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Hou Y, Li Y, Yang D, Zhao Y, Feng T, Zheng W, Xian P, Liu X, Wu S, Wang Y. Involvement and regulation of the left anterior cingulate cortex in the ultrasonic communication deficits of autistic mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1387447. [PMID: 38813469 PMCID: PMC11133516 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1387447] [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: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of diseases often characterized by poor sociability and challenges in social communication. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a core brain region for social function. Whether it contributes to the defects of social communication in ASD and whether it could be physiologically modulated to improve social communication have been poorly investigated. This study is aimed at addressing these questions. Methods Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) mutant and valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD mice were used. Male-female social interaction was adopted to elicit ultrasonic vocalization (USV). Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate USV-activated neurons. Optogenetic and precise target transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were utilized to modulate anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neuronal activity. Results In wild-type (WT) mice, USV elicited rapid expression of c-Fos in the excitatory neurons of the left but not the right ACC. Optogenetic inhibition of the left ACC neurons in WT mice effectively suppressed social-induced USV. In FMR1-/-- and VPA-induced ASD mice, significantly fewer c-Fos/CaMKII-positive neurons were observed in the left ACC following USV compared to the control. Optogenetic activation of the left ACC neurons in FMR1-/- or VPA-pretreated mice significantly increased social activity elicited by USV. Furthermore, precisely stimulating neuronal activity in the left ACC, but not the right ACC, by repeated TMS effectively rescued the USV emission in these ASD mice. Discussion The excitatory neurons in the left ACC are responsive to socially elicited USV. Their silence mediates the deficiency of social communication in FMR1-/- and VPA-induced ASD mice. Precisely modulating the left ACC neuronal activity by repeated TMS can promote the social communication in FMR1-/- and VPA-pretreated mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Hou
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yuqian Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Dingding Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Youyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Engineering Research, Center for Dental Materials and Advanced Manufacture, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Tingwei Feng
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wei’an Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Panpan Xian
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xufeng Liu
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yazhou Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Institute of Neurosciences, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
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Duvall L, May KE, Waltz A, Kana RK. The neurobiological map of theory of mind and pragmatic communication in autism. Soc Neurosci 2023; 18:191-204. [PMID: 37724352 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2023.2242095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Children with autism often have difficulty with Theory of Mind (ToM), the ability to infer mental states, and pragmatic skills, the contextual use of language. Neuroimaging research suggests ToM and pragmatic skills overlap, as the ability to understand another's mental state is a prerequisite to interpersonal communication. To our knowledge, no study in the last decade has examined this overlap further. To assess the emerging consensus across neuroimaging studies of ToM and pragmatic skills in autism, we used coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analysis of 35 functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies (13 pragmatic skills, 22 ToM), resulting in a meta-analysis of 1,295 participants (647 autistic, 648 non-autistic) aged 7 to 49 years. Group difference analysis revealed decreased left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) activation in autistic participants during pragmatic skills tasks. For ToM tasks, we found reduced anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), and temporoparietal junction (TPJ) activation in autistic participants. Collectively, both ToM and pragmatic tasks showed activation in IFG and superior temporal gyrus (STG) and a reduction in left hemispheric activation in autistic participants. Overall, the findings underscore the cognitive and neural processing similarities between ToM and pragmatic skills, and their underlying neurobiological differences in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Duvall
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kaitlyn E May
- Department of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodologies, and Counseling, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL,USA
| | - Abby Waltz
- Department of Psychology & the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Rajesh K Kana
- Department of Psychology & the Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
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Yoshioka A, Tanabe HC, Nakagawa E, Sumiya M, Koike T, Sadato N. The Role of the Left Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Introspection during Verbal Communication. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13010111. [PMID: 36672092 PMCID: PMC9856826 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13010111] [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: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Conversation enables the sharing of our subjective experiences through verbalizing introspected thoughts and feelings. The mentalizing network represents introspection, and successful conversation is characterized by alignment through imitation mediated by the mirror neuron system (MNS). Therefore, we hypothesized that the interaction between the mentalizing network and MNS mediates the conversational exchange of introspection. To test this, we performed hyperscanning functional magnetic resonance imaging during structured real-time conversations between 19 pairs of healthy participants. The participants first evaluated their preference for and familiarity with a presented object and then disclosed it. The control was the object feature identification task. When contrasted with the control, the preference/familiarity evaluation phase activated the dorso-medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, left hippocampus, right cerebellum, and orbital portion of the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), which represents introspection. The left IFG was activated when the two participants' statements of introspection were mismatched during the disclosure. Disclosing introspection enhanced the functional connectivity of the left IFG with the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and primary motor cortex, representing the auditory MNS. Thus, the mentalizing system and MNS are hierarchically linked in the left IFG during a conversation, allowing for the sharing of introspection of the self and others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Yoshioka
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Research Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
| | - Hiroki C. Tanabe
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Correspondence: (H.C.T.); (N.S.); Tel.: +81-52-789-2256 (H.C.T.); +81-564-55-7841 (N.S.); Fax: +81-52-789-2256 (H.C.T.); +81-564-55-7843 (N.S.)
