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Alhassen W, Alhassen S, Chen J, Monfared RV, Alachkar A. Cilia in the Striatum Mediate Timing-Dependent Functions. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:545-565. [PMID: 36322337 PMCID: PMC9849326 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03095-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Almost all brain cells contain cilia, antennae-like microtubule-based organelles. Yet, the significance of cilia, once considered vestigial organelles, in the higher-order brain functions is unknown. Cilia act as a hub that senses and transduces environmental sensory stimuli to generate an appropriate cellular response. Similarly, the striatum, a brain structure enriched in cilia, functions as a hub that receives and integrates various types of environmental information to drive appropriate motor response. To understand cilia's role in the striatum functions, we used loxP/Cre technology to ablate cilia from the dorsal striatum of male mice and monitored the behavioral consequences. Our results revealed an essential role for striatal cilia in the acquisition and brief storage of information, including learning new motor skills, but not in long-term consolidation of information or maintaining habitual/learned motor skills. A fundamental aspect of all disrupted functions was the "time perception/judgment deficit." Furthermore, the observed behavioral deficits form a cluster pertaining to clinical manifestations overlapping across psychiatric disorders that involve the striatum functions and are known to exhibit timing deficits. Thus, striatal cilia may act as a calibrator of the timing functions of the basal ganglia-cortical circuit by maintaining proper timing perception. Our findings suggest that dysfunctional cilia may contribute to the pathophysiology of neuro-psychiatric disorders, as related to deficits in timing perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wedad Alhassen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Sammy Alhassen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Roudabeh Vakil Monfared
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Amal Alachkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA ,UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697 USA ,Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
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2
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Schmitt LM, Li J, Liu R, Horn PS, Sweeney JA, Erickson CA, Pedapati EV. Altered frontal connectivity as a mechanism for executive function deficits in fragile X syndrome. Mol Autism 2022; 13:47. [PMID: 36494861 PMCID: PMC9733336 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00527-0] [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: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited monogenic cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Executive function (EF), necessary for adaptive goal-oriented behavior and dependent on frontal lobe function, is impaired in individuals with FXS. Yet, little is known how alterations in frontal lobe neural activity is related to EF deficits in FXS. METHODS Sixty-one participants with FXS (54% males) and 71 age- and sex-matched typically-developing controls (TDC; 58% males) completed a five-minute resting state electroencephalography (EEG) protocol and a computerized battery of tests of EF, the Test of Attentional Performance for Children (KiTAP). Following source localization (minimum-norm estimate), we computed debiased weighted phase lag index (dWPLI), a phase connectivity value, for pairings between 18 nodes in frontal regions for gamma (30-55 Hz) and alpha (10.5-12.5 Hz) bands. Linear models were generated with fixed factors of group, sex, frequency, and connection. Relationships between frontal connectivity and EF variables also were examined. RESULTS Individuals with FXS demonstrated increased gamma band and reduced alpha band connectivity across all frontal regions and across hemispheres compared to TDC. After controlling for nonverbal IQ, increased error rates on EF tasks were associated with increased gamma band and reduced alpha band connectivity. LIMITATIONS Frontal connectivity findings are limited to intrinsic brain activity during rest and may not generalize to frontal connectivity during EF tasks or everyday function. CONCLUSIONS We report gamma hyper-connectivity and alpha hypo-connectivity within source-localized frontal brain regions in FXS compared to TDC during resting-state EEG. For the first time in FXS, we report significant associations between EF and altered frontal connectivity, with increased error rate relating to increased gamma band connectivity and reduced alpha band connectivity. These findings suggest increased phase connectivity within gamma band may impair EF performance, whereas greater alpha band connectivity may provide compensatory support for EF. Together, these findings provide important insight into neurophysiological mechanisms of EF deficits in FXS and provide novel targets for treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Schmitt
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Joy Li
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Rui Liu
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Paul S. Horn
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - John A. Sweeney
- grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Craig A. Erickson
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Ernest V. Pedapati
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH USA
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Chan MMY, Chan MC, Lai OLH, Krishnamurthy K, Han YMY. Abnormal Prefrontal Functional Connectivity Is Associated with Inflexible Information Processing in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): An fNIRS Study. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1132. [PMID: 35625869 PMCID: PMC9139038 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterized by impairments in flexibly acquiring and maintaining new information, as well as in applying learned information for problem solving. However, the neural mechanism underpinning such impairments remains unclear. This study investigated the flexibility in the acquisition and application of visual information in ASD (aged 14−21) when they performed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Behavioral data including response accuracy and latency, and prefrontal hemodynamic data measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), were collected when individuals performed WCST. Canonical general linear model and functional connectivity analyses were performed to examine the prefrontal activation and synchronization patterns, respectively. Results showed that although ASD individuals (n = 29) achieved comparable accuracy rates when compared with age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched typically developing (TD; n = 26) individuals (F1,53 = 3.15, p = 0.082), ASD individuals needed significantly more time to acquire and apply WCST card sorting rules (F1,53 = 17.92, p < 0.001). Moreover, ASD individuals showed significantly lower prefrontal functional connectivity than TD individuals during WCST (F1,42 = 9.99, p = 0.003). The hypoconnectivity in ASD individuals was highly significant in the right lateral PFC in the acquisition condition (p = 0.005) and in the bilateral lateral PFC in the application condition (ps = 0.006). Furthermore, slower WCST reaction time was correlated with lower bilateral lateral PFC functional connectivity only in the application condition (ps = 0.003) but not the acquisition condition. Impairment in information acquisition and application is evident in ASD individuals and is mediated by processing speed, which is associated with lower functional connectivity in the bilateral lateral PFC when these individuals apply learned rules to solve novel problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody M. Y. Chan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (M.M.Y.C.); (M.-C.C.); (O.L.-H.L.); (K.K.)
| | - Ming-Chung Chan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (M.M.Y.C.); (M.-C.C.); (O.L.-H.L.); (K.K.)
| | - Oscar Long-Hin Lai
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (M.M.Y.C.); (M.-C.C.); (O.L.-H.L.); (K.K.)
| | - Karthikeyan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (M.M.Y.C.); (M.-C.C.); (O.L.-H.L.); (K.K.)
| | - Yvonne M. Y. Han
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (M.M.Y.C.); (M.-C.C.); (O.L.-H.L.); (K.K.)
