M. Lesser suppression of response to bright visual stimuli and visual abnormality in children with autism spectrum disorder: a magnetoencephalographic study. J Neurodev Disord 2019; 11:9. [PMID: 31200639 PMCID: PMC6570891 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9266-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual abnormality is a common sensory impairment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which may cause behavioral problems. However, only a few studies exist on the neural features corresponding to the visual symptoms in ASD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cortical responses to visual stimuli and visual abnormality to examine the neurophysiological mechanisms of the visual abnormality in ASD. METHODS Twenty-two high-functioning children with ASD (10.95 ± 2.01 years old) and 23 age-matched typically developing (TD) children (10.13 ± 2.80 years old) participated in this study. We measured the cortical responses (i.e., activated intensity and attenuation ratio) elicited by the Original visual image and other two types of bright images (the Dot noise or Blind image, which includes overlapped particles onto the Original image or the enhanced-brightness version of the Original image, respectively) using magnetoencephalography. RESULTS The severity of visual abnormalities was significantly associated with behavioral problems in children with ASD. In addition, we found the increased cortical activation in response to the Original image in the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and middle temporal gyrus in children with ASD. However, there were no inter-group differences in the primary visual and medial orbitofrontal cortices. Furthermore, when we compared cortical responses according to the type of images, children with ASD showed lesser attenuation of the activated intensities than children with TD in response to the bright images compared with the Original image in the right SMG. These attenuation ratios (Dot noise/Original and Blind/Original) were also associated with the severity of visual abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that dysfunction of stimulus-driven neural suppression plays a crucial role in the neural mechanism of visual abnormality in children with ASD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first magnetoencephalography study to demonstrate the association between the severity of visual abnormality and lower attenuation ratios in children with ASD. Our results contribute to the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying visual abnormality in children with ASD, and may therefore lead to more effective diagnosis and earlier intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sho Aoki
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kuriko Kagitani-Shimono
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. .,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. .,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Junko Matsuzaki
- Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ryuzo Hanaie
- Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mariko Nakanishi
- Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koji Tominaga
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukie Nagai
- National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ikuko Mohri
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masako Taniike
- Division of Developmental Neuroscience, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kovarski K, Mennella R, Wong SM, Dunkley BT, Taylor MJ, Batty M. Enhanced Early Visual Responses During Implicit Emotional Faces Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:871-886. [PMID: 30374763 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3787-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has focused on processing of socially-relevant stimuli, such as faces. Nonetheless, before being 'social', faces are visual stimuli. The present magnetoencephalography study investigated the time course of brain activity during an implicit emotional task in visual emotion-related regions in 19 adults with ASD (mean age 26.3 ± 4.4) and 19 typically developed controls (26.4 ± 4). The results confirmed previously-reported differences between groups in brain responses to emotion and a hypo-activation in the ASD group in the right fusiform gyrus around 150 ms. However, the ASD group also presented early enhanced activity in the occipital region. These results support that impaired face processing in ASD might be sustained by atypical responses in primary visual areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Kovarski
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Centre Universitaire de PédoPsychiatrie, Tours, France. .,Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for the Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Rocco Mennella
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for the Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Laboratoire de neurosciences cognitives, INSERM U960, Département d'études cognitives, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Simeon M Wong
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for the Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, The Hospital for the Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Benjamin T Dunkley
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for the Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, The Hospital for the Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for the Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, The Hospital for the Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Magali Batty
- CERPPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Høyland AL, Nærland T, Engstrøm M, Torske T, Lydersen S, Andreassen OA. Atypical event-related potentials revealed during the passive parts of a Go-NoGo task in autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study. Mol Autism 2019; 10:10. [PMID: 30873274 PMCID: PMC6402134 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are easily recognizable in non-structured clinical and real-life situations. The features are often difficult to capture in structured laboratory settings, and the results from tests do not necessarily reflect symptom severity. We investigated neurophysiological processing in the passive parts of a cued Go-NoGo task, using the active parts of the test as a comparator. Methods Forty-nine adolescents diagnosed with ASD and 49 typically developing (TD) adolescents (age 12–21 years) were included. Daily life executive function was assessed with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). We applied a visual cued Go-NoGo task and recorded event-related potentials (ERPs). We investigated