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Zovetti N, Meller T, Evermann U, Pfarr JK, Hoffmann J, Federspiel A, Walther S, Grezellschak S, Jansen A, Abu-Akel A, Nenadić I. Multimodal imaging of the amygdala in non-clinical subjects with high vs. low autistic-like social skills traits. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2025; 346:111910. [PMID: 39477779 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2024.111910] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 10/18/2024] [Indexed: 12/16/2024]
Abstract
Recent clinical and theoretical frameworks suggest that social skills and theory of mind impairments characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are distributed in the general population on a continuum between healthy individuals and patients. The present multimodal study aimed at investigating the amygdala's function, perfusion, and volume in 56 non-clinical subjects from the general population with high (n = 28 High-SOC) or low (n = 28 Low-SOC) autistic-like social skills traits. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the amygdala's functional connectivity at rest, blood perfusion by means of arterial spin labelling, its activation during a face evaluation task and lastly grey matter volumes. The High-SOC group was characterised by higher blood perfusion in both amygdalae, lower volume of the left amygdala and higher activations of the right amygdala during processing of human faces with fearful value. Resting state analyses did not reveal any significant difference between the two groups. Overall, our results highlight the presence of overlapping morpho-functional alterations of the amygdala between healthy individuals and ASD patients confirming the importance of the amygdala in this disorder and in social and emotional processing. Our findings may help disentangle the neurobiological facets of ASD elucidating aetiology and the relationship between clinical symptomatology and neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Zovetti
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany; Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Tina Meller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Ulrika Evermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia-Katharina Pfarr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Hoffmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Federspiel
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Walther
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Grezellschak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Jansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany; BrainImaging Core Facility, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ahmad Abu-Akel
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; The Haifa Brain and Behavior Hub (HBBH), University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Igor Nenadić
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany.
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Zhu J, Liu H, Hu Y, Liu J, Dai C, Liang J, Cheng B, Tan M, Zhang Y, Cao Q, Lai X. Mechanistic insights into retinoic-acid treatment for autism in the improvement of social behavior: Evidence from a multi omics study in rats. Neuropharmacology 2024; 265:110244. [PMID: 39643238 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110244] [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: 08/26/2024] [Revised: 11/28/2024] [Accepted: 11/30/2024] [Indexed: 12/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong condition. It is characterized by complex etiologies, including disruptions in exogenous retinoic acid (RA) signaling, which may serve as an environmental risk factor. Targeting the RA pathway presents a promising therapeutic avenue, though the precise mechanisms remain to be elucidated. METHODS Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy to induce an ASD model in their offspring. Some offspring received RA treatment postnatally. Social behavior and brain-functional connectivity were assessed using behavioral tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), respectively. Transcriptomics analysis and proteomics analysis of the hypothalamus identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). These were intersected with ASD pathogenic genes (APGs) and ASD pathogenic proteins (APPs) to identify differentially expressed APGs (DE-APGs) and differentially expressed APPs (DE-APPs), which were validated by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Analyses of enrichment of signaling pathways were done using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. RESULTS RA treatment significantly improved social behaviors and revealed distinct patterns of hypo- and hyper-connectivity across various brain regions, with notable changes involving the hypothalamus and facial nerve. Differential analysis revealed 4165 DEGs (DEG 1) and 329 DEPs (DEP 1) between control and VPA groups, and 1610 DEGs (DEG 2) and 197 DEPs (DEP 2) between VPA and RA supplementation (RAS) groups. Twenty-two DE-APGs and five DE-APPs were identified, with key associations found between proteins such as Tbl1xr1 and Myo5a and >13 genes including Nrxn1, Cacna1e, and Gabrb2. Significant alterations in DE-APGs, including Grin2b, Nrxn1, Cacna1e, and Gabrb2, were confirmed via real-time RT-PCR and western blotting. In addition, 22 key signaling pathways were enriched in DEPs and DEGs. CONCLUSION RA supplementation in ASD rats induced by VPA may ameliorate social deficits and modulated functional connectivity, especially in the hypothalamus and facial nerve regions. This suggests potential therapeutic benefits for neural circuitry dysregulation in ASD. Additionally, RA altered critical gene and protein expressions in hypothalamus, implicating its role in modulating key signaling pathways to mitigate social deficits in ASD. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of ASD and supports the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Zhu
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Mianyang Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Neuroregulation, Department of Anesthesiology, Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang, 621000, China; Department of Pediatrics, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, 621000, China
| | - Yan Hu
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Juan Liu
- Children's Healthcare and Mental Health Center, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunfang Dai
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Jingjing Liang
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Boli Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China; Department of Clinical Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Mei Tan
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China; Department of Pediatrics, Guizhou Children's Hospital, Zunyi, China
| | - Yaoyin Zhang
- Department of Psychosomatics/Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Key Laboratory of Psychosomatic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingjiu Cao
- The Peking University Sixth Hospital (Institute of Mental Health), National Clinical Research Centre for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health, (Peking University), Beijing, China.