- University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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4
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Lepping RJ, McKinney WS, Magnon GC, Keedy SK, Wang Z, Coombes SA, Vaillancourt DE, Sweeney JA, Mosconi MW. Visuomotor brain network activation and functional connectivity among individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 43:844-859. [PMID: 34716740 PMCID: PMC8720186 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25692] [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: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor abnormalities are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and predictive of functional outcomes, though their neural underpinnings remain poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined both brain activation and functional connectivity during visuomotor behavior in 27 individuals with ASD and 30 typically developing (TD) controls (ages 9–35 years). Participants maintained a constant grip force while receiving visual feedback at three different visual gain levels. Relative to controls, ASD participants showed increased force variability, especially at high gain, and reduced entropy. Brain activation was greater in individuals with ASD than controls in supplementary motor area, bilateral superior parietal lobules, and contralateral middle frontal gyrus at high gain. During motor action, functional connectivity was reduced between parietal‐premotor and parietal‐putamen in individuals with ASD compared to controls. Individuals with ASD also showed greater age‐associated increases in functional connectivity between cerebellum and visual, motor, and prefrontal cortical areas relative to controls. These results indicate that visuomotor deficits in ASD are associated with atypical activation and functional connectivity of posterior parietal, premotor, and striatal circuits involved in translating sensory feedback information into precision motor behaviors, and that functional connectivity of cerebellar–cortical sensorimotor and nonsensorimotor networks show delayed maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Lepping
- Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Walker S McKinney
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, Clinical Child Psychology Program, and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Grant C Magnon
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sarah K Keedy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Stephen A Coombes
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David E Vaillancourt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, Clinical Child Psychology Program, and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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5
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Parmar KR, Porter CS, Dickinson CM, Pelham J, Baimbridge P, Gowen E. Visual Sensory Experiences From the Viewpoint of Autistic Adults. Front Psychol 2021; 12:633037. [PMID: 34168586 PMCID: PMC8217662 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although previous research has investigated altered sensory reactivity in autistic individuals, there has been no specific focus on visual sensory experiences, particularly in adults. Using qualitative methods, this study aimed to characterize autistic visual sensory symptoms, contextualize their impact and document any associated coping strategies. A total of 18 autistic adults took part in four focus groups which involved questions around visual experiences, the impact of these on daily life, and strategies for their reduction. Transcripts of each session were thematically analyzed allocating six key themes. Participants described a range of visual hypersensitivities, including to light, motion, patterns and particular colors, which contributed to distraction and were frequently part of a wider multisensory issue. Such experiences had significant negative impacts on personal wellbeing and daily life with participants describing fatigue, stress and hindrances on day-to-day activities (e.g., travel and social activities). However, the degree of understanding that participants had about their visual experiences influenced their emotional response, with greater understanding reducing concern. Participants employed a variety of coping strategies to overcome visual sensory experiences but with varied success. Discussions also highlighted that there may be a poor public understanding of sensory issues in autism affecting how well autistic individuals are able manage their sensory symptoms. In summary, autistic adults expressed significant concern about their visual experiences and there is a need to improve understanding of visual experiences on a personal and public level as well as for developing potential support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan R Parmar
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine S Porter
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christine M Dickinson
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - James Pelham
- Greater Manchester Autism Consortium, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Autscape, Coventry, United Kingdom.,Autism@Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Baimbridge
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Autism@Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Salfordautism, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Gowen
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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6
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Tschida JE, Yerys BE. A Systematic Review of the Positive Valence System in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuropsychol Rev 2020; 31:58-88. [PMID: 33174110 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09459-z] [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: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This review synthesized current literature of behavioral and cognitive studies targeting reward processing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Positive Valence System (PVS) domain was used as an overarching framework. The objectives were to determine which component operations of reward processing may be atypical in ASD and consequently postulate a heuristic model of reward processing in ASD that could be evaluated with future research. 34 studies were identified from the Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases and included in the review using guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (also known as PRISMA guidelines). The extant literature suggested potential relationships between social symptoms of ASD and PVS sub-constructs of reward anticipation, probabilistic and reinforcement learning, reward prediction error, reward (probability), delay, and effort as well as between restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) and PVS-sub constructs of initial response to reward, reward anticipation, reward (probability), delay, and effort. However, these findings are limited by a sparse and mixed literature for some sub-constructs. We put forward a developmentally informed heuristic model that posits how these component reward processes may be implicated in early ASD behaviors as well as later emerging and more intransigent symptoms. Future research is needed to comprehensively evaluate the proposed model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Tschida
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research Building, Center for Autism Research, 2716 South Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, USA.