| | - Eri Nakagawa
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Motofumi Sumiya
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takahiko Koike
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Norihiro Sadato
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Research Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
- Correspondence: (H.C.T.); (N.S.); Tel.: +81-52-789-2256 (H.C.T.); +81-564-55-7841 (N.S.); Fax: +81-52-789-2256 (H.C.T.); +81-564-55-7843 (N.S.)
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Bertilsdotter Rosqvist H, Hultman L, Hallqvist J. Knowing and accepting oneself: Exploring possibilities of self-awareness among working autistic young adults. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022:13623613221137428. [DOI: 10.1177/13623613221137428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Autistic people have historically been described as incapable of developing a deeper sense of self-awareness, and autistic understandings of self-awareness have been largely disregarded. The aim of this study is to explore the way young autistic adults try to understand their functionality and who they are, or to develop their sense of self-awareness, in work and in private life contexts. In 12 qualitative interviews conducted with four autistic adults without learning difficulties, we identified a rich set of reflections on knowing and accepting oneself. The overarching theme of self-knowledge has three subthemes: learning from previous experiences, learning about oneself by securing the support of others, and understanding and accepting autistic functionality. The strategy of self-knowledge was used by these young adults to help them achieve functional lives in the work and private domains. Our results show that young autistic adults both actively explore and develop their self-awareness. We suggest that it is important for practitioners and employers working with autistic individuals to engage with their journeys of self-awareness as a vital part of understanding and supporting them. Lay abstract When researchers and professionals talk about autism, they commonly point out problems and risks with autism or being autistic. Several interventions are based on the idea of the problems and risks of autism. Another way of talking about autism is to point out autistic people’s strengths and strategies which they use to handle barriers and problems in their lives in order to live good lives on their own terms. In this article, the researchers explore how autistic young adults formulate their own difficulties, strengths and support needs in order to get right support from support people. To be able to formulate this, autistic people need to get to know oneself and one’s own way of functioning. Autistic own self-knowledge must be central when formal support people, such as social workers, formulate support and interventions aimed at helping autistic people, in order for the support/intervention to be helpful.
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Cheng L, Zhan L, Huang L, Zhang H, Sun J, Huang G, Wang Y, Li M, Li H, Gao Y, Jia X. The atypical functional connectivity of Broca's area at multiple frequency bands in autism spectrum disorder. Brain Imaging Behav 2022; 16:2627-2636. [PMID: 36163448 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-022-00718-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
As a developmental disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has drawn much attention due to its severe impacts on one's language capacity. Broca's area, an important brain region of the language network, is largely involved in language-related functions. Using the Autism Brain Image Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset, a mega-analysis was performed involving a total of 1454 participants (including 618 individuals with ASD and 836 healthy controls (HCs). To detect the neural pathophysiological mechanism of ASD from the perspective of language, we conducted a functional connectivity (FC) analysis with Broca's area as the seed in multiple frequency bands (conventional: 0.01-0.08 Hz; slow-4: 0.027-0.073 Hz; slow-5: 0.01-0.027 Hz). We found that compared with HC, ASD patients demonstrated increased FC in the left thalamus, left precuneus, left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri, and left medial orbital of the superior frontal gyrus in the conventional frequency band (0.01-0.08 Hz). The results of the slow-5 frequency band (0.01-0.027 Hz) presented increased FC values of the left precuneus, left medial orbital of the superior frontal gyrus, right medial orbital of the superior frontal gyrus and right thalamus. No significant cluster was detected in the slow-4 frequency band (0.027-0.073 Hz). In conclusion, the abnormal functional connectivity in patients with ASD has frequency-specific properties. Furthermore, the slow-5 frequency band (0.01-0.027 Hz) mainly contributed to the findings of the conventional frequency band (0.01-0.08 Hz). The current study might shed new light on the neural pathophysiological mechanism of language impairments in people with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Cheng
- School of Foreign Studies, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China.,Shanghai Center for Research in English Language Education, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linlin Zhan
- Faculty of Western Languages, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China
| | - Lina Huang
- Department of Radiology, Changshu No. 2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongqiang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Changshu No. 2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiawei Sun
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Guofeng Huang
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Yadan Wang
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Mengting Li
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.,Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Huayun Li
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.,Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Yanyan Gao
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China. .,Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China.
