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Schaaf RC, Puts NA, Williams ZJ, Woynaroski T. Forwarding the Science of Sensory Features in Autism and Related Conditions. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:2663-2667. [PMID: 37142906 PMCID: PMC10949906 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05959-y] [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] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This editorial accompanies the JADD Special Issue on Sensory Features in Autism and Related Conditions: Developmental Approaches, Mechanisms and Targeted Interventions. The editorial is a commentary on the state of the science in sensory features in autism and related conditions and provides a synopsis of the information contained in the special issue including provocative thoughts about moving the field forward in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roseann C Schaaf
- Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Occupational Therapy, Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Nicolaas A Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Zachary J Williams
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Affiliate, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Tiffany Woynaroski
- Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, First Center for Autism and Innovation, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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2
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Purpura G, Petri S, Tancredi R, Tinelli F, Calderoni S. Haptic and visuo-haptic impairments for object recognition in children with autism spectrum disorder: focus on the sensory and multisensory processing dysfunctions. Exp Brain Res 2024; 242:1731-1744. [PMID: 38819648 PMCID: PMC11208199 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06855-2] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Dysfunctions in sensory processing are widely described in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although little is known about the developmental course and the impact of these difficulties on the learning processes during the preschool and school ages of ASD children. Specifically, as regards the interplay between visual and haptic information in ASD during developmental age, knowledge is very scarce and controversial. In this study, we investigated unimodal (visual and haptic) and cross-modal (visuo-haptic) processing skills aimed at object recognition through a behavioural paradigm already used in children with typical development (TD), with cerebral palsy and with peripheral visual impairments. Thirty-five children with ASD (age range: 5-11 years) and thirty-five age-matched and gender-matched typically developing peers were recruited. The procedure required participants to perform an object-recognition task relying on only the visual modality (black-and-white photographs), only the haptic modality (manipulation of real objects) and visuo-haptic transfer of these two types of information. Results are consistent with the idea that visuo-haptic transfer may be significantly worse in ASD children than in TD peers, leading to significant impairment in multisensory interactions for object recognition facilitation. Furthermore, ASD children tended to show a specific deficit in haptic information processing, while a similar trend of maturation of visual modality between the two groups is reported. This study adds to the current literature by suggesting that ASD differences in multisensory processes also regard visuo-haptic abilities necessary to identify and recognise objects of daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Purpura
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - S Petri
- Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - R Tancredi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Tinelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Calderoni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy.
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Asaridou M, Wodka EL, Edden RAE, Mostofsky SH, Puts NAJ, He JL. Could Sensory Differences Be a Sex-Indifferent Biomarker of Autism? Early Investigation Comparing Tactile Sensitivity Between Autistic Males and Females. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:239-255. [PMID: 36272043 PMCID: PMC10791919 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05787-6] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sensory differences are highly prevalent in autistic individuals. However, few studies have compared their presentation between autistic males and autistic females. We used psychophysics to assess and compare tactile perceptual sensitivity between autistic and non-autistic boys and girls aged between 8 and 12 years of age. While there were sex-differences of amplitude discrimination, frequency discrimination and order judgement thresholds, these sex-differences were not autism-specific. Mean RTs and detection thresholds were elevated in autism but were comparable between the sexes. Tactile sensitivity measures that are elevated in autism but are otherwise comparable between autistic males and autistic females suggest the possibility that certain sensory features could be used as sex-indifferent markers of autism. Further investigation with larger and more representative samples should be conducted before any stronger conclusions are made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalini Asaridou
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatric Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ericka L Wodka
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jason L He
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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Lucarini V, Alouit A, Yeh D, Le Coq J, Savatte R, Charre M, Louveau C, Houamri MB, Penaud S, Gaston-Bellegarde A, Rio S, Drouet L, Elbaz M, Becchio J, Pourchet S, Pruvost-Robieux E, Marchi A, Moyal M, Lefebvre A, Chaumette B, Grice M, Lindberg PG, Dupin L, Piolino P, Lemogne C, Léger D, Gavaret M, Krebs MO, Iftimovici A. Neurophysiological explorations across the spectrum of psychosis, autism, and depression, during wakefulness and sleep: protocol of a prospective case-control transdiagnostic multimodal study (DEMETER). BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:860. [PMID: 37990173 PMCID: PMC10662684 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05347-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) analysis offers the opportunity to study high-level cognitive processes across psychiatric disorders. In particular, EEG microstates translate the temporal dynamics of neuronal networks throughout the brain. Their alteration may reflect transdiagnostic anomalies in neurophysiological functions that are impaired in mood, psychosis, and autism spectrum disorders, such as sensorimotor integration, speech, sleep, and sense of self. The main questions this study aims to answer are as follows: 1) Are EEG microstate anomalies associated with clinical and functional prognosis, both in resting conditions and during sleep, across psychiatric disorders? 