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Arutiunian V, Arcara G, Buyanova I, Fedorov M, Davydova E, Pereverzeva D, Sorokin A, Tyushkevich S, Mamokhina U, Danilina K, Dragoy O. Abnormalities in both stimulus-induced and baseline MEG alpha oscillations in the auditory cortex of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1225-1242. [PMID: 38683212 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02802-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The neurobiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is hypothetically related to the imbalance between neural excitation (E) and inhibition (I). Different studies have revealed that alpha-band (8-12 Hz) activity in magneto- and electroencephalography (MEG and EEG) may reflect E and I processes and, thus, can be of particular interest in ASD research. Previous findings indicated alterations in event-related and baseline alpha activity in different cortical systems in individuals with ASD, and these abnormalities were associated with core and co-occurring conditions of ASD. However, the knowledge on auditory alpha oscillations in this population is limited. This MEG study investigated stimulus-induced (Event-Related Desynchronization, ERD) and baseline alpha-band activity (both periodic and aperiodic) in the auditory cortex and also the relationships between these neural activities and behavioral measures of children with ASD. Ninety amplitude-modulated tones were presented to two groups of children: 20 children with ASD (5 girls, Mage = 10.03, SD = 1.7) and 20 typically developing controls (9 girls, Mage = 9.11, SD = 1.3). Children with ASD had a bilateral reduction of alpha-band ERD, reduced baseline aperiodic-adjusted alpha power, and flattened aperiodic exponent in comparison to TD children. Moreover, lower raw baseline alpha power and aperiodic offset in the language-dominant left auditory cortex were associated with better language skills of children with ASD measured in formal assessment. The findings highlighted the alterations of E / I balance metrics in response to basic auditory stimuli in children with ASD and also provided evidence for the contribution of low-level processing to language difficulties in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vardan Arutiunian
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1920 Terry Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States of America.
| | | | - Irina Buyanova
- Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Makar Fedorov
- Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Elizaveta Davydova
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
- Chair of Differential Psychology and Psychophysiology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Darya Pereverzeva
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Sorokin
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
- Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Svetlana Tyushkevich
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Uliana Mamokhina
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Kamilla Danilina
- Federal Resource Center for ASD, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
- Scientific Research and Practical Center of Pediatric Psychoneurology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Dragoy
- Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Linguistics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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2
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Neo WS, Foti D, Keehn B, Kelleher B. Resting-state EEG power differences in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:389. [PMID: 38097538 PMCID: PMC10721649 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02681-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Narrative reviews have described various resting-state EEG power differences in autism across all five canonical frequency bands, with increased power for low and high frequencies and reduced power for middle frequencies. However, these differences have yet to be quantified using effect sizes and probed robustly for consistency, which are critical next steps for clinical translation. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of published and gray literature on resting-state EEG power in autism. We performed 10 meta-analyses to synthesize and quantify differences in absolute and relative resting-state delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma EEG power in autism. We also conducted moderator analyses to determine whether demographic characteristics, methodological details, and risk-of-bias indicators might account for heterogeneous study effect sizes. Our literature search and study selection processes yielded 41 studies involving 1,246 autistic and 1,455 neurotypical individuals. Meta-analytic models of 135 effect sizes demonstrated that autistic individuals exhibited reduced relative alpha (g = -0.35) and increased gamma (absolute: g = 0.37, relative: g = 1.06) power, but similar delta (absolute: g = 0.06, relative: g = 0.10), theta (absolute: g = -0.03, relative: g = -0.15), absolute alpha (g = -0.17), and beta (absolute: g = 0.01, relative: g = 0.08) power. Substantial heterogeneity in effect sizes was observed across all absolute (I2: 36.1-81.9%) and relative (I2: 64.6-84.4%) frequency bands. Moderator analyses revealed that age, biological sex, IQ, referencing scheme, epoch duration, and use of gold-standard autism diagnostic instruments did not moderate study effect sizes. In contrast, resting-state paradigm type (eyes-closed versus eyes-open) moderated absolute beta, relative delta, and relative alpha power effect sizes, and resting-state recording duration moderated relative alpha power effect sizes. These findings support further investigation of resting-state alpha and gamma power as potential biomarkers for autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Siong Neo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Dan Foti
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Brandon Keehn
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Bridgette Kelleher
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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3
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Finn CE, Han GT, Naples AJ, Wolf JM, McPartland JC. Development of peak alpha frequency reflects a distinct trajectory of neural maturation in autistic children. Autism Res 2023; 16:2077-2089. [PMID: 37638733 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Electroencephalographic peak alpha frequency (PAF) is a marker of neural maturation that increases with age throughout childhood. Distinct maturation of PAF is observed in children with autism spectrum disorder such that PAF does not increase with age and is instead positively associated with cognitive ability. The current study clarifies and extends previous findings by characterizing the effects of age and cognitive ability on PAF between diagnostic groups in a sample of children and adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder. Resting EEG data and behavioral measures were collected from 45 autistic children and 34 neurotypical controls aged 8 to 18 years. Utilizing generalized additive models to account for nonlinear relations, we examined differences in the joint effect of age and nonverbal IQ by diagnosis as well as bivariate relations between age, nonverbal IQ, and PAF across diagnostic groups. Age was positively associated with PAF among neurotypical children but not among autistic children. In contrast, nonverbal IQ but not age was positively associated with PAF among autistic children. Models accounting for nonlinear relations revealed different developmental trajectories as a function of age and cognitive ability based on diagnostic status. Results align with prior evidence indicating that typical age-related increases in PAF are absent in autistic children and that PAF instead increases with cognitive ability in these children. Findings suggest the potential of PAF to index distinct trajectories of neural maturation in autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E Finn
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Gloria T Han
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Adam J Naples
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Julie M Wolf
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - James C McPartland
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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4
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Ambarchi Z, Boulton KA, Thapa R, Thomas EE, DeMayo MM, Sasson NJ, Hickie IB, Guastella AJ. Evidence of a reduced role for circumscribed interests in the social attention patterns of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:3999-4011. [PMID: 35927513 PMCID: PMC10499676 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05638-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Reduced social attention is characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It has been suggested to result from an early onset and excessive influence of circumscribed interests (CIs) on gaze behaviour, compared to typically developing (TYP) individuals. To date, these findings have been mixed. The current eye-tracking study utilised a visual preference paradigm to investigate the influence of CI versus non-CI objects on attention patterns in children with ASD (aged 3-12 years, n = 37) and their age-matched TYP peers (n = 30). Compared to TYP, social and object attention was reduced in the ASD group irrespective of the presence of CIs. Results suggest a reduced role for CIs and extend recent evidence of atypical attention patterns across social and non-social domains in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Ambarchi
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - K A Boulton
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - R Thapa
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - E E Thomas
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - M M DeMayo
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - N J Sasson
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, USA
| | - I B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia.