| | - Xize Jia
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China. .,Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China.
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Hao Z, Shi Y, Huang L, Sun J, Li M, Gao Y, Li J, Wang Q, Zhan L, Ding Q, Jia X, Li H. The Atypical Effective Connectivity of Right Temporoparietal Junction in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multi-Site Study. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:927556. [PMID: 35924226 PMCID: PMC9340667 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.927556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social function impairment is the core deficit of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although many studies have investigated ASD through a variety of neuroimaging tools, its brain mechanism of social function remains unclear due to its complex and heterogeneous symptoms. The present study aimed to use resting-state functional magnetic imaging data to explore effective connectivity between the right temporoparietal junction (RTPJ), one of the key brain regions associated with social impairment of individuals with ASD, and the whole brain to further deepen our understanding of the neuropathological mechanism of ASD. This study involved 1,454 participants from 23 sites from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) public dataset, which included 618 individuals with ASD and 836 with typical development (TD). First, a voxel-wise Granger causality analysis (GCA) was conducted with the RTPJ selected as the region of interest (ROI) to investigate the differences in effective connectivity between the ASD and TD groups in every site. Next, to obtain further accurate and representative results, an image-based meta-analysis was implemented to further analyze the GCA results of each site. Our results demonstrated abnormal causal connectivity between the RTPJ and the widely distributed brain regions and that the connectivity has been associated with social impairment in individuals with ASD. The current study could help to further elucidate the pathological mechanisms of ASD and provides a new perspective for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeqi Hao
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yuyu Shi
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Lina Huang
- Department of Radiology, Changshu No. 2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, China
| | - Jiawei Sun
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Mengting Li
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yanyan Gao
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Jing Li
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Linlin Zhan
- School of Western Languages, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China
| | - Qingguo Ding
- Department of Radiology, Changshu No. 2 People's Hospital, The Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Changshu, China
- Qingguo Ding
| | - Xize Jia
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Xize Jia
| | - Huayun Li
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- *Correspondence: Huayun Li
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Cao P, Wen G, Liu X, Yang J, Zaiane OR. Modeling the dynamic brain network representation for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Med Biol Eng Comput 2022; 60:1897-1913. [DOI: 10.1007/s11517-022-02558-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Yue X, Zhang G, Li X, Shen Y, Wei W, Bai Y, Luo Y, Wei H, Li Z, Zhang X, Wang M. Brain Functional Alterations in Prepubertal Boys With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:891965. [PMID: 35664346 PMCID: PMC9160196 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.891965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Abnormal brain function in ASD patients changes dynamically across developmental stages. However, no one has studied the brain function of prepubertal children with ASD. Prepuberty is an important stage for children’s socialization. This study aimed to investigate alterations in local spontaneous brain activity in prepubertal boys with ASD. Materials and Methods Measures of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) acquired from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) database, including 34 boys with ASD and 49 typically developing (TD) boys aged 7 to 10 years, were used to detect regional brain activity. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted on the relationship between abnormal ALFF and ReHo values and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) scores. Results In the ASD group, we found decreased ALFF in the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and decreased ReHo in the left lingual gyrus (LG), left superior temporal gyrus (STG), left middle occipital gyrus (MOG), and right cuneus (p < 0.05, FDR correction). There were negative correlations between ReHo values in the left LG and left STG and the ADOS social affect score and a negative correlation between ReHo values in the left STG and the calibrated severity total ADOS score. Conclusion Brain regions with functional abnormalities, including the left IPL, left LG, left STG, left MOG, and right cuneus may be crucial in the neuropathology of prepubertal boys with ASD. Furthermore, ReHo abnormalities in the left LG and left STG were correlated with sociality. These results will supplement the study of neural mechanisms in ASD at different developmental stages, and be helpful in exploring the neural mechanisms of prepubertal boys with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xipeng Yue
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaochen Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Shen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yan Bai
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huanhuan Wei
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ziqiang Li
- Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | | | - Meiyun Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital & Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Meiyun Wang,