| | - Benjamin E Yerys
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research Building, Center for Autism Research, 2716 South Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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7
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Webster PJ, Frum C, Kurowski-Burt A, Bauer CE, Wen S, Ramadan JH, Baker KA, Lewis JW. Processing of Real-World, Dynamic Natural Stimuli in Autism is Linked to Corticobasal Function. Autism Res 2020; 13:539-549. [PMID: 31944557 PMCID: PMC7418054 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to perceive everyday sensory information differently compared to peers without autism. Research examining these sensory differences has primarily utilized nonnatural stimuli or natural stimuli using static photos with few having utilized dynamic, real-world nonverbal stimuli. Therefore, in this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to characterize brain activation of individuals with high-functioning autism when viewing and listening to a video of a real-world scene (a person bouncing a ball) and anticipating the bounce. We investigated both multisensory and unisensory processing and hypothesized that individuals with ASD would show differential activation in (a) primary auditory and visual sensory cortical and association areas, and in (b) cortical and subcortical regions where auditory and visual information is integrated (e.g. temporal-parietal junction, pulvinar, superior colliculus). Contrary to our hypotheses, the whole-brain analysis revealed similar activation between the groups in these brain regions. However, compared to controls the ASD group showed significant hypoactivation in the left intraparietal sulcus and left putamen/globus pallidus. We theorize that this hypoactivation reflected underconnectivity for mediating spatiotemporal processing of the visual biological motion stimuli with the task demands of anticipating the timing of the bounce event. The paradigm thus may have tapped into a specific left-lateralized aberrant corticobasal circuit or loop involved in initiating or inhibiting motor responses. This was consistent with a dual "when versus where" psychophysical model of corticobasal function, which may reflect core differences in sensory processing of real-world, nonverbal natural stimuli in ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 539-549. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: To understand how individuals with autism perceive the real-world, using magnetic resonance imaging we examined brain activation in individuals with autism while watching a video of someone bouncing a basketball. Those with autism had similar activation to controls in auditory and visual sensory brain regions, but less activation in an area that processes information about body movements and in a region involved in modulating movements. These areas are important for understanding the actions of others and developing social skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula J Webster
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Chris Frum
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Amy Kurowski-Burt
- Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Human Performance, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Christopher E Bauer
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Sijin Wen
- Department of Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Jad H Ramadan
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Kathryn A Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - James W Lewis
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
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8
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Greene RK, Zheng S, Kinard JL, Mosner MG, Wiesen CA, Kennedy DP, Dichter GS. Social and nonsocial visual prediction errors in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2019; 12:878-883. [PMID: 30802365 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Impaired predictive coding has been proposed as a framework to explain discrepancies between expectations and outcomes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may contribute to core symptoms of the disorder. However, no eye tracking study has directly addressed this framework in the context of visual predictions of social and nonsocial stimuli. The current study used eye tracking to examine violations of learned visual associations of both social and nonsocial stimuli. Twenty-six adolescents with ASD and 18 typically developing control (TDC) adolescents completed an outcome expectation eye tracking task in which predictive cues correctly (80% of trials) or incorrectly (20% of trials) indicated the location (left or right) of forthcoming social or nonsocial stimuli. During violation trials, individuals with ASD focused their gaze relatively more often on stimuli presented on locations that violated the learned association and less often on locations that corresponded with the learned association. This finding was not moderated by stimulus type (i.e., social vs. nonsocial). Additionally, participants who looked at incorrectly predicted locations more often had significantly greater ASD symptom severity. These results are consistent with theories that characterize ASD as a disorder of prediction and have potential implications for understanding symptoms related to prediction errors in individuals with ASD. Autism Res 2019, 12: 878-883. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit impairments making predictions that may impact learning. In this study, we used eye tracking methodology and found that individuals with ASD were less likely to look at the predicted location when a visual routine was violated. This pattern was evident for both social and nonsocial images and was associated with greater ASD symptom severity. These findings provide additional support for predictive challenges in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Greene
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Shuting Zheng
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Jessica L Kinard
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Maya G Mosner
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Christopher A Wiesen
- The Odum Institute, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Daniel P Kennedy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Gabriel S Dichter
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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9
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A rightward saccade to an unexpected stimulus as a marker for lateralised visuospatial attention. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7562. [PMID: 29765090 PMCID: PMC5954050 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25890-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The human brain is lateralised to the right for visuospatial attention, particularly when reorienting attention to unexpected stimuli. However, the developmental characteristics of lateralisation remain unclear. To address this question, we devised a saccade task applicable for both adults and children. To assess the utility of this system, we investigated the correlation between line bisection test performance and the saccade task for 54 healthy adult volunteers. Participants followed a visual target that jumped 10 times, alternating between two fixed positions across the midline with a constant pace. In both the rightward and leftward directions, saccadic reaction time (RT) to the target jump decreased and reached a plateau from the first to the tenth jumps. Furthermore, we obtained the time required for reorienting in the contralateral hemisphere using the corrected value of the first RT. We found that longer corrected RTs in the rightward saccade were associated with greater deviation to the left in the line bisection task. This correlation was not observed for leftward saccades. Thus, corrected RTs in rightward saccades reflected the strength of individual hemispheric lateralisation. In conclusion, the rightward saccade task provides a suitable marker for lateralised visuospatial attention, and for investigating the development of lateralisation.
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10
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Schmitt LM, White SP, Cook EH, Sweeney JA, Mosconi MW. Cognitive mechanisms of inhibitory control deficits in autism spectrum disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2018; 59:586-595. [PMID: 29052841 PMCID: PMC5906199 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhibitory control deficits are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and associated with more severe repetitive behaviors. Inhibitory control deficits may reflect slower execution of stopping processes, or a reduced ability to delay the onset of behavioral responses in contexts of uncertainty. Previous studies have documented relatively spared stopping processes in ASD, but whether inhibitory control deficits in ASD reflect failures to delay response onset has not been systematically assessed. Further, while improvements in stopping abilities and response slowing are seen through adolescence/early adulthood in health, their development in ASD is less clear. METHODS A stop-signal test (SST) was administered to 121 individuals with ASD and 76 age and IQ-matched healthy controls (ages 5-28). This test included 'GO trials' in which participants pressed a button when a peripheral target appeared and interleaved 'STOP trials' in which they were cued to inhibit button-presses when a stop-signal appeared at variable times following the GO cue. STOP trial accuracy, RT of the stopping process (SSRT), and reaction time (RT) slowing during GO trials were examined. RESULTS Relative to controls, individuals with ASD had reduced accuracy on STOP trials. SSRTs were similar across control and ASD participants, but RT slowing was reduced in patients compared to controls. Age-related increases in stopping ability and RT slowing were attenuated in ASD. Reduced stopping accuracy and RT slowing were associated with more severe repetitive behaviors in ASD. DISCUSSION Our findings show that inhibitory control deficits in ASD involve failures to strategically delay behavioral response onset. These results suggest that reduced preparatory behavioral control may underpin inhibitory control deficits as well as repetitive behaviors in ASD. Typical age-related improvements in inhibitory control during late childhood/early adolescence are reduced in ASD, highlighting an important developmental window during which treatments may mitigate cognitive alterations contributing to repetitive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Schmitt
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas,Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (KCART), University of Kansas Medical School,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati
| | - Stormi P. White
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Edwin H. Cook
- Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois at Chicago
| | - John A. Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati
| | - Matthew W. Mosconi
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas,Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (KCART), University of Kansas Medical School
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11
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Atypical structural and functional motor networks in autism. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2018; 238:207-248. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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12