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Crasta JE, Jacoby EC. The Effect of Attention on Auditory Processing in Adults on the Autism Spectrum. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06040-4. [PMID: 37349596 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06040-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the effect of attention on auditory processing in autistic individuals. Electroencephalography data were recorded during two attention conditions (passive and active) from 24 autistic adults and 24 neurotypical controls, ages 17-30 years. The passive condition involved only listening to the clicks and the active condition involved a button press following single clicks in a modified paired-click paradigm. Participants completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Social Responsiveness Scale 2. The autistic group showed delayed N1 latencies and reduced evoked and phase-locked gamma power compared to neurotypical peers across both clicks and conditions. Longer N1 latencies and reduced gamma synchronization predicted greater social and sensory symptoms. Directing attention to auditory stimuli may be associated with more typical neural auditory processing in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jewel E Crasta
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
- Occupational Therapy, The Ohio State University, 453 W 10th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Erica C Jacoby
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
- , Miamisburg, USA
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6
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Zhang S, Chen D, Tang Y, Li X. Learning graph-based relationship of dual-modal features towards subject adaptive ASD assessment. Neurocomputing 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucom.2022.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Desaunay P, Clochon P, Doidy F, Hinault T, Lambrechts A, Wantzen P, Wallois F, Mahmoudzadeh M, Guile JM, Guénolé F, Baleyte JM, Eustache F, Bowler DM, Guillery-Girard B. Intact memory storage but impaired retrieval in visual memory in autism: New insights from an electrophysiological study. Autism Res 2023; 16:99-105. [PMID: 36317823 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
In a recent study on visual episodic memory (Desaunay, Clochon, et al., 2020), we have shown event-related potentials (ERPs) differences associated with priming (150-300 msec), familiarity (350-470 msec), and recollection (600-700 msec), in young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared with typical development (TD). To go further into the study of the processes of storage and retrieval of the memory trace, we re-analyzed Desaunay, Clochon, et al's data using time-frequency analysis, that is, event-related synchronization and desynchronization (ERS/ERD). This allows a decomposition of the spectral power within frequency bands associated with these ERPs. We focused both on the same time windows and the same regions of interest as previously published. We mainly identified, in ASD compared with TD, reduced ERS in low-frequencies (delta, theta) in early time-windows, and non-significant differences in ERD in higher frequencies (alpha, beta1) in all time-windows. Reduced ERS during recognition confirmed previously reported diminution of priming effects and difficulties in manipulation and retrieval of both semantic and episodic information. Conversely, preserved ERD corroborates a preservation of memory storage processes. These observations are consistent with a cognitive model of memory in ASD, that suggests difficulties in cognitive operations or executive demand at retrieval, subsequent to successful long-term storage of information. LAY SUMMARY: We assessed the EEG synchronization and desynchronization, during visual episodic recognition. We observed, in youth with Autism, reduced synchronization in low-frequencies (delta, theta), suggesting reduced access to and manipulation of long-term stored information. By contrast, non-significant differences in desynchronization at higher frequencies (alpha, beta frequency bands), that support long-term stored semantic and episodic information, suggested preserved memory traces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Desaunay
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Patrice Clochon
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Franck Doidy
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Thomas Hinault
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Anna Lambrechts
- Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, London, UK
| | - Prany Wantzen
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Fabrice Wallois
- Picardie Univ, INSERM, U 1105, CHU Amiens, groupe de recherches sur l'analyse multimodale de la fonction cérébrale, Amiens, France
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudzadeh
- Picardie Univ, INSERM, U 1105, CHU Amiens, groupe de recherches sur l'analyse multimodale de la fonction cérébrale, Amiens, France
| | - Jean-Marc Guile
- Picardie Univ, INSERM, U 1105, CHU Amiens, groupe de recherches sur l'analyse multimodale de la fonction cérébrale, Amiens, France
| | - Fabian Guénolé
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Jean-Marc Baleyte
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Hôpital Universitaire de Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Francis Eustache
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Dermot M Bowler
- Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, London, UK
| | - Bérengère Guillery-Girard
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
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8
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Boxhoorn S, Schütz M, Mühlherr AM, Mössinger H, Luckhardt C, Freitag CM. The effect of perceptual expectation on processing gain, attention and the perceptual decision bias in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Sci Rep 2022; 12:21688. [PMID: 36522414 PMCID: PMC9755142 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25971-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceptual expectations influence perception, attention and the perceptual decision bias during visuospatial orienting, which is impaired in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this study, we investigated whether during visuospatial orienting, perceptual expectations in ASD differentially influence perception, attention and the perceptual decision bias relative to neurotypical controls (NT). Twenty-three children and adolescents with ASD and 23 NT completed a visuospatial orienting task, which compared the effect of a valid relative to an invalid perceptual expectation on target detection (cue validity effect). Group differences were calculated regarding the cue validity effect on neural correlates of processing gain (N1a amplitude) and attention (N1pc amplitude), the perceptual decision bias and mean reaction time (RT). In ASD relative to NT, findings showed a reduced processing gain for validly relative to invalidly cued targets and increased attentional response following invalidly relative to validly cued targets. Increased attention correlated with faster performance across groups. Increased processing correlated with a higher perceptual decision bias and faster mean RT in NT, but not in ASD. Results suggest that during visuospatial orienting, perceptual expectations in ASD may drive changes in sensory processing and stimulus-driven attention, which may differentially guide behavioural responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Boxhoorn
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Deutschordenstraße 50, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Magdalena Schütz
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Deutschordenstraße 50, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas M. Mühlherr
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Deutschordenstraße 50, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hannah Mössinger
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Deutschordenstraße 50, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christina Luckhardt
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Deutschordenstraße 50, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christine M. Freitag
- grid.7839.50000 0004 1936 9721Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Deutschordenstraße 50, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Intellectually able adults with autism spectrum disorder show typical resting-state EEG activity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19016. [PMID: 36347938 PMCID: PMC9643446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22597-z] [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: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is broad interest in discovering quantifiable physiological biomarkers for psychiatric disorders to aid diagnostic assessment. However, finding biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has proven particularly difficult, partly due to high heterogeneity. Here, we recorded five minutes eyes-closed rest electroencephalography (EEG) from 186 adults (51% with ASD and 49% without ASD) and investigated the potential of EEG biomarkers to classify ASD using three conventional machine learning models with two-layer cross-validation. Comprehensive characterization of spectral, temporal and spatial dimensions of source-modelled EEG resulted in 3443 biomarkers per recording. We found no significant group-mean or group-variance differences for any of the EEG features. Interestingly, we obtained validation accuracies above 80%; however, the best machine learning model merely distinguished ASD from the non-autistic comparison group with a mean balanced test accuracy of 56% on the entirely unseen test set. The large drop in model performance between validation and testing, stress the importance of rigorous model evaluation, and further highlights the high heterogeneity in ASD. Overall, the lack of significant differences and weak classification indicates that, at the group level, intellectually able adults with ASD show remarkably typical resting-state EEG.