| | - Xi Lai
- Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
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Sörnyei D, Vass Á, Németh D, Farkas K. Autistic and schizotypal traits exhibit similarities in their impact on mentalization and adult attachment impairments: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:654. [PMID: 39363301 PMCID: PMC11451163 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06048-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits in mentalizing and attachment occur in the autism and schizophrenia spectrum, and their extended traits in the general population. Parental attachment and the broader social environment highly influence the development of mentalizing. Given the similarities in the symptomatology and neurodevelopmental correlates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCH), it is crucial to identify their overlaps and differences to support screening, differential diagnosis, and intervention. METHODS This cross-sectional study utilized questionnaire data from 2203 adults (65.1% female, mean age[SD] = 37.98[9.66]), including participants diagnosed with ASD, SCH, and those exhibiting subclinical traits to investigate the associations between mentalizing, attachment, and perceived social support during adolescence across the autistic and schizotypy spectrum. RESULTS It was revealed that both autistic and schizotypal traits have comparable effects on insecure adult attachment, primarily through challenges in mentalizing. The impact of mentalizing deficits on adult attachment slightly varies between autistic and schizotypal traits. Conversely, perceived social support during adolescence relates to improved mentalizing and secure adult attachment as a protective factor during development. CONCLUSIONS These outcomes highlight the significance of supportive therapeutic relationships and community care while suggesting directions for further research and collaborative treatments addressing ASD and SCH, considering the differential impact of mentalizing on adult attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dániel Sörnyei
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 25, Budapest, 1091, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella utca 46, Budapest, 1064, Hungary
| | - Ágota Vass
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
| | - Dezső Németh
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, INSERM, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Bron, France
- NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Atlántico Medio, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Kinga Farkas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Balassa utca 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.
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Schneider Gasser EM, Schaer R, Mueller FS, Bernhardt AC, Lin HY, Arias-Reyes C, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Prenatal immune activation in mice induces long-term alterations in brain mitochondrial function. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:289. [PMID: 39009558 PMCID: PMC11251165 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03010-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infections is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, and alterations in mitochondrial function are discussed as a potential underlying factor. Here, using a mouse model of viral-like maternal immune activation (MIA) based on poly(I:C) (POL) treatment at gestational day (GD) 12, we show that adult offspring exhibit behavioral deficits, such as reduced levels of social interaction. In addition, we found increased nicotinamidadenindinucleotid (NADH)- and succinate-linked mitochondrial respiration and maximal electron transfer capacity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and in the amygdala (AMY) of males and females. The increase in respiratory capacity resulted from an increase in mitochondrial mass in neurons (as measured by complex IV activity and transcript expression), presumably to compensate for a reduction in mitochondrion-specific respiration. Moreover, in the PFC of control (CON) male offspring a higher excess capacity compared to females was observed, which was significantly reduced in the POL-exposed male offspring, and, along with a higher leak respiration, resulted in a lower mitochondrial coupling efficiency. Transcript expression of the uncoupling proteins (UCP4 and UCP5) showed a reduction in the PFC of POL male mice, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, in the PFC of CON females, a higher expression of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was observed, suggesting a higher antioxidant capacity as compared to males. Finally, transcripts analysis of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics showed reduced expression of fission/fusion transcripts in PFC of POL offspring of both sexes. In conclusion, we show that MIA causes alterations in neuronal mitochondrial function and mass in the PFC and AMY of adult offspring with some effects differing between males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith M Schneider Gasser
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra C Bernhardt
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Han-Yu Lin
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
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Farkas K, Pesthy O, Janacsek K, Németh D. Interpersonal Distance Theory of Autism and Its Implication for Cognitive Assessment, Therapy, and Daily Life. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2024; 19:126-136. [PMID: 37401721 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231180593] [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] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The interpersonal distance (IPD) theory provides a novel approach to studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this article, we present recent findings on the neurobiological underpinnings of IPD regulation that are distinct in individuals with ASD. We also discuss the potential influence of environmental factors on IPD. We suggest that different IPD regulation may have implications for cognitive performance in experimental and diagnostic settings, may influence the effectiveness of training and therapy, and may play a role in the typical forms of social communication and leisure activities chosen by autistic individuals. We argue that reconsidering the results of ASD research through the lens of IPD would lead to a different interpretation of previous findings. Finally, we propose a methodological approach to study this phenomenon systematically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Farkas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University
- BML-NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Pesthy
- BML-NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
| | - Karolina Janacsek
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
- Centre for Thinking and Learning, Institute for Lifecourse Development, School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich
| | - Dezső Németh