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Shen B, Wang ZR, Wang XP. The Fast Spiking Subpopulation of Striatal Neurons Coding for Temporal Cognition of Movements. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:406. [PMID: 29326553 PMCID: PMC5736568 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Timing dysfunctions occur in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Several lines of evidence show that disrupted timing processing is involved in specific fronto-striatal abnormalities. The striatum encodes reinforcement learning and procedural motion, and consequently is required to represent temporal information precisely, which then guides actions in proper sequence. Previous studies highlighted the temporal scaling property of timing-relevant striatal neurons; however, it is still unknown how this is accomplished over short temporal latencies, such as the sub-seconds to seconds range. Methods: We designed a task with a series of timing behaviors that required rats to reproduce a fixed duration with robust action. Using chronic multichannel electrode arrays, we recorded neural activity from dorso-medial striatum in 4 rats performing the task and identified modulation response of each neuron to different events. Cell type classification was performed according to a multi-criteria clustering analysis. Results: Dorso-medial striatal neurons (n = 557) were recorded, of which 113 single units were considered as timing-relevant neurons, especially the fast-spiking subpopulation that had trial-to-trial ramping up or ramping down firing modulation during the time estimation period. Furthermore, these timing-relevant striatal neurons had to calibrate the spread of their firing pattern by rewarded experience to express the timing behavior accurately. Conclusion: Our data suggests that the dynamic activities of timing-relevant units encode information about the current duration and recent outcomes, which is needed to predict and drive the following action. These results reveal the potential mechanism of time calibration in a short temporal resolution, which may help to explain the neural basis of motor coordination affected by certain physiological or pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Shen
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tong-Ren Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zuo-Ren Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tong-Ren Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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13
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Zwart FS, Vissers CTWM, Kessels RPC, Maes JHR. Procedural learning across the lifespan: A systematic review with implications for atypical development. J Neuropsychol 2017; 13:149-182. [DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fenny S. Zwart
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour; Radboud University; Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Constance Th. W. M. Vissers
- Behavioural Science Institute; Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Royal Dutch Kentalis; Sint-Michielsgestel The Netherlands
| | - Roy P. C. Kessels
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour; Radboud University; Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Psychology; Radboud University Medical Center; Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry; Venray The Netherlands
| | - Joseph H. R. Maes
- Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour; Radboud University; Nijmegen The Netherlands
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14
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Johnson BP, Lum JAG, Rinehart NJ, Fielding J. Ocular motor disturbances in autism spectrum disorders: Systematic review and comprehensive meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 69:260-79. [PMID: 27527824 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
There has been considerable focus placed on how individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) visually perceive and attend to social information, such as facial expressions or social gaze. The role of eye movements is inextricable from visual perception, however this aspect is often overlooked. We performed a series of meta-analyses based on data from 28 studies of eye movements in ASD to determine whether there is evidence for ocular motor dysfunction in ASD. Tasks assessed included visually-guided saccade tasks, gap/overlap, anti-saccade, pursuit tasks and ocular fixation. These analyses revealed evidence for ocular motor dysfunction in ASD, specifically relating to saccade dysmetria, difficulty inhibiting saccades and impaired tracking of moving targets. However there was no evidence for deficits relating to initiating eye movements, or engaging and disengaging from simple visual targets. Characterizing ocular motor abnormalities in ASD may provide insight into the functional integrity of brain networks in ASD across development, and assist our understanding of visual and social attention in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth P Johnson
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, 18 Innovation Walk, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Jarrad A G Lum
- Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin Unviersity, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Nicole J Rinehart
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, 18 Innovation Walk, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia; Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin Unviersity, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Joanne Fielding
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, 18 Innovation Walk, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia
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15
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Floris DL, Barber AD, Nebel MB, Martinelli M, Lai MC, Crocetti D, Baron-Cohen S, Suckling J, Pekar JJ, Mostofsky SH. Atypical lateralization of motor circuit functional connectivity in children with autism is associated with motor deficits. Mol Autism 2016; 7:35. [PMID: 27429731 PMCID: PMC4946094 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-016-0096-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Atypical lateralization of language-related functions has been repeatedly found in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Few studies have, however, investigated deviations from typically occurring asymmetry of other lateralized cognitive and behavioural domains. Motor deficits are among the earliest and most prominent symptoms in individuals with ASC and precede core social and communicative symptoms. Methods Here, we investigate whether motor circuit connectivity is (1) atypically lateralized in children with ASC and (2) whether this relates to core autistic symptoms and motor performance. Participants comprised 44 right-handed high-functioning children with autism (36 males, 8 females) and 80 typically developing control children (58 males, 22 females) matched on age, sex and performance IQ. We examined lateralization of functional motor circuit connectivity based on homotopic seeds derived from peak activations during a finger tapping paradigm. Motor performance was assessed using the Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle Signs (PANESS). Results Children with ASC showed rightward lateralization in mean motor circuit connectivity compared to typically developing children, and this was associated with poorer performance on all three PANESS measures. Conclusions Our findings reveal that atypical lateralization in ASC is not restricted to language functions but is also present in circuits subserving motor functions and may underlie motor deficits in children with ASC. Future studies should investigate whether this is an age-invariant finding extending to adolescents and adults and whether these asymmetries relate to atypical lateralization in the language domain. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-016-0096-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea L Floris
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Child Study Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Anita D Barber
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Mary Beth Nebel
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Mary Martinelli
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ; Child, Youth and Family Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK ; National Institute of Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK ; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John Suckling
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK ; National Institute of Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK ; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK ; Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James J Pekar
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, USA ; Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
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16
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Carson TB, Wilkes BJ, Patel K, Pineda JL, Ko JH, Newell KM, Bodfish JW, Schubert MC, Radonovich K, White KD, Lewis MH. Vestibulo-ocular reflex function in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Autism Res 2016; 10:251-266. [PMID: 27220548 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Sensorimotor processing alterations are a growing focus in the assessment and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The rotational vestibulo-ocular reflex (rVOR), which functions to maintain stable vision during head movements, is a sensorimotor system that may be useful in understanding such alterations and their underlying neurobiology. In this study, we assessed post-rotary nystagmus elicited by continuous whole body rotation among children with high-functioning ASD and typically developing children. Children with ASD exhibited increased rVOR gain, the ratio of eye velocity to head velocity, indicating a possible lack of cerebellar inhibitory input to brainstem vestibular nuclei in this population. The ASD group also showed less regular or periodic horizontal eye movements as indexed by greater variance accounted for by multiple higher frequency bandwidths as well as greater entropy scores compared to typically developing children. The decreased regularity or dysrhythmia in the temporal structure of nystagmus beats in children with ASD may be due to alterations in cerebellum and brainstem circuitry. These findings could potentially serve as a model to better understand the functional effects of differences in these brain structures in ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 251-266. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tana B Carson
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Bradley J Wilkes
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Kunal Patel
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Jill L Pineda
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Ji H Ko
- Department of Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Karl M Newell
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - James W Bodfish
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Michael C Schubert
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Keith D White
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Mark H Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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17
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Izadi-Najafabadi S, Mirzakhani-Araghi N, Miri-Lavasani N, Nejati V, Pashazadeh-Azari Z. Implicit and explicit motor learning: Application to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2015; 47:284-296. [PMID: 26458260 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2015.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aims to determine whether children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are capable of learning a motor skill both implicitly and explicitly. METHODS In the present study, 30 boys with ASD, aged 7-11 with IQ average of 81.2, were compared with 32 typical IQ- and age-matched boys on their performance on a serial reaction time task (SRTT). Children were grouped by ASD and typical children and by implicit and explicit learning groups for the SRTT. RESULTS Implicit motor learning occurred in both children with ASD (p=.02) and typical children (p=.01). There were no significant differences between groups (p=.39). However, explicit motor learning was only observed in typical children (p=.01) not children with ASD (p=.40). There was a significant difference between groups for explicit learning (p=.01). DISCUSSION The results of our study showed that implicit motor learning is not affected in children with ASD. Implications for implicit and explicit learning are applied to the CO-OP approach of motor learning with children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Izadi-Najafabadi
- Biomechanics and Movement Science, Physical Therapy Department, Move to Learn Lab, University of Delaware, 540 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
| | - Navid Mirzakhani-Araghi
- Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Damavand Street, Emam Hosein Square, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Negar Miri-Lavasani
- Deakin University, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Vahid Nejati
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Daneshjoo Boulevard, Daneshjoo Square, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Zahra Pashazadeh-Azari
- Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Damavand Street, Emam Hosein Square, Tehran, Iran.
