1
|
Batouli SAH, Razavi F, Sisakhti M, Oghabian Z, Ahmadzade H, Tehrani Doost M. Examining the Dominant Presence of Brain Grey Matter in Autism During Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Basic Clin Neurosci 2023; 14:585-604. [PMID: 38628837 PMCID: PMC11016874 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.2021.1774.3] [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] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms appearing from early childhood. Behavioral modifications, special education, and medicines are used to treat ASD; however, the effectiveness of the treatments depends on early diagnosis of the disorder. The primary approach in diagnosing ASD is based on clinical interviews and valid scales. Still, methods based on brain imaging could also be possible diagnostic biomarkers for ASD. Methods To identify the amount of information the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals on ASD, we reviewed 292 task-based fMRI studies on ASD individuals. This study is part of a systematic review with the registration number CRD42017070975. Results We observed that face perception, language, attention, and social processing tasks were mainly studied in ASD. In addition, 73 brain regions, nearly 83% of brain grey matter, showed an altered activation between the ASD and normal individuals during these four tasks, either in a lower or a higher activation. Conclusion Using imaging methods, such as fMRI, to diagnose and predict ASD is a great objective; research similar to the present study could be the initial step.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Foroogh Razavi
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Minoo Sisakhti
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Oghabian
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Haady Ahmadzade
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuroimaging and Analysis Group, Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Tehrani Doost
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Roozbeh Psychiatry Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pan N, Lin LZ, Wang X, Shi L, Xu XY, Jin YY, Tan S, Song XJ, Jing J, Li XH. Brain structure underlying the empathizing-systemizing difference in children with autism spectrum disorder. World J Pediatr 2023; 19:782-792. [PMID: 37273174 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-023-00732-8] [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: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioral research has shown that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher empathizing-systemizing difference (D score) than normal children. However, there is no research about the neuroanatomical mechanisms of the empathizing-systemizing difference in children with ASD. METHODS Participants comprised 41 children with ASD and 39 typically developing (TD) children aged 6‒12 years. Empathizing-systemizing difference was estimated using the D score from the Chinese version of Children's Empathy Quotient and Systemizing Quotient. We quantified brain morphometry, including global and regional brain volumes and surface-based cortical measures (cortical thickness, surface area, and gyrification) via structural magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS We found that the D score was significantly negatively associated with amygdala gray matter volume [β = -0.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.30, -0.02; P value = 0.030] in children with ASD. There was a significantly negative association between D score and gyrification in the left lateral occipital cortex (LOC) in children with ASD (B = -0.10; SE = 0.03; cluster-wise P value = 0.006) and a significantly positive association between D score and gyrification in the right fusiform in TD children (B = 0.10; SE = 0.03; cluster-wise P value = 0.022). Moderation analyses demonstrated significant interactions between D score and diagnosed group in amygdala gray matter volume (β = 0.19; 95% CI 0.04, 0.35; P value = 0.013) and left LOC gyrification (β = 0.11; 95% CI 0.05, 0.17; P value = 0.001) but not in right fusiform gyrification (β = 0.08; 95% CI -0.02, 0.17; P value = 0.105). CONCLUSIONS Neuroanatomical variation in amygdala volume and gyrification of LOC could be potential biomarkers for the empathizing-systemizing difference in children with ASD but not in TD children. Large-scale neuroimaging studies are necessary to test the replicability of our findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Pan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Li-Zi Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Science, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lei Shi
- JNU-HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Xu
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yu-Ying Jin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Si Tan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jin Jing
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiu-Hong Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Thérien VD, Degré-Pelletier J, Barbeau EB, Samson F, Soulières I. Different levels of visuospatial abilities linked to differential brain correlates underlying visual mental segmentation processes in autism. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9186-9211. [PMID: 37317036 PMCID: PMC10350832 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural underpinnings of enhanced locally oriented visual processing that are specific to autistics with a Wechsler's Block Design (BD) peak are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the brain correlates underlying visual segmentation associated with the well-established autistic superior visuospatial abilities in distinct subgroups using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This study included 31 male autistic adults (15 with (AUTp) and 16 without (AUTnp) a BD peak) and 28 male adults with typical development (TYP). Participants completed a computerized adapted BD task with models having low and high perceptual cohesiveness (PC). Despite similar behavioral performances, AUTp and AUTnp showed generally higher occipital activation compared with TYP participants. Compared with both AUTnp and TYP participants, the AUTp group showed enhanced task-related functional connectivity within posterior visuoperceptual regions and decreased functional connectivity between frontal and occipital-temporal regions. A diminished modulation in frontal and parietal regions in response to increased PC was also found in AUTp participants, suggesting heavier reliance on low-level processing of global figures. This study demonstrates that enhanced visual functioning is specific to a cognitive phenotypic subgroup of autistics with superior visuospatial abilities and reinforces the need to address autistic heterogeneity by good cognitive characterization of samples in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Véronique D Thérien
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal (Québec) H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Janie Degré-Pelletier