- BML-NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL) U1028 UMR5292, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Bron, France
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6
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Fulford D, Holt DJ. Social Withdrawal, Loneliness, and Health in Schizophrenia: Psychological and Neural Mechanisms. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1138-1149. [PMID: 37419082 PMCID: PMC10483452 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Some of the most debilitating aspects of schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses (SMI) are the impairments in social perception, motivation, and behavior that frequently accompany these conditions. These impairments may ultimately lead to chronic social disconnection (ie, social withdrawal, objective isolation, and perceived social isolation or loneliness), which may contribute to the poor cardiometabolic health and early mortality commonly observed in SMI. However, the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying relationships between impairments in social perception and motivation and social isolation and loneliness in SMI remain incompletely understood. STUDY DESIGN A narrative, selective review of studies on social withdrawal, isolation, loneliness, and health in SMI. STUDY RESULTS We describe some of what is known and hypothesized about the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of social disconnection in the general population, and how these mechanisms may contribute to social isolation and loneliness, and their consequences, in individuals with SMI. CONCLUSIONS A synthesis of evolutionary and cognitive theories with the "social homeostasis" model of social isolation and loneliness represents one testable framework for understanding the dynamic cognitive and biological correlates, as well as the health consequences, of social disconnection in SMI. The development of such an understanding may provide the basis for novel approaches for preventing or treating both functional disability and poor physical health that diminish the quality and length of life for many individuals with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fulford
- Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daphne J Holt
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Lee JK, Andrews DS, Ozturk A, Solomon M, Rogers S, Amaral DG, Nordahl CW. Altered Development of Amygdala-Connected Brain Regions in Males and Females with Autism. J Neurosci 2022; 42:6145-6155. [PMID: 35760533 PMCID: PMC9351637 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0053-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered amygdala development is implicated in the neurobiology of autism, but little is known about the coordinated development of the brain regions directly connected with the amygdala. Here we investigated the volumetric development of an amygdala-connected network, defined as the set of brain regions with monosynaptic connections with the amygdala, in autism from early to middle childhood. A total of 950 longitudinal structural MRI scans were acquired from 282 children (93 female) with autism and 128 children with typical development (61 female) at up to four time points (mean ages: 39, 52, 64, and 137 months, respectively). Volumes from 32 amygdala-connected brain regions were examined using mixed effects multivariate distance matrix regression. The Social Responsiveness Scale-2 was administered to assess degree of autistic traits and social impairments. The amygdala-connected network exhibited persistent diagnostic differences (p values ≤ 0.03) that increased over time (p values ≤ 0.02). These differences were most prominent in autistics with more impacted social functioning at baseline. This pattern was not observed across regions without monosynaptic amygdala connection. We observed qualitative sex differences. In males, the bilateral subgenual anterior cingulate cortices were most affected, while in females the left fusiform and superior temporal gyri were most affected. In conclusion, (1) autism is associated with widespread alterations to the development of brain regions connected with the amygdala, which were associated with autistic social behaviors; and (2) autistic males and females exhibited different patterns of alterations, adding to a growing body of evidence of sex differences in the neurobiology of autism.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Global patterns of development across brain regions with monosynaptic connection to the amygdala differentiate autism from typical development, and are modulated by social functioning in early childhood. Alterations to brain regions within the amygdala-connected network differed in males and females with autism. Results also indicate larger volumetric differences in regions having monosynaptic connection with the amygdala than in regions without monosynaptic connection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua K Lee
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Derek S Andrews
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Arzu Ozturk
- Department of Radiology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Sally Rogers
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - David G Amaral
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Christine Wu Nordahl
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California 95817
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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Breakdown of utilitarian moral judgement after basolateral amygdala damage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2119072119. [PMID: 35878039 PMCID: PMC9351380 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119072119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Most of us would regard killing another person as morally wrong, but when the death of one saves multiple others, it can be morally permitted. According to a prominent computational dual-systems framework, in these life-and-death dilemmas, deontological (nonsacrificial) moral judgments stem from a model-free algorithm that emphasizes the intrinsic value of the sacrificial action, while utilitarian (sacrificial) moral judgments are derived from a model-based algorithm that emphasizes the outcome of the sacrificial action. Rodent decision-making research suggests that the model-based algorithm depends on the basolateral amygdala (BLA), but these findings have not yet been translated to human moral decision-making. Here, in five humans with selective, bilateral BLA damage, we show a breakdown of utilitarian sacrificial moral judgments, pointing at deficient model-based moral decision-making. Across an established set of moral dilemmas, healthy controls frequently sacrifice one person to save numerous others, but BLA-damaged humans withhold such sacrificial judgments even at the cost of thousands of lives. Our translational research confirms a neurocomputational hypothesis drawn from rodent decision-making research by indicating that the model-based algorithm which underlies outcome-based, utilitarian moral judgements in humans critically depends on the BLA.