2) Are EEG microstate anomalies associated with differences in sensorimotor integration, speech, sense of self, and sleep? 3) Can the dynamic of EEG microstates be modulated by a non-drug intervention such as light hypnosis? METHODS This prospective cohort will include a population of adolescents and young adults, aged 15 to 30 years old, with ultra-high-risk of psychosis (UHR), first-episode psychosis (FEP), schizophrenia (SCZ), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and major depressive disorder (MDD), as well as healthy controls (CTRL) (N = 21 × 6), who will be assessed at baseline and after one year of follow-up. Participants will undergo deep phenotyping based on psychopathology, neuropsychological assessments, 64-channel EEG recordings, and biological sampling at the two timepoints. At baseline, the EEG recording will also be coupled to a sensorimotor task and a recording of the characteristics of their speech (prosody and turn-taking), a one-night polysomnography, a self-reference effect task in virtual reality (only in UHR, FEP, and CTRL). An interventional ancillary study will involve only healthy controls, in order to assess whether light hypnosis can modify the EEG microstate architecture in a direction opposite to what is seen in disease. DISCUSSION This transdiagnostic longitudinal case-control study will provide a multimodal neurophysiological assessment of clinical dimensions (sensorimotor integration, speech, sleep, and sense of self) that are disrupted across mood, psychosis, and autism spectrum disorders. It will further test the relevance of EEG microstates as dimensional functional biomarkers. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT06045897.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Lucarini
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders", GDR 3557-Institut de Psychiatrie, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, Paris, 75014, France
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Anaëlle Alouit
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Stroke: from prognostic determinants and translational research to personalized interventions", Paris, 75014, France
| | - Delphine Yeh
- Laboratoire Mémoire, Cerveau et Cognition, UR7536, Université Paris Cité, Boulogne-Billancourt, F-92100, France
| | - Jeanne Le Coq
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Romane Savatte
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Mylène Charre
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Cécile Louveau
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Meryem Benlaifa Houamri
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Penaud
- Laboratoire Mémoire, Cerveau et Cognition, UR7536, Université Paris Cité, Boulogne-Billancourt, F-92100, France
| | - Alexandre Gaston-Bellegarde
- Laboratoire Mémoire, Cerveau et Cognition, UR7536, Université Paris Cité, Boulogne-Billancourt, F-92100, France
| | - Stéphane Rio
- Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance, AP-HP, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Drouet
- Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance, AP-HP, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Elbaz
- Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance, AP-HP, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Jean Becchio
- Collège International de Thérapies d'orientation de l'Attention et de la Conscience (CITAC), Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Pourchet
- Collège International de Thérapies d'orientation de l'Attention et de la Conscience (CITAC), Paris, France
| | - Estelle Pruvost-Robieux
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Stroke: from prognostic determinants and translational research to personalized interventions", Paris, 75014, France
- Service de Neurophysiologie Clinique, GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Paris, France
| | - Angela Marchi
- Epileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology, APHM, Timone Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Mylène Moyal
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders", GDR 3557-Institut de Psychiatrie, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, Paris, 75014, France
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Aline Lefebvre
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Fondation Vallee, UNIACT Neurospin CEA - INSERM UMR 1129, Universite Paris Saclay, Gentilly, France
| | - Boris Chaumette
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders", GDR 3557-Institut de Psychiatrie, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, Paris, 75014, France
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Martine Grice
- IfL-Phonetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Påvel G Lindberg
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Stroke: from prognostic determinants and translational research to personalized interventions", Paris, 75014, France
| | - Lucile Dupin
- INCC UMR 8002, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Paris, F-75006, France
| | - Pascale Piolino
- Laboratoire Mémoire, Cerveau et Cognition, UR7536, Université Paris Cité, Boulogne-Billancourt, F-92100, France
| | - Cédric Lemogne
- Inserm, INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Service de Psychiatrie de l'adulte, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Paris, France
| | - Damien Léger
- Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance, AP-HP, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France
- VIFASOM, ERC 7330, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Martine Gavaret
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Stroke: from prognostic determinants and translational research to personalized interventions", Paris, 75014, France
- Service de Neurophysiologie Clinique, GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Odile Krebs
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders", GDR 3557-Institut de Psychiatrie, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, Paris, 75014, France
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France
| | - Anton Iftimovici
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Team "Pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders", GDR 3557-Institut de Psychiatrie, 102-108 Rue de la Santé, Paris, 75014, France.
- GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire d'évaluation, Prévention, et Innovation Thérapeutique (PEPIT), Paris, France.
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5
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Williams ZJ, Schaaf R, Ausderau KK, Baranek GT, Barrett DJ, Cascio CJ, Dumont RL, Eyoh EE, Failla MD, Feldman JI, Foss-Feig JH, Green HL, Green SA, He JL, Kaplan-Kahn EA, Keçeli-Kaysılı B, MacLennan K, Mailloux Z, Marco EJ, Mash LE, McKernan EP, Molholm S, Mostofsky SH, Puts NAJ, Robertson CE, Russo N, Shea N, Sideris J, Sutcliffe JS, Tavassoli T, Wallace MT, Wodka EL, Woynaroski TG. Examining the latent structure and correlates of sensory reactivity in autism: a multi-site integrative data analysis by the autism sensory research consortium. Mol Autism 2023; 14:31. [PMID: 37635263 PMCID: PMC10464466 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-023-00563-4] [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: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differences in responding to sensory stimuli, including sensory hyperreactivity (HYPER), hyporeactivity (HYPO), and sensory seeking (SEEK) have been observed in autistic individuals across sensory modalities, but few studies have examined the structure of these "supra-modal" traits in the autistic population. METHODS Leveraging a combined sample of 3868 autistic youth drawn from 12 distinct data sources (ages 3-18 years and representing the full range of cognitive ability), the current study used modern psychometric and meta-analytic techniques to interrogate the latent structure and correlates of caregiver-reported HYPER, HYPO, and SEEK within and across sensory modalities. Bifactor statistical indices were used to both evaluate the strength of a "general response pattern" factor for each supra-modal construct and determine the added value of "modality-specific response pattern" scores (e.g., Visual HYPER). Bayesian random-effects integrative data analysis models were used to examine the clinical and demographic correlates of all interpretable HYPER, HYPO, and SEEK (sub)constructs. RESULTS All modality-specific HYPER subconstructs could be reliably and validly measured, whereas certain modality-specific HYPO and SEEK subconstructs were psychometrically inadequate when measured using existing items. Bifactor analyses supported the validity of a supra-modal HYPER construct (ωH = .800) but not a supra-modal HYPO construct (ωH = .653), and supra-modal SEEK models suggested a more limited version of the construct that excluded some sensory modalities (ωH = .800; 4/7 modalities). Modality-specific subscales demonstrated significant added value for all response patterns. Meta-analytic correlations varied by construct, although sensory features tended to correlate most with other domains of core autism features and co-occurring psychiatric symptoms (with general HYPER and speech HYPO demonstrating the largest numbers of practically significant correlations). LIMITATIONS Conclusions may not be generalizable beyond the specific pool of items used in the current study, which was limited to caregiver report of observable behaviors and excluded multisensory items that reflect many "real-world" sensory experiences. CONCLUSION Of the three sensory response patterns, only HYPER demonstrated sufficient evidence for valid interpretation at the supra-modal level, whereas supra-modal HYPO/SEEK constructs demonstrated substantial psychometric limitations. For clinicians and researchers seeking to characterize sensory reactivity in autism, modality-specific response pattern scores may represent viable alternatives that overcome many of these limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J Williams
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue South, Medical Center East, South Tower, Room 8310, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Roseann Schaaf
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence, Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karla K Ausderau
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Grace T Baranek
- Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - D Jonah Barrett
- Neuroscience Undergraduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Carissa J Cascio
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rachel L Dumont
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ekomobong E Eyoh
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Jacob I Feldman
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue South, Medical Center East, South Tower, Room 8310, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer H Foss-Feig
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heather L Green
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shulamite A Green
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason L He
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth A Kaplan-Kahn
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bahar Keçeli-Kaysılı
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue South, Medical Center East, South Tower, Room 8310, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Keren MacLennan
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Zoe Mailloux
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elysa J Marco
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, CA, USA
| | - Lisa E Mash
- Division of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth P McKernan
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sophie Molholm