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Prany W, Patrice C, Franck D, Fabrice W, Mahdi M, Pierre D, Christian M, Jean-Marc G, Fabian G, Francis E, Jean-Marc B, Bérengère GG. EEG resting-state functional connectivity: evidence for an imbalance of external/internal information integration in autism. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:47. [PMID: 36030210 PMCID: PMC9419397 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09456-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with atypical neural activity in resting state. Most of the studies have focused on abnormalities in alpha frequency as a marker of ASD dysfunctions. However, few have explored alpha synchronization within a specific interest in resting-state networks, namely the default mode network (DMN), the sensorimotor network (SMN), and the dorsal attention network (DAN). These functional connectivity analyses provide relevant insight into the neurophysiological correlates of multimodal integration in ASD. Methods Using high temporal resolution EEG, the present study investigates the functional connectivity in the alpha band within and between the DMN, SMN, and the DAN. We examined eyes-closed EEG alpha lagged phase synchronization, using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) in 29 participants with ASD and 38 developing (TD) controls (age, sex, and IQ matched). Results We observed reduced functional connectivity in the ASD group relative to TD controls, within and between the DMN, the SMN, and the DAN. We identified three hubs of dysconnectivity in ASD: the posterior cingulate cortex, the precuneus, and the medial frontal gyrus. These three regions also presented decreased current source density in the alpha band. Conclusion These results shed light on possible multimodal integration impairments affecting the communication between bottom-up and top-down information. The observed hypoconnectivity between the DMN, SMN, and DAN could also be related to difficulties in switching between externally oriented attention and internally oriented thoughts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11689-022-09456-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wantzen Prany
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France.,Université de Paris, LaPsyDÉ, CNRS, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Clochon Patrice
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Doidy Franck
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Wallois Fabrice
- INSERM UMR-S 1105, GRAMFC, Université de Picardie-Jules Verne, CHU Sud, 80025, Amiens, France
| | - Mahmoudzadeh Mahdi
- INSERM UMR-S 1105, GRAMFC, Université de Picardie-Jules Verne, CHU Sud, 80025, Amiens, France
| | - Desaunay Pierre
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Mille Christian
- Centre Ressources Autisme Picardie, Service de Psychopathologie Enfants et Adolescents, CHU, 4 rue Grenier et Bernard, 80000, Amiens, France
| | - Guilé Jean-Marc
- INSERM UMR-S 1105, GRAMFC, Université de Picardie-Jules Verne, CHU Sud, 80025, Amiens, France.,Centre Ressources Autisme Picardie, Service de Psychopathologie Enfants et Adolescents, CHU, 4 rue Grenier et Bernard, 80000, Amiens, France
| | - Guénolé Fabian
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Eustache Francis
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Baleyte Jean-Marc
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, Centre Hospitalier Interuniversitaire de Créteil, 94000, Créteil, France
| | - Guillery-Girard Bérengère
- Normandie univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000, Caen, France.
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Cañigueral R, Palmer J, Ashwood KL, Azadi B, Asherson P, Bolton PF, McLoughlin G, Tye C. Alpha oscillatory activity during attentional control in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and ASD+ADHD. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:745-761. [PMID: 34477232 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) share impairments in top-down and bottom-up modulation of attention. However, it is not yet well understood if co-occurrence of ASD and ADHD reflects a distinct or additive profile of attention deficits. We aimed to characterise alpha oscillatory activity (stimulus-locked alpha desynchronisation and prestimulus alpha) as an index of integration of top-down and bottom-up attentional processes in ASD and ADHD. METHODS Children with ASD, ADHD, comorbid ASD+ADHD, and typically-developing children completed a fixed-choice reaction-time task ('Fast task') while neurophysiological activity was recorded. Outcome measures were derived from source-decomposed neurophysiological data. Main measures of interest were prestimulus alpha power and alpha desynchronisation (difference between poststimulus and prestimulus alpha). Poststimulus activity linked to attention allocation (P1, P3), attentional control (N2), and cognitive control (theta synchronisation, 100-600 ms) was also examined. ANOVA was used to test differences across diagnostics groups on these measures. Spearman's correlations were used to investigate the relationship between attentional control processes (alpha oscillations), central executive functions (theta synchronisation), early visual processing (P1), and behavioural performance. RESULTS Children with ADHD (ADHD and ASD+ADHD) showed attenuated alpha desynchronisation, indicating poor integration of top-down and bottom-up attentional processes. Children with ADHD showed reduced N2 and P3 amplitudes, while children with ASD (ASD and ASD+ADHD) showed greater N2 amplitude, indicating atypical attentional control and attention allocation across ASD and ADHD. In the ASD group, prestimulus alpha and theta synchronisation were negatively correlated, and alpha desynchronisation and theta synchronisation were positively correlated, suggesting an atypical association between attentional control processes and executive functions. CONCLUSIONS ASD and ADHD are associated with disorder-specific impairments, while children with ASD+ADHD overall presented an additive profile with attentional deficits of both disorders. Importantly, these findings may inform the improvement of transdiagnostic procedures and optimisation of personalised intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Cañigueral
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jason Palmer
- Department of Neurological Diagnosis and Restoration, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, CoMIT, Suita, Japan.,Institute for Neural Computation, Univeristy of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karen L Ashwood
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Bahar Azadi
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Philip Asherson
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Patrick F Bolton
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gráinne McLoughlin
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Tye
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
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12
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Takarae Y, Zanesco A, Keehn B, Chukoskie L, Müller RA, Townsend J. EEG microstates suggest atypical resting-state network activity in high-functioning children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Development. Dev Sci 2022; 25:e13231. [PMID: 35005839 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
EEG microstates represent transient electrocortical events that reflect synchronized activities of large-scale networks, which allows investigations of brain dynamics with sub-second resolution. We recorded resting EEG from 38 children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Development (ASD) and 48 age, IQ, sex, and handedness-matched typically developing (TD) participants. The EEG was segmented into a time series of microstates using modified k-means clustering of scalp voltage topographies. The frequency and global explained variance (GEV) of a specific microstate (type C) were significantly lower in the ASD group compared to the TD group while the duration of the same microstate was correlated with the presence of ASD-related behaviors. The duration of this microstate was also positively correlated with participant age in the TD group, but not in the ASD group. Further, the frequency and duration of the microstate were significantly correlated with the overall alpha power only in the TD group. The signal strength and GEV for another microstate (type G) was greater in the ASD group than the TD group, and the associated topographical pattern differed between groups with greater variations in the ASD group. While more work is needed to clarify the underlying neural sources, the existing literature supports associations between the two microstates and the default mode and salience networks. The current study suggests specific alterations of temporal dynamics of the resting cortical network activities as well as their developmental trajectories and relationships to alpha power, which has been proposed to reflect reduced neural inhibition in ASD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brandon Keehn