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Kou J, Zhang Y, Zhou F, Sindermann C, Montag C, Becker B, Kendrick KM. A randomized trial shows dose-frequency and genotype may determine the therapeutic efficacy of intranasal oxytocin. Psychol Med 2022; 52:1959-1968. [PMID: 33272333 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720003803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neuropeptide oxytocin is proposed as a promising therapy for social dysfunction by modulating amygdala-mediated social-emotional behavior. Although clinical trials report some benefits of chronic treatment, it is unclear whether efficacy may be influenced by dose frequency or genotype. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-mediated treatment sensitivity on amygdala responses to face emotions. We also investigated similar effects on resting-state functional connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. RESULTS A single dose of oxytocin-reduced amygdala responses to all face emotions but for threatening (fear and anger) and happy faces, this effect was abolished after daily doses for 5 days but maintained by doses given every other day. The latter dose regime also enhanced associated anxious-arousal attenuation for fear faces. Oxytocin effects on reducing amygdala responses to face emotions only occurred in AA homozygotes of rs53576 and A carriers of rs2254298. The effects of oxytocin on resting-state functional connectivity were not influenced by either dose-frequency or receptor genotype. CONCLUSIONS Infrequent chronic oxytocin administration may be therapeutically most efficient and its anxiolytic neural and behavioral actions are highly genotype-dependent in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Kou
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Cornelia Sindermann
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Montag
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
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Andrews DS, Aksman L, Kerns CM, Lee JK, Winder-Patel BM, Harvey DJ, Waizbard-Bartov E, Heath B, Solomon M, Rogers SJ, Altmann A, Nordahl CW, Amaral DG. Association of Amygdala Development With Different Forms of Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:977-987. [PMID: 35341582 PMCID: PMC9116934 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amygdala is widely implicated in both anxiety and autism spectrum disorder. However, no studies have investigated the relationship between co-occurring anxiety and longitudinal amygdala development in autism. Here, the authors characterize amygdala development across childhood in autistic children with and without traditional DSM forms of anxiety and anxieties distinctly related to autism. METHODS Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired at up to four time points for 71 autistic and 55 typically developing (TD) children (∼2.5-12 years, 411 time points). Traditional DSM anxiety and anxieties distinctly related to autism were assessed at study time 4 (∼8-12 years) using a diagnostic interview tailored to autism: the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-IV with the Autism Spectrum Addendum. Mixed-effects models were used to test group differences at study time 1 (3.18 years) and time 4 (11.36 years) and developmental differences (age-by-group interactions) in right and left amygdala volume between autistic children with and without DSM or autism-distinct anxieties and TD children. RESULTS Autistic children with DSM anxiety had significantly larger right amygdala volumes than TD children at both study time 1 (5.10% increase) and time 4 (6.11% increase). Autistic children with autism-distinct anxieties had significantly slower right amygdala growth than TD, autism-no anxiety, and autism-DSM anxiety groups and smaller right amygdala volumes at time 4 than the autism-no anxiety (-8.13% decrease) and autism-DSM anxiety (-12.05% decrease) groups. CONCLUSIONS Disparate amygdala volumes and developmental trajectories between DSM and autism-distinct forms of anxiety suggest different biological underpinnings for these common, co-occurring conditions in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Sayre Andrews
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California.
| | - Leon Aksman
- Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California,Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Connor M. Kerns
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joshua K. Lee
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Breanna M. Winder-Patel
- MIND Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Danielle Jenine Harvey
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Einat Waizbard-Bartov
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Brianna Heath
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Sally J. Rogers
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Andre Altmann
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Wu Nordahl
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - David G. Amaral
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California
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11
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Riddiford JA, Enticott PG, Lavale A, Gurvich C. Gaze and social functioning associations in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Autism Res 2022; 15:1380-1446. [PMID: 35593039 PMCID: PMC9543973 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by significant social functioning impairments, including (but not limited to) emotion recognition, mentalizing, and joint attention. Despite extensive investigation into the correlates of social functioning in ASD, only recently has there been focus on the role of low‐level sensory input, particularly visual processing. Extensive gaze deficits have been described in ASD, from basic saccadic function through to social attention and the processing of complex biological motion. Given that social functioning often relies on accurately processing visual information, inefficient visual processing may contribute to the emergence and sustainment of social functioning difficulties in ASD. To explore the association between measures of gaze and social functioning in ASD, a systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted. A total of 95 studies were identified from a search of CINAHL Plus, Embase, OVID Medline, and psycINFO databases in July 2021. Findings support associations between increased gaze to the face/head and eye regions with improved social functioning and reduced autism symptom severity. However, gaze allocation to the mouth appears dependent on social and emotional content of scenes and the cognitive profile of participants. This review supports the investigation of gaze variables as potential biomarkers of ASD, although future longitudinal studies are required to investigate the developmental progression of this relationship and to explore the influence of heterogeneity in ASD clinical characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A Riddiford
- Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Alex Lavale
- Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Caroline Gurvich
- Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria
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12