occipital N1, a component related to early perception of visual stimuli, and P3a, a fronto-central component related to switching of attention, in the passive and active parts of the test. Results During the passive parts, the ASD group had statistically significantly longer N1 latency (p < 0.001, Cohens d = 0.75) and enhanced amplitude of P3a (p = 0.002, Cohens d = 0.64) compared to the TD, while no significant differences were observed in the active parts. Both components correlated significantly with the Behavioral Regulation Index of the BRIEF (partial correlation r = 0.35, p = 0.003). Conclusion Delayed N1 response, indicating altered visual perception, and enhanced P3a response, indicating increased neural activation related to attention allocation, were found during the passive parts of a Go-NoGo task in ASD participants. These abnormal ERP signals in the non-structured settings were associated with everyday executive function, suggesting that neurophysiolocal measures related to atypical control of alertness and “hyper-awareness” underlie daily life dysfunction in ASD. Assessments during passive settings have a potential to reveal core neurobiological substrates of ASD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-019-0259-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne L Høyland
- 1Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Klostergata 46, N-7030 Trondheim, Norway.,2Department of Pediatrics, St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Terje Nærland
- 3NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders and Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,4NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Morten Engstrøm
- 5Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.,6Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tonje Torske
- 7Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway
| | - Stian Lydersen
- 1Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Klostergata 46, N-7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- 4NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,8Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Lau-Zhu A, Fritz A, McLoughlin G. Overlaps and distinctions between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in young adulthood: Systematic review and guiding framework for EEG-imaging research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 96:93-115. [PMID: 30367918 PMCID: PMC6331660 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently co-occur. However, we know little about the neural basis of the overlaps and distinctions between these disorders, particularly in young adulthood - a critical time window for brain plasticity across executive and socioemotional domains. Here, we systematically review 75 articles investigating ADHD and ASD in young adult samples (mean ages 16-26) using cognitive tasks, with neural activity concurrently measured via electroencephalography (EEG) - the most accessible neuroimaging technology. The majority of studies focused on event-related potentials (ERPs), with some beginning to capitalise on oscillatory approaches. Overlapping and specific profiles for ASD and ADHD were found mainly for four neurocognitive domains: attention processing, performance monitoring, face processing and sensory processing. No studies in this age group directly compared both disorders or considered dual diagnosis with both disorders. Moving forward, understanding of ADHD, ASD and their overlap in young adulthood would benefit from an increased focus on cross-disorder comparisons, using similar paradigms and in well-powered samples and longitudinal cohorts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Lau-Zhu
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Anne Fritz
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gráinne McLoughlin
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kovarski K, Siwiaszczyk M, Malvy J, Batty M, Latinus M. Faster eye movements in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2018; 12:212-224. [PMID: 30585440 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Atypical visual exploration of both social and nonsocial scenes is often reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with less precise and longer saccades, potentially reflecting difficulties in oculomotor control. To assess a subset of oculomotor functions in ASD, 20 children with ASD and 21 age-matched typically developing (TD) children (2.6-11.5 years) partook in three tasks of increasing complexity, while no explicit instruction was provided: a prosaccade gap task, a color and a "categorical" visual search tasks (a face among butterflies and vice-versa). In addition to classical saccade metrics, we measured Distance error, (the distance between the target and the closest gaze position) and Time-to-target (the time taken to reach the target). In the prosaccade task, children with ASD were as accurate as TD children, yet faster to reach the stimulus. In the color visual search task, children with ASD were faster but less precise than TD children. In the categorical visual search, while TD children were more precise in orienting their gaze towards the face, children with ASD performed similarly in the two conditions; Time-to-target did not differ. Our results provide contradictory evidence regarding enhanced visual search ability in ASD: when considering response times, enhanced visual search performance was found in one task only, while when considering gaze precision no advantage was found. These three experiments demonstrate that the automatic saccadic system may function more rapidly in children with ASD. Nonetheless, a diminished sensitivity to bottom-up saliency and top-down influence might suppress this advantage in more complex visual environments. Autism Res 2019, 12: 212-224 © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Three experiments with no instructions were designed to assess oculomotor functions in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In a saccade task, children with ASD were faster than but as accurate as control children. In visual search tasks, accuracy and speed decreased with increasing complexity of visual environment. Children with ASD showed faster automatic visual orientation, but this might hinder exploratory behaviors, leading to difficulties in complex and social situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Kovarski
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | | | - Joëlle Malvy
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Centre Universitaire de Pédopsychiatrie, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Magali Batty
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,CERPPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | |
Collapse
|