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University
| | - Leanne Chukoskie
- Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Science, Northeastern University
| | | | - Jeanne Townsend
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
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13
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Haghighatfard A, Yaghoubi asl E, Bahadori RA, Aliabadian R, Farhadi M, Mohammadpour F, Tabrizi Z. FOXP2 down expression is associated with executive dysfunctions and electrophysiological abnormalities of brain in Autism spectrum disorder; a neuroimaging genetic study. AUTISM & DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENTS 2022; 7:23969415221126391. [PMID: 36382065 PMCID: PMC9620679 DOI: 10.1177/23969415221126391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by language impairment, and challenges with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Although genetics are a primary cause of ASD, the exact genes and molecular mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis are not completely clear. The FOXP2 gene encodes a transcription factor that is known for its major role in language development and severe speech problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of FOXP2 in ASD etiology, executive functions, and brain activities. METHODS In the present study, we recruited 450 children with ASD and 490 neurotypical control children. Three domains of executive functions (working memory, response inhibition, and vigilance) were assessed. In addition, five-minute eyes closed electroencephalography was obtained from some of the children with ASD and neurotypical children. DNA sequence and expression level of FOXP2 in blood samples of children with ASD and the control group were evaluated by using sequencing and Real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS The results showed no mutations but a significant down expression of FOXP2 genes in children with ASD vs. neurotypical children. Several cognitive and executive function deficiencies were detected in children with ASD. Low alpha and gamma bands in the frontal lobe and high theta bands in the occipital lobe were revealed in children with ASD. We also found several correlations between FOXP2 expression levels and clinical assessments. CONCLUSIONS Our finding revealed the down expression of FOXP2, which could be considered as a biomarker for ASD as well as cognitive and executive dysfunction. Based on brain mapping data, FOXP2 may be related to the theta wave abnormality of children with ASD. FOXP2 may be considered a target of novel treatment to improve memory and executive functions. IMPLICATIONS Our findings highlight the role of FOXP2 mRNA level in ASD etiology, executive functions, and brain wave frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvin Haghighatfard
- Arvin Haghighatfard, Department of Biology,
North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Elham Yaghoubi asl
- Department of neuroscience, Iran University of medical
sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Rojina Aliabadian
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced
Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad
University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Farhadi
- Department of biology, science and research
Branch, Islamic Azad
University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mohammadpour
- Neuroimaging genetic laboratory, Arvin Gene
Company, Tehran, Iran
- Department of biology, university of
Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Zeinab Tabrizi
- Neuroimaging genetic laboratory, Arvin Gene
Company, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Williams OOF, Coppolino M, Perreault ML. Sex differences in neuronal systems function and behaviour: beyond a single diagnosis in autism spectrum disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:625. [PMID: 34887388 PMCID: PMC8660826 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01757-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with functional brain alterations that underlie the expression of behaviour. Males are diagnosed up to four times more than females, and sex differences have been identified in memory, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, and social communication. Unfortunately, there exists a lack of information on the sex-dependent mechanisms of ASD, as well as biological markers to distinguish sex-specific symptoms in ASD. This can often result in a standardized diagnosis for individuals across the spectrum, despite significant differences in the various ASD subtypes. Alterations in neuronal connectivity and oscillatory activity, such as is observed in ASD, are highly coupled to behavioural states. Yet, despite the well-identified sexual dimorphisms that exist in ASD, these functional patterns have rarely been analyzed in the context of sex differences or symptomology. This review summarizes alterations in neuronal oscillatory function in ASD, discusses the age, region, symptom and sex-specific differences that are currently observed across the spectrum, and potential targets for regulating neuronal oscillatory activity in ASD. The need to identify sex-specific biomarkers, in order to facilitate specific diagnostic criteria and allow for more targeted therapeutic approaches for ASD will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Melissa L Perreault
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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15
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The Comparison of Quantitative Electroencephalography of Neural Connections between Children aged 6 to 13 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.52547/jcp.9.3.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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16
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Spaniol MM, Mevorach C, Shalev L, Teixeira MCTV, Lowenthal R, de Paula CS. Attention training in children with autism spectrum disorder improves academic performance: A double-blind pilot application of the computerized progressive attentional training program. Autism Res 2021; 14:1769-1776. [PMID: 34227246 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Atypical attention has been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with studies pointing to an increase in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder-like symptomatology. Individuals with ASD may also present academic difficulties and it is possible that they face a double-barrier for academic attainment from both core ASD symptomatology and from attention atypicalities, which are directly linked to academic performance. This raises the possibility that academic difficulties in ASD may benefit from cognitive training targeting attention. To test this possibility, we used the computerized progressive attentional training (CPAT) intervention in a double-blind, active control with follow-up intervention study in Brazil. The CPAT is a computerized attention training program that was recently piloted with schoolchildren with ASD in the UK. Twenty-six participants (8-14 years) with ASD in the São Paulo's ASD Reference Unit were assigned to either the CPAT (n = 14) or active control group (n = 12), which were matched at baseline. Two 45-min intervention sessions per week were conducted over a 2-month period. School performance, attention, fluid intelligence, and behavior were assessed before, immediately after and 3 months following the intervention. Significant group by time interactions show improvements in math, reading, writing and attention that were maintained at follow-up for the CPAT (but not the active control) group, while parents of children from both groups tended to report behavioral improvements. We conclude that attention training has the potential to reduce obstacles for academic attainment in ASD. Combined with the previous pilot study, the current results point to the generality of the approach, which leads to similar outcomes in different cultural and social contexts. LAY ABSTRACT: Attention difficulties tend to occur in ASD and are linked to academic performance. In this study, we demonstrate that school performance in math, reading and writing in children with ASD can improve following an intervention that trains basic attention skills (the CPAT intervention). The improvements we report are stable and were maintained 3-months following the intervention. This study, which was conducted in a public-health setting in Brazil, extends previous research in schools in the UK pointing to the cross-cultural and cross-settings efficacy of the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra Muller Spaniol