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Procyshyn TL, Lombardo MV, Lai MC, Jassim N, Auyeung B, Crockford SK, Deakin JB, Soubramanian S, Sule A, Terburg D, Baron-Cohen S, Bethlehem RAI. Oxytocin Enhances Basolateral Amygdala Activation and Functional Connectivity While Processing Emotional Faces: Preliminary Findings in Autistic Versus Non-Autistic Women. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2022; 17:929-938. [PMID: 35254443 PMCID: PMC9527468 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsac016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is hypothesized to promote social interactions by enhancing the salience of social stimuli. While previous neuroimaging studies have reported that oxytocin enhances amygdala activation to face stimuli in autistic men, effects in autistic women remain unclear. In this study, the influence of intranasal oxytocin on activation and functional connectivity of the basolateral amygdala—the brain’s ‘salience detector’—while processing emotional faces vs shapes was tested in 16 autistic and 21 non-autistic women by functional magnetic resonance imaging in a placebo-controlled, within-subject, cross-over design. In the placebo condition, minimal activation differences were observed between autistic and non-autistic women. However, significant drug × group interactions were observed for both basolateral amygdala activation and functional connectivity. Oxytocin increased left basolateral amygdala activation among autistic women (35-voxel cluster, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) coordinates of peak voxel = −22 −10 −28; mean change = +0.079%, t = 3.159, PTukey = 0.0166) but not among non-autistic women (mean change = +0.003%, t = 0.153, PTukey = 0.999). Furthermore, oxytocin increased functional connectivity of the right basolateral amygdala with brain regions associated with socio-emotional information processing in autistic women, but not in non-autistic women, attenuating group differences in the placebo condition. Taken together, these findings extend evidence of oxytocin’s effects on the amygdala to specifically include autistic women and specify the subregion of the effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya L Procyshyn
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nazia Jassim
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah K Crockford
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julia B Deakin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sentil Soubramanian
- South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK
- Liaison Psychiatry Service, St Helier Hospital, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Surrey, UK
| | - Akeem Sule
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Terburg
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Groote Schuur Hospital, MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard A I Bethlehem
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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13
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Xu L, Zheng X, Yao S, Li J, Fu M, Li K, Zhao W, Li H, Becker B, Kendrick KM. The mirror neuron system compensates for amygdala dysfunction - associated social deficits in individuals with higher autistic traits. Neuroimage 2022; 251:119010. [PMID: 35182751 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The amygdala is a core node in the social brain which exhibits structural and functional abnormalities in Autism spectrum disorder and there is evidence that the mirror neuron system (MNS) can functionally compensate for impaired emotion processing following amygdala lesions. In the current study, we employed an fMRI paradigm in 241 subjects investigating MNS and amygdala responses to observation, imagination and imitation of dynamic facial expressions and whether these differed in individuals with higher (n = 77) as opposed to lower (n = 79) autistic traits. Results indicated that individuals with higher compared to lower autistic traits showed worse recognition memory for fearful faces, smaller real-life social networks, and decreased left basolateral amygdala (BLA) responses to imitation. Additionally, functional connectivity between the left BLA and the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) as well as some other MNS regions was increased in individuals with higher autistic traits, especially during imitation of fearful expressions. The left BLA-IFG connectivity significantly moderated the autistic group differences on recognition memory for fearful faces, indicating that increased amygdala-MNS connectivity could diminish the social behavioral differences between higher and lower autistic trait groups. Overall, findings demonstrate decreased imitation-related amygdala activity in individuals with higher autistic traits in the context of increased amygdala-MNS connectivity which may functionally compensate for amygdala dysfunction and social deficits. Training targeting the MNS may capitalize on this compensatory mechanism for therapeutic benefits in Autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Zheng
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuxia Yao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jialin Li
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Meina Fu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Keshuang Li
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China; School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Li
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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14
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Gennarelli M, Monteleone P, Minelli A, Monteleone AM, Rossi A, Rocca P, Bertolino A, Aguglia E, Amore M, Bellino S, Bellomo A, Biondi M, Bucci P, Carpiniello B, Cascino G, Cuomo A, Dell'Osso L, di Giannantonio M, Giordano GM, Marchesi C, Oldani L, Pompili M, Roncone R, Rossi R, Siracusano A, Tenconi E, Vita A, Zeppegno P, Galderisi S, Maj M. Genome-wide association study detected novel susceptibility genes for social cognition impairment in people with schizophrenia. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:46-54. [PMID: 34132174 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2021.1907722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES People with schizophrenia (SCZ) present serious and generalised deficits in social cognition (SC), which affect negatively patients' functioning and treatment outcomes. The genetic background of SC has been investigated in disorders other than SCZ providing weak and sparse results. Thus, our aim was to explore possible genetic correlates of SC dysfunctions in SCZ patients with a genome-wide study (GWAS) approach. METHODS We performed a GWAS meta-analysis of data coming from two cohorts made of 242 and 160 SCZ patients, respectively. SC was assessed with different tools in order to cover its different domains. RESULTS We found GWAS significant association between the TMEM74 gene and the patients' ability in social inference as assessed by The Awareness of Social Inference Test; this association was confirmed by both SNP-based analysis (lead SNP rs3019332 p-value = 5.24 × 10-9) and gene-based analysis (p-value = 1.09 × 10-7). Moreover, suggestive associations of other genes with different dimensions of SC were also found. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows for the first time GWAS significant or suggestive associations of some gene variants with SC domains in people with SCZ. These findings should stimulate further studies to characterise the genetic underpinning of SC dysfunctions in SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Gennarelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Palmiero Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana" Section of Neuroscience, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandra Minelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessio Maria Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana" Section of Neuroscience, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Paola Rocca
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Eugenio Aguglia
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvio Bellino
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Massimo Biondi
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Bucci
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Bernardo Carpiniello
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giammarco Cascino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana" Section of Neuroscience, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cuomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Clinical Department of Mental Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Liliana Dell'Osso
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Carlo Marchesi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Lucio Oldani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, S. Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Roncone
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alberto Siracusano
- Department of Systems Medicine, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Unit, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Tenconi