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Lan Z, Xu S, Yu X, Yu Z, Li M, Chen F, Liu Y, Wang T, Wu Y, Gan Y, Jiang G. Functional Connectivity Underlying Symptoms in Preschool Boys With Autism: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:844821. [PMID: 35495045 PMCID: PMC9047045 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.844821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundSingle-sex children have been regarded as one of the best subjects to understand the abnormal development patterns of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, the functional connectivity (FC) behind their symptoms is still unknown.MethodsBased on FC analysis, the acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data sets, including 86 boys with ASD and 54 normal controls (NC), were used to detect the neural synchronous activity between brain regions. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between the abnormal FC value and clinical features.ResultsIndividuals with ASD showed enhanced FC between the right calcarine and the right lingual gyrus (LG). The right medial orbital frontal cortex also showed increased FC with bilateral inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) [two-tailed, voxel-level p < 0.001, gaussian random field (GRF) correction, cluster-level p < 0.05]. We did not find a correlation between the abnormal FC value and clinical scales.ConclusionOur study reveals a possible relationship between atypical visual attention and poor learning ability in subjects with ASD, and delayed social language development may be a secondary symptom to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Lan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhuhai People’s Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Shoujun Xu
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiangrong Yu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhuhai People’s Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Zhenjie Yu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhuhai People’s Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Zhuhai People’s Hospital, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Tianyue Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunfan Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yungen Gan
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Yungen Gan,
| | - Guihua Jiang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
- Guihua Jiang,
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MVS-GCN: A prior brain structure learning-guided multi-view graph convolution network for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Comput Biol Med 2022; 142:105239. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Qiao X, Lu K, Teng J, Gao Z, Hao N. Middle Occipital Area Differentially Associates with Malevolent versus Benevolent Creativity: An fNIRS investigation. Soc Neurosci 2022; 17:127-142. [PMID: 35114089 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2022.2038261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the neural correlates underlying idea generation during malevolent creativity (MC) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants were asked to solve problems during three types of creativity tasks: malevolent creativity task (MCT), benevolent creativity task (BCT), and alternative uses task (AUT). fNIRS was used to record individual cerebral activity during the tasks. The results revealed that participants demonstrated weaker neural activation in the right middle occipital area (rMO) and lower neural coupling (NC) between the right frontopolar cortex (rFPC) and rMO during MCT than during BCT and AUT. These suggest that r-MO activity and NC between the rFPC and rMO may distinguish between malevolent and benevolent forms of creative ideation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinuo Qiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kelong Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Teng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenni Gao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Hao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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Falcone C, Mevises NY, Hong T, Dufour B, Chen X, Noctor SC, Martínez Cerdeño V. Neuronal and glial cell number is altered in a cortical layer-specific manner in autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:2238-2253. [PMID: 34107793 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211014408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT The cerebral cortex affected with autism spectrum disorder presents changes in the number of neurons and glia cells, possibly leading to a dysregulation of brain circuits and affecting behavior. However, little is known about cell number alteration in specific layers of the cortex in autism spectrum disorder. We found an increase in the number of neurons and a decrease in the number of astrocytes in specific layers of the prefrontal cortex in postmortem human brains from autism spectrum disorder cases. We hypothesize that this may be due to a failure in neural stem cells to shift differentiation from neurons to glial cells during prenatal brain development. These data provide key anatomical findings that contribute to the bases of autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Falcone
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Natalie-Ya Mevises
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Tiffany Hong
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Brett Dufour
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
| | | | - Verónica Martínez Cerdeño
- UC Davis School of Medicine, USA.,Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, USA
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13