- Developmental Disorders Program, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carmel Mevorach
- School of Psychology and the Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Lilach Shalev
- School of Education and the Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | | | - Rosane Lowenthal
- Mental Health Department, Santa Casa School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Silvestre de Paula
- Developmental Disorders Program, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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17
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Biosca-Brull J, Pérez-Fernández C, Mora S, Carrillo B, Pinos H, Conejo NM, Collado P, Arias JL, Martín-Sánchez F, Sánchez-Santed F, Colomina MT. Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pesticides: A Systematic Review of Human and Preclinical Models. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105190. [PMID: 34068255 PMCID: PMC8153127 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex set of neurodevelopmental pathologies characterized by impoverished social and communicative abilities and stereotyped behaviors. Although its genetic basis is unquestionable, the involvement of environmental factors such as exposure to pesticides has also been proposed. Despite the systematic analyses of this relationship in humans, there are no specific reviews including both human and preclinical models. The present systematic review summarizes, analyzes, and discusses recent advances in preclinical and epidemiological studies. We included 45 human and 16 preclinical studies. These studies focused on Organophosphates (OP), Organochlorine (OC), Pyrethroid (PT), Neonicotinoid (NN), Carbamate (CM), and mixed exposures. Preclinical studies, where the OP Chlorpyrifos (CPF) compound is the one most studied, pointed to an association between gestational exposure and increased ASD-like behaviors, although the data are inconclusive with regard to other ages or pesticides. Studies in humans focused on prenatal exposure to OP and OC agents, and report cognitive and behavioral alterations related to ASD symptomatology. The results of both suggest that gestational exposure to certain OP agents could be linked to the clinical signs of ASD. Future experimental studies should focus on extending the analysis of ASD-like behaviors in preclinical models and include exposure patterns similar to those observed in human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Biosca-Brull
- Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
- Research in Neurobehavior, Health (NEUROLAB), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Cristian Pérez-Fernández
- Department of Psychology, Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (C.P.-F.); (S.M.)
| | - Santiago Mora
- Department of Psychology, Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (C.P.-F.); (S.M.)
| | - Beatriz Carrillo
- Department of Psychobiology, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), National Distance Education University (UNED), 28015 Madrid, Spain; (B.C.); (H.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Helena Pinos
- Department of Psychobiology, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), National Distance Education University (UNED), 28015 Madrid, Spain; (B.C.); (H.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Nelida Maria Conejo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (N.M.C.); (J.L.A.)
| | - Paloma Collado
- Department of Psychobiology, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), National Distance Education University (UNED), 28015 Madrid, Spain; (B.C.); (H.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Jorge L. Arias
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (N.M.C.); (J.L.A.)
| | - Fernando Martín-Sánchez
- National Scholl of Public Health, Institute of Health Carlos III, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Fernando Sánchez-Santed
- Department of Psychology, Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (C.P.-F.); (S.M.)
- Correspondence: (F.S.-S.); (M.T.C.)
| | - Maria Teresa Colomina
- Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
- Research in Neurobehavior, Health (NEUROLAB), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.S.-S.); (M.T.C.)
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18
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Husain L, Berggren N, Remington A, Forster S. Intact Goal-Driven Attentional Capture in Autistic Adults. J Cogn 2021; 4:23. [PMID: 33817551 PMCID: PMC7996432 DOI: 10.5334/joc.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autistic individuals have been found to show increased distractibility by salient irrelevant information, yet reduced distractibility by information of personal motivational salience. Here we tested whether these prior discrepancies reflect differences in the automatic guidance of attention by top-down goals. METHODS Autistic (self-reported diagnoses, confirmed with scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale) and non-autistic adults, without intellectual disability (IQ > 80 on Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), searched for a color-defined target object (e.g., red) among irrelevant color objects. Spatially uninformative cues, matching either the target color or a nontarget/irrelevant color, were presented prior to each display. RESULTS Replicating previous work, only target color cues reliably captured attention, delaying responses when invalidly versus validly predicting target location. Crucially, this capture was robust for both autistic and neurotypical participants, as confirmed by Bayesian analysis. Limitations: While well powered for our research questions, our sample size precluded investigation of the automatic guidance of attention in a diverse group of autistic people (e.g. those with a range of cognitive abilities). CONCLUSIONS Our findings imply that key mechanisms underlying the automatic implementation of top-down attentional goals are intact in autism, challenging theories of reduced top-down control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layal Husain
- Centre for Research in Autism and Education, Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK
| | - Nick Berggren
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK
| | - Anna Remington
- Centre for Research in Autism and Education, Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK
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19
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Zhang Y, Geyfman A, Coffman B, Gill K, Ferrarelli F. Distinct alterations in resting-state electroencephalogram during eyes closed and eyes open and between morning and evening are present in first-episode psychosis patients. Schizophr Res 2021; 228:36-42. [PMID: 33434730 PMCID: PMC7987764 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abnormalities in resting-state electroencephalogram (rs-EEG) activity have been previously reported in schizophrenia. While most rs-EEG recordings were performed in patients with chronic schizophrenia during eyes closed (EC), only a handful of studies have investigated rs-EEG activity during both EC and eyes open (EO) conditions. It is also unknown whether EC and EO rs-EEG alterations are present at illness onset, and whether they change during the day. Here, we performed EC and EO rs-EEG recordings in the morning (AM) and evening (PM) in twenty-six first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and seventeen matched healthy controls (HC). In AM/EC rs-EEG, a widespread reduction was found in low alpha power in FEP relative to HC. In PM/EC, the FEP group demonstrated a trend toward decreased theta power in parietal regions, while decreased high alpha power in frontal and left parietal regions was present during PM/EO. Moreover, reduced low alpha power during AM/EC was associated with worse positive symptoms. Altogether, those findings indicate that rs-EEG alterations are present in FEP patients at illness onset, that they are linked to the severity of their psychosis, and that distinct RS abnormalities can be detected in different conditions of visual alertness and time of the day. Future work should therefore account for those factors, which will help reduce variability of rs-EEG findings across studies and may serve as monitoring biomarkers of illness severity in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyi Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
| | - Alexandra Geyfman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
| | - Brian Coffman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
| | - Kathryn Gill
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
| | - Fabio Ferrarelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA.