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonio Vita
- Psychiatric Unit, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zeppegno
- Department of Translational Medicine, Psychiatric Unit, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Silvana Galderisi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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15
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Tung R, Reiter MA, Linke A, Kohli JS, Kinnear MK, Müller RA, Carper RA. Functional connectivity within an anxiety network and associations with anxiety symptom severity in middle-aged adults with and without autism. Autism Res 2021; 14:2100-2112. [PMID: 34264028 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, few functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of ASDs have focused on anxiety (and fewer still on anxiety in middle-aged adults). Thus, relationships between atypical connectivity and anxiety in this population are poorly understood. The current study contrasted functional connectivity within anxiety network regions across adults (40-64 years) with and without autism, and tested for group by functional connectivity interactions on anxiety. Twenty-two adults with ASDs (16 males) and 26 typical control (TC) adults (22 males) completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory and a resting-state fMRI scan. An anxiety network consisting of 12 regions of interest was defined, based on a meta-analysis in TC individuals and two studies on anxiety in ASDs. We tested for main effects of group and group by anxiety interactions on connectivity within this anxiety network, controlling for head motion using ANCOVA. Results are reported at an FDR adjusted threshold of q < 0.1 (corrected) and p < 0.05 (uncorrected). Adults with ASDs showed higher anxiety and underconnectivity within the anxiety network, mostly involving bilateral insula. Connectivity within the anxiety network in the ASD group showed distinct relationships with anxiety symptoms that did not relate to ASD symptom severity. Functional connectivity involving the bilateral posterior insula was positively correlated with anxiety in the ASD (but not the TC) group. Increased anxiety in middle-aged adults with ASD is associated with atypical functional connectivity, predominantly involving bilateral insula. Results were not related to ASD symptom severity suggesting independence of anxiety-related effects. LAY SUMMARY: Anxiety is very common in adults with autism but the brain basis of this difference is not well understood. We compared functional connectivity between anxiety-related brain regions in middle-aged adults with and without autism. Adults with autism were more anxious and showed weaker functional connections between these regions. Some relationships between functional connectivity and higher anxiety were specific to the autism group. Results suggest that anxiety functions differently in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Tung
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,Center for Autism and Development Disorders, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Maya A Reiter
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,Center for Autism and Development Disorders, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Annika Linke
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,Center for Autism and Development Disorders, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jiwandeep S Kohli
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,Center for Autism and Development Disorders, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Mikaela K Kinnear
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,Center for Autism and Development Disorders, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,Center for Autism and Development Disorders, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Ruth A Carper
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,Center for Autism and Development Disorders, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, California, USA
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16
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Mueller FS, Scarborough J, Schalbetter SM, Richetto J, Kim E, Couch A, Yee Y, Lerch JP, Vernon AC, Weber-Stadlbauer U, Meyer U. Behavioral, neuroanatomical, and molecular correlates of resilience and susceptibility to maternal immune activation. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:396-410. [PMID: 33230204 PMCID: PMC7850974 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00952-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Infectious or noninfectious maternal immune activation (MIA) is an environmental risk factor for psychiatric and neurological disorders with neurodevelopmental etiologies. Whilst there is increasing evidence for significant health consequences, the effects of MIA on the offspring appear to be variable. Here, we aimed to identify and characterize subgroups of isogenic mouse offspring exposed to identical MIA, which was induced in C57BL6/N mice by administration of the viral mimetic, poly(I:C), on gestation day 12. Cluster analysis of behavioral data obtained from a first cohort containing >150 MIA and control offspring revealed that MIA offspring could be stratified into distinct subgroups that were characterized by the presence or absence of multiple behavioral dysfunctions. The two subgroups also differed in terms of their transcriptional profiles in cortical and subcortical brain regions and brain networks of structural covariance, as measured by ex vivo structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In a second, independent cohort containing 50 MIA and control offspring, we identified a subgroup of MIA offspring that displayed elevated peripheral production of innate inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, in adulthood. This subgroup also showed significant impairments in social approach behavior and sensorimotor gating, whereas MIA offspring with a low inflammatory cytokine status did not. Taken together, our results highlight the existence of subgroups of MIA-exposed offspring that show dissociable behavioral, transcriptional, brain network, and immunological profiles even under conditions of genetic homogeneity. These data have relevance for advancing our understanding of the variable neurodevelopmental effects induced by MIA and for biomarker-guided approaches in preclinical psychiatric research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Scarborough
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliet Richetto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eugene Kim
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Amalie Couch
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yohan Yee
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anthony C Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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17
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Description and classification of neurodevelopmental disabilities. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32958181 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64150-2.00001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Classification is a tool for communication so that when clinicians, policy-makers, or researchers refer to some features they talk about the same thing. The classification of neurodevelopmental problems in children and adolescents is crucial to better understand their prevalence and the intervention or treatment that should be provided. However, such classification might be challenging, especially when development aspects have to be taken into account. This chapter aims to provide a better understanding of the classification of neurodevelopmental disabilities. Thus, we provide an overview of the different classification systems that are the most commonly used, such as the well-known Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Moreover, we address opportunities and challenges inherent to the classification of neurodevelopmental disorders and the implications for clinical practice and research areas.