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Cauvet É, Van't Westeinde A, Toro R, Kuja-Halkola R, Neufeld J, Mevel K, Bölte S. The social brain in female autism: a structural imaging study of twins. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2021; 15:423-436. [PMID: 32363404 PMCID: PMC7308659 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A female advantage in social cognition (SoC) might contribute to women's underrepresentation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The latter could be underpinned by sex differences in social brain structure. This study investigated the relationship between structural social brain networks and SoC in females and males in relation to ASD and autistic traits in twins. We used a co-twin design in 77 twin pairs (39 female) aged 12.5 to 31.0 years. Twin pairs were discordant or concordant for ASD or autistic traits, discordant or concordant for other neurodevelopmental disorders or concordant for neurotypical development. They underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and were assessed for SoC using the naturalistic Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition. Autistic traits predicted reduced SoC capacities predominantly in male twins, despite a comparable extent of autistic traits in each sex, although the association between SoC and autistic traits did not differ significantly between the sexes. Consistently, within-pair associations between SoC and social brain structure revealed that lower SoC ability was associated with increased cortical thickness of several brain regions, particularly in males. Our findings confirm the notion that sex differences in SoC in association with ASD are underpinned by sex differences in brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élodie Cauvet
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm 11330, Sweden
| | - Annelies Van't Westeinde
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm 11330, Sweden
| | - Roberto Toro
- Department of Neuroscience, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France.,CNRS URA 2182 "Genes, synapses and cognition", Pasteur Institute, Paris 75015, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75013, France
| | - Ralf Kuja-Halkola
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Janina Neufeld
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm 11330, Sweden
| | - Katell Mevel
- GIP Cyceron, Normandy University, Caen 14074, France
| | - Sven Bölte
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm 11330, Sweden.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm 11330, Sweden.,School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia
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14
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Cermak CA, Arshinoff S, Ribeiro de Oliveira L, Tendera A, Beal DS, Brian J, Anagnostou E, Sanjeevan T. Brain and Language Associations in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:725-737. [PMID: 33765302 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04975-0] [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] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Examining brain and behaviour associations for language in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may bring us closer to identifying neural profiles that are unique to a subgroup of individuals with ASD identified as language impaired (e.g. ASD LI+). We conducted a scoping review to examine brain regions that are associated with language performance in ASD. Further, we examined methodological differences across studies in how language ability was characterized and what neuroimaging methods were used to explore brain regions. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Brain regions specific to ASD LI+ groups were found, however inconsistencies in brain and language associations were evident across study findings. Participant age, age-appropriate language scores, and neuroimaging methods likely contributed to differences in associations found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly A Cermak
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada. .,Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada. .,Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada.
| | - Spencer Arshinoff
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Leticia Ribeiro de Oliveira
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.,Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Anna Tendera
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Deryk S Beal
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.,Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.,Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
| | - Jessica Brian
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Teenu Sanjeevan
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON, M4G 1R8, Canada
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15
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GABA ARα2 is Decreased in the Axon Initial Segment of Pyramidal Cells in Specific Areas of the Prefrontal Cortex in Autism. Neuroscience 2020; 437:76-86. [PMID: 32335215 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Some forms of Autism Spectrum Disorder, a neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by impaired communication and social skills as well as repetitive behaviors, are purportedly associated with dysregulation of the excitation/inhibition balance in the cerebral cortex. Through human postmortem tissue analysis, we previously found a significant decrease in the number of a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneuron subtype, the chandelier (Ch) cell, in the prefrontal cortex of subjects with autism. Ch cells exclusively target the axon initial segment (AIS) of excitatory pyramidal (Pyr) neurons, and a single Ch cell forms synapses on hundreds of Pyr cells, indicating a possible role in maintaining electrical balance. Thus, we herein investigated this crucial link between Ch and Pyr cells in the anatomy of autism neuropathology by examining GABA receptor protein expression in the Pyr cell AIS in subjects with autism. We collected tissue from the prefrontal cortex (Brodmann Areas (BA) 9, 46, and 47) of 20 subjects with autism and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against the GABAA receptor subunit α2 (GABAARα2) - the subunit most prevalent in the Pyr cell AIS - revealed a significantly decreased GABAARα2 protein in the Pyr cell AIS in supragranular layers of prefrontal cortical areas BA9 and BA47 in autism. Downregulated GABAARα2 protein in the Pyr cell AIS may result from decreased GABA synthesis in the prefrontal cortex of subjects with autism, and thereby contribute to an excitation/inhibition imbalance. Our findings support the potential for GABA receptor agonists asa therapeutic tool for autism.