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18
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Floris DL, Lai MC, Auer T, Lombardo MV, Ecker C, Chakrabarti B, Wheelwright SJ, Bullmore ET, Murphy DGM, Baron-Cohen S, Suckling J. Atypically rightward cerebral asymmetry in male adults with autism stratifies individuals with and without language delay. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 37:230-53. [PMID: 26493275 PMCID: PMC4913747 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, both language and fine motor skills are associated with left‐hemisphere specialization, whereas visuospatial skills are associated with right‐hemisphere specialization. Individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) show a profile of deficits and strengths that involves these lateralized cognitive functions. Here we test the hypothesis that regions implicated in these functions are atypically rightward lateralized in individuals with ASC and, that such atypicality is associated with functional performance. Participants included 67 male, right‐handed adults with ASC and 69 age‐ and IQ‐matched neurotypical males. We assessed group differences in structural asymmetries in cortical regions of interest with voxel‐based analysis of grey matter volumes, followed by correlational analyses with measures of language, motor and visuospatial skills. We found stronger rightward lateralization within the inferior parietal lobule and reduced leftward lateralization extending along the auditory cortex comprising the planum temporale, Heschl's gyrus, posterior supramarginal gyrus, and parietal operculum, which was more pronounced in ASC individuals with delayed language onset compared to those without. Planned correlational analyses showed that for individuals with ASC, reduced leftward asymmetry in the auditory region was associated with more childhood social reciprocity difficulties. We conclude that atypical cerebral structural asymmetry is a potential candidate neurophenotype of ASC. Hum Brain Mapp 37:230–253, 2016. © 2015 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea L Floris
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tibor Auer
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Psychology and Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christine Ecker
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bhismadev Chakrabarti
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Sally J Wheelwright
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,National Institute of Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - John Suckling
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,National Institute of Health Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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19
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Mosconi MW, Sweeney JA. Sensorimotor dysfunctions as primary features of autism spectrum disorders. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2015; 58:1016-23. [PMID: 26335740 PMCID: PMC5304941 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-015-4894-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Motor impairments in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have received far less research attention than core social-communication and cognitive features. Yet, behavioral, neurophysiological, neuroimaging and histopathological studies have documented abnormal motor system development in the majority of individuals with ASD suggesting that these deficits may be primary to the disorder. There are several unique advantages to studying motor development in ASD. First, the neurophysiological substrates of motor skills have been well-characterized via animal and human lesion studies. Second, many of the single- gene disorders associated with ASD also are characterized by motor dysfunctions. Third, recent evidence suggests that the onset of motor dysfunctions may precede the emergence of social and communication deficits during the first year of life in ASD. Motor deficits documented in ASD indicate disruptions throughout the neuroaxis affecting cortex, striatum, the cerebellum and brainstem. Questions remain regarding the timing and development of motor system alterations in ASD, their association with defining clinical features, and their potential for parsing heterogeneity in ASD. Pursuing these questions through neurobiologically informed translational research holds great promise for identifying gene-brain pathways associated with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Mosconi
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390-9086, USA.