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18
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A conceptual model of risk and protective factors associated with internalizing symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review, synthesis, and call for more research. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:1254-1272. [PMID: 32893766 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942000084x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews and synthesizes key areas of research related to the etiology, development, and maintenance of internalizing symptoms in children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In developing an integrated conceptual model, we draw from current conceptual models of internalizing symptoms in ASD and extend the model to include factors related to internalizing within other populations (e.g., children that have experienced early life stress, children with other neurodevelopmental conditions, typically developing children) that have not been systematically examined in ASD. Our review highlights the need for more research to understand the developmental course of internalizing symptoms, potential moderators, and the interplay between early risk and protective factors. Longitudinal studies incorporating multiple methods and both environmental and biological factors will be important in order to elucidate these mechanisms.
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19
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Park DI. Genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and big data analysis in the discovery of new diagnostic markers and targets for therapy development. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 173:61-90. [PMID: 32711818 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Highly complex endophenotypes and underlying molecular mechanisms have prevented effective diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Despite extensive studies to identify relevant biosignatures, no biomarker and therapeutic targets are available in the current clinical practice. While our current knowledge is still largely incomplete, -omics technology and machine learning-based big data analysis have provided novel insights on the etiology of autism spectrum disorders, elucidating systemic impairments that can be translated into biomarker and therapy target candidates. However, more integrated and sophisticated approaches are vital to realize molecular stratification and individualized treatment strategy. Ultimately, systemic approaches based on -omics and big data analysis will significantly contribute to more effective biomarker and therapy development for autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Ik Park
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE)-Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Danish National Research Foundation Center, PROMEMO, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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20
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Lee JK, Amaral DG, Solomon M, Rogers SJ, Ozonoff S, Nordahl CW. Sex Differences in the Amygdala Resting-State Connectome of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2020; 5:320-329. [PMID: 31563470 PMCID: PMC7033019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multifactorial liability models predict greater dissimilarity in the neural phenotype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in female individuals than in male individuals, while gender incoherence and extreme male brain models predict attenuated sex differences in ASD. The amygdala is an informative target to explore these models because it is implicated in both the neurobiology of ASD and sex differences in typical development. METHODS This study investigated amygdala resting-state functional connectivity in a cohort of 116 children with ASD (36 female) and 58 typically developing children (27 female) 2 to 7 years of age during natural sleep. First, multivariate distance matrix regression assessed global sex and diagnostic differences across the amygdala connectome. Second, univariate general linear models identified regions with mean connectivity differences. RESULTS Multivariate distance matrix regression revealed greater differences between typically developing children and those with ASD in females than in males, consistent with multifactorial liability models, and attenuated sex differences in the left amygdala connectome of children with ASD in a pattern consistent with the gender incoherence model. Univariate analysis identified similar sex differences in dorsomedial and ventral prefrontal cortices, lingual gyrus, and posterior cingulate cortex, but also noted that lower amygdala connectivity with superior temporal sulcus is observed across sexes. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that compared with sex-matched control subjects, ASD manifests differently in the brain at the time of diagnosis and prior to the influence of compensatory mechanisms in male and female children, consistent with multifactorial liability models, and that ASD is associated with reduced sex differences in a pattern consistent with gender incoherence models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua K Lee
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California.
| | - David G Amaral
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - Sally J Rogers
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - Sally Ozonoff
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - Christine Wu Nordahl
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California.
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21
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DeMayo MM, Young LJ, Hickie IB, Song YJC, Guastella AJ. Circuits for social learning: A unified model and application to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:388-398. [PMID: 31560922 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Early life social experiences shape neural pathways in infants to develop lifelong social skills. This review presents the first unified circuit-based model of social learning that can be applied to early life social development, drawing together unique human developmental milestones, sensitive learning periods, and behavioral and neural scaffolds. Circuit domains for social learning are identified governing Activation, Integration, Discrimination, Response and Reward (AIDRR) to sculpt and drive human social learning. This unified model can be used to identify social delays earlier in development. We propose social impairments observed in Autism Spectrum Disorder are underpinned by early mistimed sensitive periods in brain development and alterations in amygdala development to disrupt the AIDRR circuits. This model directs how interventions can target neural circuits for social development and be applied early in life. To illustrate, the role of oxytocin and its use as an intervention is explored. The AIDRR model shifts focus away from delivering broad treatments based only on diagnostic classifications, to specifying and targeting the relevant circuits, at the right time of development, to optimize social learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilena M DeMayo
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia.