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16
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Liu Y, Xu L, Li J, Yu J, Yu X. Attentional Connectivity-based Prediction of Autism Using Heterogeneous rs-fMRI Data from CC200 Atlas. Exp Neurobiol 2020; 29:27-37. [PMID: 32122106 PMCID: PMC7075658 DOI: 10.5607/en.2020.29.1.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental syndrome characterized by obvious drawbacks in sociality and communication. It has crucial significance to exactly discern the individuals with ASD and typical controls (TC). Previous imaging studies on ASD/TC identification have made remarkable progress in the exploration of objective as well as crucial biomarkers associated with ASD. However, glaring deficiency is manifested by the investigation on solely homogeneous and small datasets. Thus, we attempted to unveil some replicable and robust neural patterns of autism using a heterogeneous multi-site brain imaging dataset from ABIDE (Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange). Experiments were carried out with an attention mechanism based on Extra-Trees algorithm, taking the study object of brain connectivity measured with the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of CC200 atlas. With cross-validation strategy, our proposed method resulted in a mean classification accuracy of 72.2% (sensitivity=68.6%, specificity=75.4%). It raised the precision of ASD prediction by about 2% and specificity by 3.2% in comparison with the most competitive reported effort. Connectivity analysis on the optimal model highlighted informative regions strongly involved in the social cognition as well as interaction, and manifested lower correlation between the anterior and posterior default mode network (DMN) in autistic individuals than controls. This observation is concordant with previous studies, which enables our proposed method to effectively identify the individuals with risk of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaya Liu
- School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Lingyu Xu
- School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Jun Li
- South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jie Yu
- School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Xuan Yu
- School of Computer Engineering and Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China
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17
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Effect of propionic acid on the morphology of the amygdala in adolescent male rats and their behavior. Micron 2019; 125:102732. [PMID: 31437571 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2019.102732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a group of life-long developmental syndromes, characterized by stereotypic behavior, restricted, communication deficits, cognitive and social impairments. Autism spectrum disorder is heritable state, provided by the mutations of well-conserved genes; however, it has been increasingly accepted, that most of such states are the result of complex interaction between individual's genetic profile and the environment that he/she is exposed to. Gut microbiota plays one of the central roles in the etiology of autism. Propionic acid is one of the most abundant short-chain fatty acids, made by enteric bacteria. Propionic acid has many positive functions and acts as the main mediator between nutrition, gut microbiota and brain physiology. However, increased level of propionic acid is associated with various neurological pathologies, including autism. It is proposed that some types of autism might be partially related with alterations in propionic acid metabolism. The amygdala, the main component of social brain, via its large interconnections with fronto-limbic neural system, plays one of the key roles in social communications, emotional memory and emotional processing. Social behavior is a hot topic in autism research. As to anxiety, it is not the main characteristics of ASD, but represents one of the most common its co morbidities. Several theoretical reasons compatible with amygdala dysfunction have been suggested to account for socio-emotional disturbances in autism. In the present study, using adolescent male Wistar rats, the effect of acute administration of low dose of propionic acid on social behavior, anxiety-like behavior and the structure/ultrastructure of central nucleus of amygdale was described. In addition to qualitative analysis, on electron microscopic level the quantitative analysis of some parameters of synapses was performed. Behavior was assessed 2, 24 and 48 hours after treatment. The results revealed that even single and relatively low dose of propionic acid is sufficient to produce fast and relatively long lasting (48 h after treatment) decrease of social motivation, whereas asocial motivation and emotional sphere remain unaffected. Morphological analyses of propionic acid-treated brain revealed the reduced neuron number and the increase of the number of glial cells. Electron microscopically, in some neurons the signs of apoptosis and chromatolysis were detected. Glial alterations were more common. Particularly, the activation of astrocytes and microglia were often observed. Pericapillary glia was the most changed. Neuronal, glial and presynaptic mitochondria showed substantial structural diversities, mainly in terms of size and form. Total number of the area of presynaptic profile was significantly decreased. Some axons were moderately demyelinated. In general, the data indicate that even low dose of propionic acid produces in adolescent rodents immediate changes in social behavior, and structural/ultrastructural alterations in amygdala. Ultrastructural alterations may reflect moderate modifications in functional networks of social brain.