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20
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Ashinoff BK, Abu-Akel A. Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2021; 85:1-19. [PMID: 31541305 PMCID: PMC7851038 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
'Hyperfocus' is a phenomenon that reflects one's complete absorption in a task, to a point where a person appears to completely ignore or 'tune out' everything else. Hyperfocus is most often mentioned in the context of autism, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but research into its effect on cognitive and neural functioning is limited. We propose that hyperfocus is a critically important aspect of cognition, particularly with regard to clinical populations, and that it warrants significant investigation. Hyperfocus, though ostensibly self-explanatory, is poorly defined within the literature. In many cases, hyperfocus goes undefined, relying on the assumption that the reader inherently knows what it entails. Thus, there is no single consensus to what constitutes hyperfocus. Moreover, some studies do not refer to hyperfocus by name, but describe processes that may be related. In this paper, we review how hyperfocus (as well as possibly related phenomena) has been defined and measured, the challenges associated with hyperfocus research, and assess how hyperfocus affects both neurotypical and clinical populations. Using this foundation, we provide constructive criticism about previously used methods and analyses. We also propose an operational definition of hyperfocus for researchers to use moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon K Ashinoff
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH), School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Ahmad Abu-Akel
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Quartier UNIL-Mouline, Geopolis, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
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21
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Pierce S, Kadlaskar G, Edmondson DA, McNally Keehn R, Dydak U, Keehn B. Associations between sensory processing and electrophysiological and neurochemical measures in children with ASD: an EEG-MRS study. J Neurodev Disord 2021; 13:5. [PMID: 33407072 PMCID: PMC7788714 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09351-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with hyper- and/or hypo-sensitivity to sensory input. Spontaneous alpha power, which plays an important role in shaping responsivity to sensory information, is reduced across the lifespan in individuals with ASD. Furthermore, an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance has also been linked to sensory dysfunction in ASD and has been hypothesized to underlie atypical patterns of spontaneous brain activity. The present study examined whether resting-state alpha power differed in children with ASD as compared to TD children, and investigated the relationships between alpha levels, concentrations of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, and atypical sensory processing in ASD. Methods Participants included thirty-one children and adolescents with ASD and thirty-one age- and IQ-matched typically developing (TD) participants. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) was used to obtain measures of alpha power. A subset of participants (ASD = 16; TD = 16) also completed a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) protocol in order to measure concentrations of excitatory (glutamate + glutamine; Glx) and inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmitters. Results Children with ASD evidenced significantly decreased resting alpha power compared to their TD peers. MRS estimates of GABA and Glx did not differ between groups with the exception of Glx in the temporal-parietal junction. Inter-individual differences in alpha power within the ASD group were not associated with region-specific concentrations of GABA or Glx, nor were they associated with sensory processing differences. However, atypically decreased Glx was associated with increased sensory impairment in children with ASD. Conclusions Although we replicated prior reports of decreased alpha power in ASD, atypically reduced alpha was not related to neurochemical differences or sensory symptoms in ASD. Instead, reduced Glx in the temporal-parietal cortex was associated with greater hyper-sensitivity in ASD. Together, these findings may provide insight into the neural underpinnings of sensory processing differences present in ASD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11689-020-09351-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Pierce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Girija Kadlaskar
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - David A Edmondson
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Imaging Research Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rebecca McNally Keehn
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ulrike Dydak
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Brandon Keehn
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. .,Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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22
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Tan G, Xu K, Liu J, Liu H. A Trend on Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Eye Tracking-EEG Correlative Analytics. IEEE Trans Cogn Dev Syst 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/tcds.2021.3102646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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23
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Mash LE, Keehn B, Linke AC, Liu TT, Helm JL, Haist F, Townsend J, Müller RA. Atypical Relationships Between Spontaneous EEG and fMRI Activity in Autism. Brain Connect 2020; 10:18-28. [PMID: 31884804 PMCID: PMC7044766 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2019.0693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been linked to atypical communication among distributed brain networks. However, despite decades of research, the exact nature of these differences between typically developing (TD) individuals and those with ASDs remains unclear. ASDs have been widely studied using resting-state neuroimaging methods, including both functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). However, little is known about how fMRI and EEG measures of spontaneous brain activity are related in ASDs. In the present study, two cohorts of children and adolescents underwent resting-state EEG (n = 38 per group) or fMRI (n = 66 ASD, 57 TD), with a subset of individuals in both the EEG and fMRI cohorts (n = 17 per group). In the EEG cohort, parieto-occipital EEG alpha power was found to be reduced in ASDs. In the fMRI cohort, blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) power was regionally increased in right temporal regions and there was widespread overconnectivity between the thalamus and cortical regions in the ASD group relative to the TD group. Finally, multimodal analyses indicated that while TD children showed consistently positive relationships between EEG alpha power and regional BOLD power, these associations were weak or negative in ASDs. These findings suggest atypical links between alpha rhythms and regional BOLD activity in ASDs, possibly implicating neural substrates and processes that coordinate thalamocortical regulation of the alpha rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E. Mash
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
| | - Brandon Keehn
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Annika C. Linke
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Thomas T. Liu
- Department of Radiology, Center for Functional MRI, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jonathan L. Helm
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Frank Haist
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jeanne Townsend
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
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24
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Keehn B, Kadlaskar G, McNally Keehn R, Francis AL. Auditory Attentional Disengagement in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:3999-4008. [PMID: 31201579 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04111-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite early differences in orienting to sounds, no study to date has investigated whether children with ASD demonstrate impairments in attentional disengagement in the auditory modality. Twenty-one 9-15-year-old children with ASD and 20 age- and IQ-matched TD children were presented with an auditory gap-overlap paradigm. Evidence of impaired disengagement in ASD was mixed. Differences in saccadic reaction time for overlap and gap conditions did not differ between groups. However, children with ASD did show increased no-shift trials in the overlap condition, as well as reduced disengagement efficiency compared to their TD peers. These results provide further support for disengagement impairments in ASD, and suggest that these deficits include disengaging from and shifting to unimodal auditory information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Keehn
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, 715 Clinic Drive, Lyles-Porter Hall, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. .,Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Girija Kadlaskar
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, 715 Clinic Drive, Lyles-Porter Hall, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Rebecca McNally Keehn
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Alexander L Francis
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, 715 Clinic Drive, Lyles-Porter Hall, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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25