| | - John A Sweeney
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390-9086, USA
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20
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Kern JK, Geier DA, Sykes LK, Geier MR, Deth RC. Are ASD and ADHD a Continuum? A Comparison of Pathophysiological Similarities Between the Disorders. J Atten Disord 2015; 19:805-27. [PMID: 23074304 DOI: 10.1177/1087054712459886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to review and compare the similarities between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD with regard to symptomatology, neurological deficits, metabolic and endocrine-related conditions, and brain pathology. METHOD A comprehensive review of the relevant research literature was carried out. RESULTS A number of important similarities between ASD and ADHD were identified, including recent increases in prevalence, male-biased incidence, shared involvement of sensory processing, motor and impulse control, abnormal patterns of neural connectivity, and sleep disturbances. Studies suggest involvement of androgen metabolism, impaired methylation, and heavy metal toxicity as possible contributing factors for both disorders. CONCLUSION ASD and ADHD share a number of features and pathophysiological conditions, which suggests that the two disorders may be a continuum and have a common origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet K Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - David A Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA
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21
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Foti F, De Crescenzo F, Vivanti G, Menghini D, Vicari S. Implicit learning in individuals with autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med 2015; 45:897-910. [PMID: 25126858 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291714001950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by social communication difficulties and behavioural rigidity. Difficulties in learning from others are one of the most devastating features of this group of conditions. Nevertheless, the nature of learning difficulties in ASDs is still unclear. Given the relevance of implicit learning for social and communicative functioning, a link has been hypothesized between ASDs and implicit learning deficit. However, studies that have employed formal testing of implicit learning in ASDs provided mixed results. METHOD We undertook a systematic search of studies that examined implicit learning in ASDs using serial reaction time (SRT), alternating serial reaction time (ASRT), pursuit rotor (PR), and contextual cueing (CC) tasks, and synthesized the data using meta-analysis. A total of 11 studies were identified, representing data from 407 individuals with ASDs and typically developing comparison participants. RESULTS The results indicate that individuals with ASDs do not differ in any task considered [SRT and ASRT task: standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.71 to 0.36; PR task: SMD -0.34, 95% CI -1.04 to 0.36; CC task: SMD 0.27, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.60]. CONCLUSIONS Based on our synthesis of the existing literature, we conclude that individuals with ASDs can learn implicitly, supporting the hypothesis that implicit learning deficits do not represent a core feature in ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Foti
- Department of Psychology,'Sapienza' University of Rome,Italy
| | - F De Crescenzo
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department,'Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu',Rome,Italy
| | - G Vivanti
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science,La Trobe University,Melbourne, VIC,Australia
| | - D Menghini
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department,'Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu',Rome,Italy
| | - S Vicari
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department,'Children's Hospital Bambino Gesu',Rome,Italy
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22
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Conson M, Mazzarella E, Esposito D, Grossi D, Marino N, Massagli A, Frolli A. "Put Myself Into Your Place": Embodied Simulation and Perspective Taking in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Res 2015; 8:454-66. [PMID: 25663550 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Embodied cognition theories hold that cognitive processes are grounded in bodily states. Embodied processes in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have classically been investigated in studies on imitation. Several observations suggested that unlike typical individuals who are able of copying the model's actions from the model's position, individuals with ASD tend to reenact the model's actions from their own egocentric perspective. Here, we performed two behavioral experiments to directly test the ability of ASD individuals to adopt another person's point of view. In Experiment 1, participants had to explicitly judge the left/right location of a target object in a scene from their own or the actor's point of view (visual perspective taking task). In Experiment 2, participants had to perform left/right judgments on front-facing or back-facing human body images (own body transformation task). Both tasks can be solved by mentally simulating one's own body motion to imagine oneself transforming into the position of another person (embodied simulation strategy), or by resorting to visual/spatial processes, such as mental object rotation (nonembodied strategy). Results of both experiments showed that individual with ASD solved the tasks mainly relying on a nonembodied strategy, whereas typical controls adopted an embodied strategy. Moreover, in the visual perspective taking task ASD participants had more difficulties than controls in inhibiting other-perspective when directed to keep one's own point of view. These findings suggested that, in social cognitive tasks, individuals with ASD do not resort to embodied simulation and have difficulties in cognitive control over self- and other-perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Conson
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Mazzarella
- Department of Neuromotor Physiology, Scientific Institute Foundation Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Dalila Esposito
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. "Eugenio Medea" Regional Branch of Ostuni, Brindisi Department of Neurorehabilitation 2, Child Psychiatry, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Dario Grossi
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Marino
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Angelo Massagli
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. "Eugenio Medea" Regional Branch of Ostuni, Brindisi Department of Neurorehabilitation 2, Child Psychiatry, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Alessandro Frolli
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
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23
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Orekhova EV, Stroganova TA. Arousal and attention re-orienting in autism spectrum disorders: evidence from auditory event-related potentials. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:34. [PMID: 24567709 PMCID: PMC3915101 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The extended phenotype of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) includes a combination of arousal regulation problems, sensory modulation difficulties, and attention re-orienting deficit. A slow and inefficient re-orienting to stimuli that appear outside of the attended sensory stream is thought to be especially detrimental for social functioning. Event-related potentials (ERPs) and magnetic fields (ERFs) may help to reveal which processing stages underlying brain response to unattended but salient sensory event are affected in individuals with ASD. Previous research focusing on two sequential stages of the brain response-automatic detection of physical changes in auditory stream, indexed by mismatch negativity (MMN), and evaluation of stimulus novelty, indexed by P3a component,-found in individuals with ASD either increased, decreased, or normal processing of deviance and novelty. The review examines these apparently conflicting results, notes gaps in previous findings, and suggests a potentially unifying hypothesis relating the dampened responses to unattended sensory events to the deficit in rapid arousal process. Specifically, "sensory gating" studies focused on pre-attentive arousal consistently demonstrated that brain response to unattended and temporally novel sound in ASD is already affected at around 100 ms after stimulus onset. We hypothesize that abnormalities in nicotinic cholinergic arousal pathways, previously reported in individuals with ASD, may contribute to these ERP/ERF aberrations and result in attention re-orienting deficit. Such cholinergic dysfunction may be present in individuals with ASD early in life and can influence both sensory processing and attention re-orienting behavior. Identification of early neurophysiological biomarkers for cholinergic deficit would help to detect infants "at risk" who can potentially benefit from particular types of therapies or interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Orekhova
- MEG Centre, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education Moscow, Russia ; MedTech West, Sahlgrenska Academy Gothenburg, Sweden
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Cygan HB, Tacikowski P, Ostaszewski P, Chojnicka I, Nowicka A. Neural correlates of own name and own face detection in autism spectrum disorder. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86020. [PMID: 24465847 PMCID: PMC3899112 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition clinically characterized by social interaction and communication difficulties. To date, the majority of research efforts have focused on brain mechanisms underlying the deficits in interpersonal social cognition associated with ASD. Recent empirical and theoretical work has begun to reveal evidence for a reduced or even absent self-preference effect in patients with ASD. One may hypothesize that this is related to the impaired attentional processing of self-referential stimuli. The aim of our study was to test this hypothesis. We investigated the neural correlates of face and name detection in ASD. Four categories of face/name stimuli were used: own, close-other, famous, and unknown. Event-related potentials were recorded from 62 electrodes in 23 subjects with ASD and 23 matched control subjects. P100, N170, and P300 components were analyzed. The control group clearly showed a significant self-preference effect: higher P300 amplitude to the presentation of own face and own name than to the close-other, famous, and unknown categories, indicating preferential attentional engagement in processing of self-related information. In contrast, detection of both own and close-other's face and name in the ASD group was associated with enhanced P300, suggesting similar attention allocation for self and close-other related information. These findings suggest that attention allocation in the ASD group is modulated by the personal significance factor, and that the self-preference effect is absent if self is compared to close-other. These effects are similar for physical and non-physical aspects of the autistic self. In addition, lateralization of face and name processing is attenuated in ASD, suggesting atypical brain organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna B. Cygan