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Caroline E Robertson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Natalie Russo
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Nicole Shea
- Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Division of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Kaleida Health, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - John Sideris
- Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James S Sutcliffe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Teresa Tavassoli
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Mark T Wallace
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ericka L Wodka
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tiffany G Woynaroski
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue South, Medical Center East, South Tower, Room 8310, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
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6
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Veronese S, Zoccante L, Smania N, Sbarbati A. Stretch marks: a visible expression of connective's involvement in autism spectrum disorders. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1155854. [PMID: 37448494 PMCID: PMC10338011 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1155854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the pediatric population, skin manifestations are generally attributable to the concomitance of allergic forms or to accidental, self-inflicted or abusive lesions. However, clinical evidence has highlighted the presence of an increasing number of abdominal stretch marks, probably caused by the increase in the number of obesity cases in the pediatric population, in general, and therefore also among children with ASD. Stretch marks are often attributed to obesity, as they have an incidence of more than 50% in obese individuals. In the first part of this article we hypothesized that in addition to obesity there are other factors, such as a structural alteration on the skin in people with ASD, which can contribute/aggravate the phenomenon of stretch marks. Despite the high frequency with which stretch marks are found in children with ASD, this aspect has never been studied, the structure of the skin of children with ASD is not known. Furthermore, it is not known whether this structure is different from that of subjects without ASD. In the second part of the article, we hypothesized the mechanisms of the negative impact of simple abdominal stretch marks on the symptomatic picture of children with ASD. The presence of stretch marks, altered tactile perception, altered sensitivity to clothing fabrics can be a combination that influences development and determines negative consequences in the neurological picture of a child with ASD, as it is already known that the altered sensory perception in children with ASD contributes to the deterioration of social behavior. Furthermore, the presence of stretch marks may play a role in the postural and motor defects of children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Veronese
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Leonardo Zoccante
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Maternal-Child Integrated Care Department, Integrated University Hospital Verona, Verona, Italy
- Autism Spectrum Disorders Regional Centre of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Nicola Smania
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Sbarbati
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Vasile F, Vizziello A, Brondino N, Savazzi P. Stress State Classification Based on Deep Neural Network and Electrodermal Activity Modeling. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:2504. [PMID: 36904705 PMCID: PMC10007362 DOI: 10.3390/s23052504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Electrodermal Activity (EDA) has become of great interest in the last several decades, due to the advent of new devices that allow for recording a lot of psychophysiological data for remotely monitoring patients' health. In this work, a novel method of analyzing EDA signals is proposed with the ultimate goal of helping caregivers assess the emotional states of autistic people, such as stress and frustration, which could cause aggression onset. Since many autistic people are non-verbal or suffer from alexithymia, the development of a method able to detect and measure these arousal states could be useful to aid with predicting imminent aggression. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to classify their emotional states to prevent these crises with proper actions. Several studies were conducted to classify EDA signals, usually employing learning methods, where data augmentation was often performed to countervail the lack of extensive datasets. Differently, in this work, we use a model to generate synthetic data that are employed to train a deep neural network for EDA signal classification. This method is automatic and does not require a separate step for features extraction, as in EDA classification solutions based on machine learning. The network is first trained with synthetic data and then tested on another set of synthetic data, as well as on experimental sequences. In the first case, an accuracy of 96% is reached, which becomes 84% in the second case, thus demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed approach and its high performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriana Vasile
- Department of Electrical, Biomedical and Computer Engineering, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Vizziello