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal (Québec) H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Elise B Barbeau
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Fabienne Samson
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Isabelle Soulières
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal (Québec) H1E 1A4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abassi Abu Rukab S, Khayat N, Hochstein S. High-level visual search in children with autism. J Vis 2022; 22:6. [PMID: 35994261 PMCID: PMC9419456 DOI: 10.1167/jov.22.9.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual search has been classified as easy feature search, with rapid target detection and little set size dependence, versus slower difficult search with focused attention, with set size-dependent speed. Reverse hierarchy theory attributes these classes to rapid high cortical-level vision at a glance versus low-level vision with scrutiny, attributing easy search to high-level representations. Accordingly, faces "pop out" of heterogeneous object photographs. Individuals with autism have difficulties recognizing faces, and we now asked if this disability disturbs their search for faces. We compare search times and set size slopes for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and those with neurotypical development (NT) when searching for faces. Human face targets were found rapidly, with shallow set size slopes. The between-group difference between slopes (18.8 vs. 11.3 ms/item) is significant, suggesting that faces may not "pop out" as easily, but in our view does not warrant classifying ASD face search as categorically different from that of NT children. We also tested search for different target categories, dog and lion faces, and nonface basic categories, cars and houses. The ASD group was generally a bit slower than the NT group, and their slopes were somewhat steeper. Nevertheless, the overall dependencies on target category were similar: human face search fastest, nonface categories slowest, and dog and lion faces in between. We conclude that autism may spare vision at a glance, including face detection, despite its reported effects on face recognition, which may require vision with scrutiny. This dichotomy is consistent with the two perceptual modes suggested by reverse hierarchy theory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Safa'a Abassi Abu Rukab
- ELSC Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Research and Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Noam Khayat
- ELSC Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Research and Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shaul Hochstein
- ELSC Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Research and Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang H, Ma ZH, Xu LZ, Yang L, Ji ZZ, Tang XZ, Liu JR, Li X, Cao QJ, Liu J. Developmental brain structural atypicalities in autism: a voxel-based morphometry analysis. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2022; 16:7. [PMID: 35101065 PMCID: PMC8805267 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-022-00443-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) studies have shown atypicalities in structural brain changes in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while a noticeable discrepancy in their results indicates the necessity of conducting further researches. METHODS The current study investigated the atypical structural brain features of autistic individuals who aged 6-30 years old. A total of 52 autistic individuals and 50 age-, gender-, and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched typically developing (TD) individuals were included in this study, and were assigned into three based cohorts: childhood (6-12 years old), adolescence (13-18 years old), and adulthood (19-30 years old). Analyses of whole-brain volume and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) on the sMRI data were conducted. RESULTS No significant difference was found in the volumes of whole-brain, gray matter, and white matter between the autism and TD groups in the three age-based cohorts. For VBM analyses, the volumes of gray matter in the right superior temporal gyrus and right inferior parietal lobule in the autism group (6-12 years old) were smaller than those in the TD group; the gray matter volume in the left inferior parietal lobule in the autism group (13-18 years old) was larger than that in the TD group; the gray matter volume in the right middle occipital gyrus in the autism group (19-30 years old) was larger than that in the TD group, and the gray matter volume in the left posterior cingulate gyrus in the autism group was smaller than that in the TD group. CONCLUSION Autistic individuals showed different atypical regional gray matter volumetric changes in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood compared to their TD peers, indicating that it is essential to consider developmental stages of the brain when exploring brain structural atypicalities in autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zeng-Hui Ma
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ling-Zi Xu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhao-Zheng Ji
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xin-Zhou Tang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jing-Ran Liu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xue Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Qing-Jiu Cao
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Imms P, Domínguez D JF, Burmester A, Seguin C, Clemente A, Dhollander T, Wilson PH, Poudel G, Caeyenberghs K. Navigating the link between processing speed and network communication in the human brain. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:1281-1302. [PMID: 33704578 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02241-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Processing speed on cognitive tasks relies upon efficient communication between widespread regions of the brain. Recently, novel methods of quantifying network communication like 'navigation efficiency' have emerged, which aim to be more biologically plausible compared to traditional shortest path length-based measures. However, it is still unclear whether there is a direct link between these communication measures and processing speed. We tested this relationship in forty-five healthy adults (27 females), where processing speed was defined as decision-making time and measured using drift rate from the hierarchical drift diffusion model. Communication measures were calculated from a graph theoretical analysis of the whole-brain structural connectome and of a task-relevant fronto-parietal structural subnetwork, using the large-scale Desikan-Killiany atlas. We found that faster processing speed on trials that require greater cognitive control are correlated with higher navigation efficiency (of both the whole-brain and the task-relevant subnetwork). In contrast, faster processing speed on trials that require more automatic processing are correlated with shorter path length within the task-relevant subnetwork. Our findings reveal that differences in the way communication is modelled between shortest path length and navigation may be sensitive to processing of automatic and controlled responses, respectively. Further, our findings suggest that there is a relationship between the speed of cognitive processing and the structural constraints of the human brain network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Imms