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Neurophysiology, Laboratory of Psychophysiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Tacikowski
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Neurophysiology, Laboratory of Psychophysiology, Warsaw, Poland
- Karolinska Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Brain, Body and Self Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pawel Ostaszewski
- University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Psychology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Izabela Chojnicka
- Medical University of Warsaw, Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Nowicka
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Neurophysiology, Laboratory of Psychophysiology, Warsaw, Poland
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Wang J, Barstein J, Ethridge LE, Mosconi MW, Takarae Y, Sweeney JA. Resting state EEG abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders. J Neurodev Disord 2013; 5:24. [PMID: 24040879 PMCID: PMC3847481 DOI: 10.1186/1866-1955-5-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of complex and heterogeneous developmental disorders involving multiple neural system dysfunctions. In an effort to understand neurophysiological substrates, identify etiopathophysiologically distinct subgroups of patients, and track outcomes of novel treatments with translational biomarkers, EEG (electroencephalography) studies offer a promising research strategy in ASD. Resting-state EEG studies of ASD suggest a U-shaped profile of electrophysiological power alterations, with excessive power in low-frequency and high-frequency bands, abnormal functional connectivity, and enhanced power in the left hemisphere of the brain. In this review, we provide a summary of recent findings, discuss limitations in available research that may contribute to inconsistencies in the literature, and offer suggestions for future research in this area for advancing the understanding of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jamie Barstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lauren E Ethridge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yukari Takarae
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA.,Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia
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Cardinale RC, Shih P, Fishman I, Ford LM, Müller RA. Pervasive rightward asymmetry shifts of functional networks in autism spectrum disorder. JAMA Psychiatry 2013; 70:975-82. [PMID: 23903586 PMCID: PMC4153832 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a brain-based pervasive developmental disorder, which-by growing consensus-is associated with abnormal organization of functional networks. Several previous studies of ASD have indicated atypical hemispheric asymmetries for language. OBJECTIVE To examine the asymmetry of functional networks using a data-driven approach for a comprehensive investigation of hemispheric asymmetry in ASD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study involved 24 children with ASD and 26 matched typically developing children at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. Data from 10 children had to be excluded for excessive motion, resulting in final samples of 20 participants per group. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Asymmetry indices of functional networks identified from independent component analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. RESULTS Temporal concatenation independent component analysis, performed separately in each group, showed significant group differences in asymmetry indices for 10 out of 17 functional networks. Without exception, these networks (visual, auditory, motor, executive, language, and attentional) showed atypical rightward asymmetry shifts in the ASD group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Atypical rightward asymmetry may be a pervasive feature of functional brain organization in ASD, affecting sensorimotor, as well as higher cognitive, domains.
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Abnormal pre-attentive arousal in young children with autism spectrum disorder contributes to their atypical auditory behavior: an ERP study. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69100. [PMID: 23935931 PMCID: PMC3723785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Auditory sensory modulation difficulties and problems with automatic re-orienting to sound are well documented in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Abnormal preattentive arousal processes may contribute to these deficits. In this study, we investigated components of the cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) reflecting preattentive arousal in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children aged 3-8 years. Pairs of clicks (‘S1’ and ‘S2’) separated by a 1 sec S1-S2 interstimulus interval (ISI) and much longer (8-10 sec) S1-S1 ISIs were presented monaurally to either the left or right ear. In TD children, the P50, P100 and N1c CAEP components were strongly influenced by temporal novelty of clicks and were much greater in response to the S1 than the S2 click. Irrespective of the stimulation side, the ‘tangential’ P100 component was rightward lateralized in TD children, whereas the ‘radial’ N1c component had higher amplitude contralaterally to the stimulated ear. Compared to the TD children, children with ASD demonstrated 1) reduced amplitude of the P100 component under the condition of temporal novelty (S1) and 2) an attenuated P100 repetition suppression effect. The abnormalities were lateralized and depended on the presentation side. They were evident in the case of the left but not the right ear stimulation. The P100 abnormalities in ASD correlated with the degree of developmental delay and with the severity of auditory sensory modulation difficulties observed in early life. The results suggest that some rightward-lateralized brain networks that are crucially important for arousal and attention re-orienting are compromised in children with ASD and that this deficit contributes to sensory modulation difficulties and possibly even other behavioral deficits in ASD.
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Gowen E, Hamilton A. Motor abilities in autism: a review using a computational context. J Autism Dev Disord 2013; 43:323-44. [PMID: 22723127 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1574-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Altered motor behaviour is commonly reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder, but the aetiology remains unclear. Here, we have taken a computational approach in order to break down motor control into different components and review the functioning of each process. Our findings suggest abnormalities in two areas--poor integration of information for efficient motor planning, and increased variability in basic sensory inputs and motor outputs. In contrast, motor learning processes are relatively intact and there is inconsistent evidence for deficits in predictive control. We suggest future work on motor abilities in autism should focus on sensorimotor noise and on higher level motor planning, as these seem to have a significant role in causing motor difficulties for autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Gowen
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Carys Bannister Building, Dover Street, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
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Abstract
The rise of accessible commercial eye-tracking systems has fueled a rapid increase in their use in psychological and psychiatric research. By providing a direct, detailed and objective measure of gaze behavior, eye-tracking has become a valuable tool for examining abnormal perceptual strategies in clinical populations and has been used to identify disorder-specific characteristics, promote early identification, and inform treatment. In particular, investigators of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have benefited from integrating eye-tracking into their research paradigms. Eye-tracking has largely been used in these studies to reveal mechanisms underlying impaired task performance and abnormal brain functioning, particularly during the processing of social information. While older children and adults with ASD comprise the preponderance of research in this area, eye-tracking may be especially useful for studying young children with the disorder as it offers a non-invasive tool for assessing and quantifying early-emerging developmental abnormalities. Implementing eye-tracking with young children with ASD, however, is associated with a number of unique challenges, including issues with compliant behavior resulting from specific task demands and disorder-related psychosocial considerations. In this protocol, we detail methodological considerations for optimizing research design, data acquisition and psychometric analysis while eye-tracking young children with ASD. The provided recommendations are also designed to be more broadly applicable for eye-tracking children with other developmental disabilities. By offering guidelines for best practices in these areas based upon lessons derived from our own work, we hope to help other investigators make sound research design and analysis choices while avoiding common pitfalls that can compromise data acquisition while eye-tracking young children with ASD or other developmental difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah J Sasson
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, USA.