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Hinault T, Blacker KJ, Gormley M, Anderson BA, Courtney SM. Value-driven attentional capture is modulated by the contents of working memory: An EEG study. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 19:253-267. [PMID: 30460482 PMCID: PMC6734557 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-018-00663-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Attention and working memory (WM) have previously been shown to interact closely when sensory information is being maintained. However, when non-sensory information is maintained in WM, the relationship between WM and sensory attention may be less strong. In the current study, we used electroencephalography to evaluate whether value-driven attentional capture (i.e., allocation of attention to a task-irrelevant feature previously associated with a reward) and its effects on either sensory or non-sensory WM performance might be greater than the effects of salient, non-reward-associated stimuli. In a training phase, 19 participants learned to associate a color with reward. Then, participants were presented with squares and encoded their locations into WM. Participants were instructed to convert the spatial locations either to another type of sensory representation or to an abstract, relational type of representation. During the WM delay period, task-irrelevant distractors, either previously-rewarded or non-rewarded, were presented, with a novel color distractor in the other hemifield. The results revealed lower alpha power and larger N2pc amplitude over posterior electrode sides contralateral to the previously rewarded color, compared to ipsilateral. These effects were mainly found during relational WM, compared to sensory WM, and only for the previously rewarded distractor color, compared to a previous non-rewarded target color or novel color. These effects were associated with modulations of WM performance. These results appear to reflect less capture of attention during maintenance of specific location information, and suggest that value-driven attentional capture can be mitigated as a function of the type of information maintained in WM.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Hinault
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 143 Ames Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
| | - K J Blacker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 143 Ames Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - M Gormley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 143 Ames Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - B A Anderson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 4235, USA
| | - S M Courtney
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, 143 Ames Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
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26
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Lefebvre A, Delorme R, Delanoë C, Amsellem F, Beggiato A, Germanaud D, Bourgeron T, Toro R, Dumas G. Alpha Waves as a Neuromarker of Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Challenge of Reproducibility and Heterogeneity. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:662. [PMID: 30327586 PMCID: PMC6174243 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is no consensus in the literature concerning the presence of abnormal alpha wave profiles in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This may be due to phenotypic heterogeneity among patients as well as the limited sample sizes utilized. Here we present our results of alpha wave profile analysis based on a sample larger than most of those in the field, performed using a robust processing pipeline. Methods: We compared the alpha waves profiles at rest in children with ASD to those of age-, sex-, and IQ-matched control individuals. We used linear regression and non-parametric normative models using age as covariate forparsing the clinical heterogeneity. We explored the correlation between EEG profiles and the patient's brain volumes, obtained from structural MRI. We automatized the detection of the alpha peak and visually quality controled our MRI measurements. We assessed the robustness of our results by running the EEG preprocessing with two different versions of Matlab as well as Python. Results: A simple linear regression between peak power or frequency of the alpha waves and the status or age of the participants did not allow to identify any statistically significant relationship. The non-parametric normative model (which took account the non-linear effect of age on the alpha profiles) suggested that participants with ASD displayed more variability than control participants for both frequency and amplitude of the alpha peak (p < 0.05). Independent of the status of the individual, we also observed weak associations (uncorrected p < 0.05) between the alpha frequency, and the volumes of several cortical and subcortical structures (in particular the striatum), but which did not survive correction for multiple testing and changed between analysis pelines. Discussions: Our study did not find evidence for abnormal alpha wave profiles in ASD. We propose, however, an analysis pipeline to perform standardized and automatized EEG analyses on large cohorts. These should help the community to address the challenge of clinical heterogeneity of ASD and to tackle the problems of reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Lefebvre
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Delanoë
- Neurophysiology Department, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Frederique Amsellem
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Anita Beggiato
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - David Germanaud
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Roberto Toro
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Dumas
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,CNRS UMR 3571 Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Paris, France
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27
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Edey R, Brewer R, Bird G, Press C. Brief Report: Typical Auditory-Motor and Enhanced Visual-Motor Temporal Synchronization in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 49:788-793. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3725-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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28
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Diametric effects of autism tendencies and psychosis proneness on attention control irrespective of task demands. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8478. [PMID: 29855492 PMCID: PMC5981437 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26821-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Our capacity to attend a target while ignoring irrelevant distraction impacts our ability to successfully interact with our environment. Previous reports have sometimes identified excessive distractor interference in both autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders and in neurotypical individuals with high subclinical expressions of these conditions. Independent of task, we show that the direction of the effect of autism or psychosis traits on the suppression or rejection of a non-target item is diametrical. In Study 1, in which the presence of a salient non-target item hindered performance, higher autism traits were associated with better performance, while higher psychosis traits were associated with worse performance. In Study 2, in which the presence of a salient non-target item facilitated performance, a complete reversal of effects was observed. Future clinical interventions may be informed by the context-specific advantages we observed for the autism and psychosis spectra, and by the need to consider the diametric effects they yield.
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29
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Ronconi L, Gori S, Federici A, Devita M, Carna S, Sali ME, Molteni M, Casartelli L, Facoetti A. Weak surround suppression of the attentional focus characterizes visual selection in the ventral stream in autism. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 18:912-922. [PMID: 29876276 PMCID: PMC5988461 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neurophysiological findings in the typical population demonstrate that spatial scrutiny for visual selection determines a center-surround profile of the attentional focus, which is the result of recurrent processing in the visual system. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manifest several anomalies in their visual selection, with strengths in detail-oriented tasks, but also difficulties in distractor inhibition tasks. Here, we asked whether contradictory aspects of perception in ASD might be due to a different center-surround profile of their attentional focus. In two experiments, we tested two independent samples of children with ASD, comparing them with typically developing (TD) peers. In Experiment 1, we used a psychophysical task that mapped the entire spatial profile of the attentional focus. In Experiment 2, we used dense-array electroencephalography (EEG) to explore its neurophysiological underpinnings. Experiment 1 results showed that the suppression, surrounding the attentional focus, was markedly reduced in children with ASD. Experiment 2 showed that the center-surround profile in TD children resulted in a modulation of the posterior N2 ERP component, with cortical sources in the lateral-occipital and medial/inferior temporal areas. In contrast, children with ASD did not show modulation of the N2 and related activations in the ventral visual stream. Furthermore, behavioural and neurophysiological measures of weaker suppression predicted more severe autistic symptomatology. The present findings, showing an altered center-surround profile during attentional selection, give an important insight to understand superior visual processing in autism as well as the experiencing of sensory overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ronconi
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Italy; Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Italy; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.
| | - Simone Gori
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy; Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Federici
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria Devita
- Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Italy
| | - Serena Carna
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria E Sali
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Massimo Molteni
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Luca Casartelli
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Andrea Facoetti
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Italy; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.