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18
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Ciarrusta J, O'Muircheartaigh J, Dimitrova R, Batalle D, Cordero-Grande L, Price A, Hughes E, Steinweg JK, Kangas J, Perry E, Javed A, Stoencheva V, Akolekar R, Victor S, Hajnal J, Murphy D, Edwards D, Arichi T, McAlonan G. Social Brain Functional Maturation in Newborn Infants With and Without a Family History of Autism Spectrum Disorder. JAMA Netw Open 2019; 2:e191868. [PMID: 30951164 PMCID: PMC6450332 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.1868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE What is inherited or acquired in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not a fixed outcome, but instead is a vulnerability to a spectrum of traits, especially social difficulties. Identifying the biological mechanisms associated with vulnerability requires looking as early in life as possible, before the brain is shaped by postnatal mechanisms and/or the experiences of living with these traits. Animal studies suggest that susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders arises when genetic and/or environmental risks for these conditions alter patterns of synchronous brain activity in the perinatal period, but this has never been examined in human neonates. OBJECTIVE To assess whether alternation of functional maturation of social brain circuits is associated with a family history of ASD in newborns. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this cohort study of 36 neonates with and without a family history of ASD, neonates underwent magnetic resonance imaging at St Thomas Hospital in London, England, using a dedicated neonatal brain imaging system between June 23, 2015, and August 1, 2018. Neonates with a first-degree relative with ASD (R+) and therefore vulnerable to autistic traits and neonates without a family history (R-) were recruited for the study. Synchronous neural activity in brain regions linked to social function was compared. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Regions responsible for social function were selected with reference to a published meta-analysis and the level of synchronous activity within each region was used as a measure of local functional connectivity in a regional homogeneity analysis. Group differences, controlling for sex, age at birth, age at scan, and group × age interactions, were examined. RESULTS The final data set consisted of 18 R+ infants (13 male; median [range] postmenstrual age at scan, 42.93 [40.00-44.86] weeks) and 18 R- infants (13 male; median [range] postmenstrual age at scan, 42.50 [39.29-44.58] weeks). Neonates who were R+ had significantly higher levels of synchronous activity in the right posterior fusiform (t = 2.48; P = .04) and left parietal cortices (t = 3.96; P = .04). In addition, there was a significant group × age interaction within the anterior segment of the left insula (t = 3.03; P = .04) and cingulate cortices (right anterior: t = 3.00; P = .03; left anterior: t = 2.81; P = .03; right posterior: t = 2.77; P = .03; left posterior: t = 2.55; P = .03). In R+ infants, levels of synchronous activity decreased over 39 to 45 weeks' postmenstrual age, whereas synchronous activity levels increased in R- infants over the same period. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Synchronous activity is required during maturation of functionally connected networks. This study found that in newborn humans, having a first-degree relative with ASD was associated with higher levels of local functional connectivity and dysmaturation of interconnected regions responsible for processing higher-order social information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Ciarrusta
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ralica Dimitrova
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dafnis Batalle
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucilio Cordero-Grande
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Price
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emer Hughes
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes Klaus Steinweg
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Johanna Kangas
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Perry
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ayesha Javed
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vladimira Stoencheva
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Suresh Victor
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Hajnal
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Declan Murphy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Edwards
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tomoki Arichi
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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