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Cohen RG, Sternad D. State space analysis of timing: exploiting task redundancy to reduce sensitivity to timing. J Neurophysiol 2012; 107:618-27. [PMID: 22031769 PMCID: PMC3349626 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00568.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Accepted: 10/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Timing is central to many coordinated actions, and the temporal accuracy of central nervous system commands presents an important limit to skilled performance. Using target-oriented throwing in a virtual environment as an example task, this study presents a novel analysis that quantifies contributions of timing accuracy and shaping of hand trajectories to performance. Task analysis reveals that the result of a throw is fully determined by the projectile position and velocity at release; zero error can be achieved by a manifold of position and velocity combinations (solution manifold). Four predictions were tested. 1) Performers learn to release the projectile closer to the optimal moment for a given arm trajectory, achieving timing accuracy levels similar to those reported in other timing tasks (~10 ms). 2) Performers develop a hand trajectory that follows the solution manifold such that zero error can be achieved without perfect timing. 3) Skilled performers exploit both routes to improvement more than unskilled performers. 4) Long-term improvement in skilled performance relies on continued optimization of the arm trajectory as timing limits are reached. Average and skilled subjects practiced for 6 and 15 days, respectively. In 6 days, both timing and trajectory alignment improved for all subjects, and skilled subjects showed an advantage in timing. With extended practice, performance continued to improve due to continued shaping of the trajectory, whereas timing accuracy reached an asymptote at 9 ms. We conclude that skilled subjects first maximize timing accuracy and then optimize trajectory shaping to compensate for intrinsic limitations of timing accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajal G Cohen
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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Mosconi MW, Kay M, D'Cruz AM, Guter S, Kapur K, Macmillan C, Stanford LD, Sweeney JA. Neurobehavioral abnormalities in first-degree relatives of individuals with autism. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 67:830-40. [PMID: 20679591 DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Studying sensorimotor and neurocognitive impairments in unaffected family members of individuals with autism may help identify familial pathophysiological mechanisms associated with the disorder. OBJECTIVE To determine whether atypical sensorimotor or neurocognitive characteristics associated with autism are present in first-degree relatives of individuals with autism. DESIGN Case-control comparison of neurobehavioral functions. SETTING University medical center. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-seven first-degree relatives of individuals with autism and 40 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched healthy control participants (aged 8-54 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Oculomotor tests of sensorimotor responses (saccades and smooth pursuit); procedural learning and response inhibition; neuropsychological tests of motor, memory, and executive functions; and psychological measures of social behavior, communication skills, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. RESULTS On eye movement testing, family members demonstrated saccadic hypometria, reduced steady-state pursuit gain, and a higher rate of voluntary response inhibition errors relative to controls. They also showed lateralized deficits in procedural learning and open-loop pursuit gain (initial 100 milliseconds of pursuit) and increased variability in the accuracy of large-amplitude saccades that were confined to rightward movements. In neuropsychological studies, only executive functions were impaired relative to those of controls. Family members reported more communication abnormalities and obsessive-compulsive behaviors than controls. Deficits across oculomotor, neuropsychological, and psychological domains were relatively independent from one another. CONCLUSIONS Family members of individuals with autism demonstrate oculomotor abnormalities implicating pontocerebellar and frontostriatal circuits and left-lateralized alterations of frontotemporal circuitry and striatum. The left-lateralized alterations have not been identified in other neuropsychiatric disorders and are of interest given atypical brain lateralization and language development associated with the disorder. Similar oculomotor deficits have been reported in individuals with autism, suggesting that they may be familial and useful for studies of neurophysiological and genetic mechanisms in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Mosconi
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have had a profound impact on the delineation of the neurobiologic basis for autism. Advances in fMRI technology for investigating functional connectivity, resting state connectivity, and a default mode network have provided further detail about disturbances in brain organization and brain-behavior relationships in autism to be reviewed in this article. RECENT FINDINGS Recent fMRI studies have provided evidence of enhanced activation and connectivity of posterior, or parietal-occipital, networks and enhanced reliance on visuospatial abilities for visual and verbal reasoning in high functioning individuals with autism. Evidence also indicates altered activation in frontostriatal networks for cognitive control, particularly involving anterior cingulate cortex, and altered connectivity in the resting state and the default mode network. The findings suggest that the specialization of many cortical networks of the human brain has failed to develop fully in high functioning individuals with autism. SUMMARY This research provides a growing specification of to the neurobiologic basis for this complex syndrome and for the co-occurrence of the signs and symptoms as a syndrome. With this knowledge has come new neurobiologically based opportunities for intervention.
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Vattikuti S, Chow CC. A computational model for cerebral cortical dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2010; 67:672-8. [PMID: 19880095 PMCID: PMC3104404 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2009] [Revised: 09/04/2009] [Accepted: 09/09/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perturbations to the microscopic level balance between synaptic excitation and inhibition and neuron organization in the cerebral cortex are suggested to underlie autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits. The mechanism linking these perturbations to cognitive behaviors in ASD is unknown. This study strives to bridge this gap by generating clinically testable diagnostic and pharmacological predictions based on the effect of synaptic imbalance and neuron distribution on a computational local circuit model of the cerebral cortex. METHODS We use a computational microscopic model of the cerebral cortex that incorporates N-methyl-D-aspartate and gamma-aminobutyric acid synaptic kinetics. We employ the model circuit during model tasks similar to visually guided and gap oculomotor saccade tasks and interpret qualitative model predictions of saccade hypometria and dysmetria. We consider the effects of varying the excitatory to inhibitory synaptic balance, neuron density, and neuron clustering in this model. RESULTS An increase of synaptic excitation over synaptic inhibition results in increased hypometria and dysmetria. Similar effects by either reduced inhibition or increased excitation suggest that a variety of pharmacological compounds can be used for both screening and medical management. On the other hand, any change to the microscopic neuron anatomy that increases the effective maximum distance between excitatory neurons decreases hypometria but has no affect on dysmetria. CONCLUSIONS Perturbations to a computational model of a local cerebral cortical circuit can account for saccade hypometria and dysmetria reported in ASD studies. This approach may provide a direct link between cerebral cortical function and ASD behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashaank Vattikuti
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5621, USA
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