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia.
| | - Yun Ju C Song
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia.
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Australia.
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22
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Vaidya AR, Pujara MS, Petrides M, Murray EA, Fellows LK. Lesion Studies in Contemporary Neuroscience. Trends Cogn Sci 2019; 23:653-671. [PMID: 31279672 PMCID: PMC6712987 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Studies of humans with focal brain damage and non-human animals with experimentally induced brain lesions have provided pivotal insights into the neural basis of behavior. As the repertoire of neural manipulation and recording techniques expands, the utility of studying permanent brain lesions bears re-examination. Studies on the effects of permanent lesions provide vital data about brain function that are distinct from those of reversible manipulations. Focusing on work carried out in humans and nonhuman primates, we address the inferential strengths and limitations of lesion studies, recent methodological developments, the integration of this approach with other methods, and the clinical and ecological relevance of this research. We argue that lesion studies are essential to the rigorous assessment of neuroscience theories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash R Vaidya
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Carney Institute for Brain Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Maia S Pujara
- Section on the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Michael Petrides
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elisabeth A Murray
- Section on the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lesley K Fellows
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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23
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Beversdorf DQ, Stevens HE, Margolis KG, Van de Water J. Prenatal Stress and Maternal Immune Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Potential Points for Intervention. Curr Pharm Des 2019; 25:4331-4343. [PMID: 31742491 PMCID: PMC7100710 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191119093335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetics is a major etiological contributor to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Environmental factors, however, also appear to contribute. ASD pathophysiology due to gene x environment is also beginning to be explored. One reason to focus on environmental factors is that they may allow opportunities for intervention or prevention. METHODS AND RESULTS Herein, we review two such factors that have been associated with a significant proportion of ASD risk, prenatal stress exposure and maternal immune dysregulation. Maternal stress susceptibility appears to interact with prenatal stress exposure to affect offspring neurodevelopment. We also explore how maternal stress may interact with the microbiome in the neurodevelopmental setting. Additionally, understanding of the impact of maternal immune dysfunction on ASD has recently been advanced by recognition of specific fetal brain proteins targeted by maternal autoantibodies, and identification of unique mid-gestational maternal immune profiles. This might also be interrelated with maternal stress exposure. Animal models have been developed to explore pathophysiology targeting each of these factors. CONCLUSION We are beginning to understand the behavioral, pharmacopathological, and epigenetic effects related to these interactions, and we are beginning to explore potential mitigating factors. Continued growth in understanding of these mechanisms may ultimately allow for the identification of multiple potential targets for prevention or intervention for this subset of environmental-associated ASD cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Q. Beversdorf
- Departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, and The Thompson Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Radiology
| | - Hanna E. Stevens
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa
| | - Kara Gross Margolis
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, And the MIND Institute, University of California, Davis
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24
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Nadig A, Reardon PK, Seidlitz J, McDermott CL, Blumenthal JD, Clasen LS, Lalonde F, Lerch JP, Chakravarty MM, Raznahan A. Carriage of Supernumerary Sex Chromosomes Decreases the Volume and Alters the Shape of Limbic Structures. eNeuro 2018; 5:ENEURO.0265-18.2018. [PMID: 30713992 PMCID: PMC6354783 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0265-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) increases risk for several psychiatric disorders associated with the limbic system, including mood and autism spectrum disorders. Thus, SCA offers a genetics-first model for understanding the biological basis of psychopathology. Additionally, the sex-biased prevalence of many psychiatric disorders could potentially reflect sex chromosome dosage effects on brain development. To clarify how limbic anatomy varies across sex and sex chromosome complement, we characterized amygdala and hippocampus structure in a uniquely large sample of patients carrying supernumerary sex chromosomes (n = 132) and typically developing controls (n = 166). After adjustment for sex-differences in brain size, karyotypically normal males (XY) and females (XX) did not differ in volume or shape of either structure. In contrast, all SCAs were associated with lowered amygdala volume relative to gonadally-matched controls. This effect was robust to three different methods for total brain volume adjustment, including an allometric analysis that derived normative scaling rules for these structures in a separate, typically developing population (n = 79). Hippocampal volume was insensitive to SCA after adjustment for total brain volume. However, surface-based analysis revealed that SCA, regardless of specific karyotype, was consistently associated with a spatially specific pattern of shape change in both amygdala and hippocampus. In particular, SCA was accompanied by contraction around the basomedial nucleus of the amygdala and an area crossing the hippocampal tail. These results demonstrate the power of SCA as a model to understand how copy number variation can precipitate changes in brain systems relevant to psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Nadig
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Paul K. Reardon
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Jakob Seidlitz
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Cassidy L. McDermott
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Jonathan D. Blumenthal
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Liv S. Clasen
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Francois Lalonde
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Jason P. Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - M. Mallar Chakravarty
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A OG4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A OG4, Canada
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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