- Department of Electrical, Biomedical and Computer Engineering, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Natascia Brondino
- Brain and Behavioral Sciences Department, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Pietro Savazzi
- Department of Electrical, Biomedical and Computer Engineering, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Li Q, Zhao W, Kendrick KM. Affective touch in the context of development, oxytocin signaling, and autism. Front Psychol 2022; 13:967791. [PMID: 36506943 PMCID: PMC9728590 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.967791] [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: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Touch represents one of our most important senses throughout life and particularly in the context of our social and emotional experiences. In this review, we draw on research on touch processing from both animal models and humans. Firstly, we briefly describe the cutaneous touch receptors and neural processing of both affective and discriminative touch. We then outline how our sense of touch develops and summarize increasing evidence demonstrating how essential early tactile stimulation is for the development of brain and behavior, with a particular focus on effects of tactile stimulation in infant animals and pediatric massage and Kangaroo care in human infants. Next, the potential mechanisms whereby early tactile stimulation influences both brain and behavioral development are discussed, focusing on its ability to promote neural plasticity changes and brain interhemispheric communication, development of social behavior and bonding, and reward sensitivity through modulation of growth factor, oxytocin, and opioid signaling. Finally, we consider the implications of evidence for atypical responses to touch in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and discuss existing evidence and future priorities for establishing potential beneficial effects of interventions using massage or pharmacological treatments targeting oxytocin or other neurochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Li
- School of Foreign Language, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China,Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Keith M. Kendrick
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China,*Correspondence: Keith M. Kendrick,
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Ahlfors SP, Graham S, Alho J, Joseph RM, McGuiggan NM, Nayal Z, Hämäläinen MS, Khan S, Kenet T. Magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography can both detect differences in cortical responses to vibrotactile stimuli in individuals on the autism spectrum. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:902332. [PMID: 35990048 PMCID: PMC9388788 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.902332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum (AS) is defined primarily by differences in social interactions, with impairments in sensory processing also characterizing the condition. In the search for neurophysiological biomarkers associated with traits relevant to the condition, focusing on sensory processing offers a path that is likely to be translatable across populations with different degrees of ability, as well as into animal models and across imaging modalities. In a prior study, a somatosensory neurophysiological signature of AS was identified using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Specifically, source estimation results showed differences between AS and neurotypically developing (NTD) subjects in the brain response to 25-Hz vibrotactile stimulation of the right fingertips, with lower inter-trial coherence (ITC) observed in the AS group. Here, we examined whether these group differences can be detected without source estimation using scalp electroencephalography (EEG), which is more commonly available in clinical settings than MEG, and therefore offers a greater potential for clinical translation. To that end, we recorded simultaneous whole-head MEG and EEG in 14 AS and 10 NTD subjects (age 15-28 years) using the same vibrotactile paradigm. Based on the scalp topographies, small sets of left hemisphere MEG and EEG sensors showing the maximum overall ITC were selected for group comparisons. Significant differences between the AS and NTD groups in ITC at 25 Hz as well as at 50 Hz were recorded in both MEG and EEG sensor data. For each measure, the mean ITC was lower in the AS than in the NTD group. EEG ITC values correlated with behaviorally assessed somatosensory sensation avoiding scores. The results show that information about ITC from MEG and EEG signals have substantial overlap, and thus EEG sensor-based ITC measures of the AS somatosensory processing biomarker previously identified using source localized MEG data have a potential to be developed into clinical use in AS, thanks to the higher accessibility to EEG in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seppo P Ahlfors
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Steven Graham
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jussi Alho
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Robert M Joseph
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nicole M McGuiggan
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Zein Nayal
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matti S Hämäläinen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sheraz Khan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tal Kenet
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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