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30
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Girgis F, Lee DJ, Goodarzi A, Ditterich J. Toward a Neuroscience of Adult Cognitive Developmental Theory. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:4. [PMID: 29410608 PMCID: PMC5787085 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Piaget's genetic epistemology has provided the constructivist approach upon which child developmental theories were founded, in that infants are thought to progress through distinct cognitive stages until they reach maturity in their early 20's. However, it is now well established that cognition continues to develop after early adulthood, and several “neo-Piagetian” theories have emerged in an attempt to better characterize adult cognitive development. For example, Kegan's Constructive Developmental Theory (CDT) argues that the thought processes used by adults to construct their reality change over time, and reaching higher stages of cognitive development entails becoming objectively aware of emotions and beliefs that were previously in the realm of the subconscious. In recent years, neuroscience has shown a growing interest in the biological substrates and neural mechanisms encompassing adult cognitive development, because psychological and psychiatric disorders can arise from deficiencies therein. In this article, we will use Kegan's CDT as a framework to discuss adult cognitive development in relation to closely correlated existing constructs underlying social processing, such as the perception of self and others. We will review the functional imaging and electrophysiologic evidence behind two key concepts relating to these posited developmental changes. These include self-related processing, a field that distinguishes between having conscious experiences (“being a self”) and being aware of oneself having conscious experiences (“being aware of being a self”); and theory of mind, which is the objective awareness of possessing mental states such as beliefs and desires (i.e., having a “mind”) and the understanding that others possess mental states that can be different from one's own. We shall see that cortical midline structures, including the medial prefrontal cortex and cingulate gyrus, as well as the temporal lobe, are associated with psychological tasks that test these models. In addition, we will review computational modeling approaches to cognitive development, and show how mathematical modeling can provide insights into how sometimes continuous changes in the neural processing substrate can give rise to relatively discrete developmental stages. Because deficiencies in adult cognitive development can result in disorders such as autism and depression, bridging the gaps between developmental psychology, neuroscience, and modeling has potential implications for clinical practice. As neuromodulation techniques such as deep brain and transcranial stimulation continue to advance, interfacing with these systems may lead to the emergence of novel investigational methods and therapeutic strategies in adults suffering from developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fady Girgis
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Darrin J Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amir Goodarzi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jochen Ditterich
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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31
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Beker S, Foxe JJ, Molholm S. Ripe for solution: Delayed development of multisensory processing in autism and its remediation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 84:182-192. [PMID: 29162518 PMCID: PMC6389331 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Difficulty integrating inputs from different sensory sources is commonly reported in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Accumulating evidence consistently points to altered patterns of behavioral reactions and neural activity when individuals with ASD observe or act upon information arriving through multiple sensory systems. For example, impairments in the integration of seen and heard speech appear to be particularly acute, with obvious implications for interpersonal communication. Here, we explore the literature on multisensory processing in autism with a focus on developmental trajectories. While much remains to be understood, some consistent observations emerge. Broadly, sensory integration deficits are found in children with an ASD whereas these appear to be much ameliorated, or even fully recovered, in older teenagers and adults on the spectrum. This protracted delay in the development of multisensory processing raises the possibility of applying early intervention strategies focused on multisensory integration, to accelerate resolution of these functions. We also consider how dysfunctional cross-sensory oscillatory neural communication may be one key pathway to impaired multisensory processing in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shlomit Beker
- The Sheryl and Daniel R. Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - John J Foxe
- The Sheryl and Daniel R. Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Sophie Molholm
- The Sheryl and Daniel R. Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States.
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32
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Chukoskie L, Westerfield M, Townsend J. A novel approach to training attention and gaze in ASD: A feasibility and efficacy pilot study. Dev Neurobiol 2017; 78:546-554. [PMID: 29218791 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In addition to the social, communicative and behavioral symptoms that define the disorder, individuals with ASD have difficulty re-orienting attention quickly and accurately. Similarly, fast re-orienting saccadic eye movements are also inaccurate and more variable in both endpoint and timing. Atypical gaze and attention are among the earliest symptoms observed in ASD. Disruption of these foundation skills critically affects the development of higher level cognitive and social behavior. We propose that interventions aimed at these early deficits that support social and cognitive skills will be broadly effective. We conducted a pilot clinical trial designed to demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using gaze-contingent video games for low-cost in-home training of attention and eye movement. Eight adolescents with ASD participated in an 8-week training, with pre-, mid- and post-testing of eye movement and attention control. Six of the eight adolescents completed the 8 weeks of training and all six showed improvement in attention (orienting, disengagement) and eye movement control or both. All game systems remained intact for the duration of training and all participants could use the system independently. We delivered a robust, low-cost, gaze-contingent game system for home use that, in our pilot training sample, improved the attention orienting and eye movement performance of adolescent participants in 8 weeks of training. We are currently conducting a clinical trial to replicate these results and to examine what, if any, aspects of training transfer to more real-world tasks. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 546-554, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Chukoskie
- Institute for Neural Computation, University of California, San Diego.,Research on Autism and Development Laboratory, University of California, San Diego
| | - Marissa Westerfield
- Research on Autism and Development Laboratory, University of California, San Diego.,Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
| | - Jeanne Townsend
- Research on Autism and Development Laboratory, University of California, San Diego.,Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
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33
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Lenartowicz A, Mazaheri A, Jensen O, Loo SK. Aberrant Modulation of Brain Oscillatory Activity and Attentional Impairment in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2017; 3:19-29. [PMID: 29397074 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2017.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography are noninvasive neuroimaging techniques that have been used extensively to study various resting-state and cognitive processes in the brain. The purpose of this review is to highlight a number of recent studies that have investigated the alpha band (8-12 Hz) oscillatory activity present in magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography, to provide new insights into the maladaptive network activity underlying attentional impairments in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies reviewed demonstrate that event-related decrease in alpha is attenuated during visual selective attention, primarily in ADHD inattentive type, and is often significantly associated with accuracy and reaction time during task performance. Furthermore, aberrant modulation of alpha activity has been reported across development and may have abnormal or atypical lateralization patterns in ADHD. Modulations in the alpha band thus represent a robust, relatively unexplored putative biomarker of attentional impairment and a strong prospect for future studies aimed at examining underlying neural mechanisms and treatment response among individuals with ADHD. Potential limitations of its use as a diagnostic biomarker and directions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agatha Lenartowicz
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ali Mazaheri
- Center for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ole Jensen
- Center for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra K Loo
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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34
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Obligatory Processing of Task-Irrelevant Stimuli: A Hallmark of Autistic Cognitive Style Within and Beyond the Diagnosis. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2017; 2:461-463. [PMID: 29348037 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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