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 5/215 Spring Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
| | - Juan F Domínguez D
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Alex Burmester
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Caio Seguin
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, 3/161 Barry Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Adam Clemente
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 5/215 Spring Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Peter H Wilson
- Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural, Health and Human Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia
| | - Govinda Poudel
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 5/215 Spring Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Karen Caeyenberghs
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
An investigation of global-local processing bias in a large sample of typical individuals varying in autism traits. Conscious Cogn 2018; 65:271-279. [PMID: 30245409 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Although individuals with an autism spectrum disorder display impaired function across several social and behavioral domains, they possess intact, and often superior visual processing abilities for local relative to global aspects of their visual environment. To address whether differences in visual processing similarly vary within typical individuals as a function of their level of social competence, using the Navon hierarchical figures task, here we examined the relationship between global-local visual processing style and the number of autism-like traits in a large sample of 434 typically developed persons. In line with the existing literature, our data indicated an overall global processing bias. However, this overall visual processing style did not vary with participants' number of autism-like traits. These results suggest that the visual processing of Navon figures may be different in typical individuals vs. those with an autism spectrum disorder, with those differences potentially reflecting specific stimulus and task settings.
Collapse
|
8
|
Lalani SJ, Duffield TC, Trontel HG, Bigler ED, Abildskov TJ, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. Auditory attention in autism spectrum disorder: An exploration of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging findings. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2017; 40:502-517. [PMID: 29072106 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2017.1373746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Studies have shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to perform significantly below typically developing individuals on standardized measures of attention, even when controlling for IQ. The current study sought to examine within ASD whether anatomical correlates of attention performance differed between those with average to above-average IQ (AIQ group) and those with low-average to borderline ability (LIQ group) as well as in comparison to typically developing controls (TDC). Using automated volumetric analyses, we examined regional volume of classic attention areas including the superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus in ASD AIQ (n = 38) and LIQ (n = 18) individuals along with 30 TDC. Auditory attention performance was assessed using subtests of the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) compared among the groups and then correlated with regional brain volumes. Analyses revealed group differences in attention. The three groups did not differ significantly on any auditory attention-related brain volumes; however, trends toward significant size-attention function interactions were observed. Negative correlations were found between the volume of the precuneus and auditory attention performance for the AIQ ASD group, indicating larger volume related to poorer performance. Implications for general attention functioning and dysfunctional neural connectivity in ASD are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanam J Lalani
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Tyler C Duffield
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Haley G Trontel
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Erin D Bigler
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,b Neuroscience Center , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,c Department of Psychology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.,d Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Tracy J Abildskov
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- c Department of Psychology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Molly B D Prigge
- d Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brittany G Travers
- e Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,f Department of Kinesiology , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Jeffrey S Anderson
- g Department of Radiology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brandon A Zielinski
- d Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.,h Department of Neurology, School of Medicine , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Andrew Alexander
- e Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,i Department of Medical Physics , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,j Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Nicholas Lange
- k Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,l Neurostatistics Laboratory , McLean Hospital , Belmont , MA , USA
| | - Janet E Lainhart
- e Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,j Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Carlisi CO, Norman LJ, Lukito SS, Radua J, Mataix-Cols D, Rubia K. Comparative Multimodal Meta-analysis of Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 82:83-102. [PMID: 27887721 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) share inhibitory control deficits possibly underlying poor control over stereotyped and repetitive and compulsive behaviors, respectively. However, it is unclear whether these symptom profiles are mediated by common or distinct neural profiles. This comparative multimodal meta-analysis assessed shared and disorder-specific neuroanatomy and neurofunction of inhibitory functions. METHODS A comparative meta-analysis of 62 voxel-based morphometry and 26 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of inhibitory control was conducted comparing gray matter volume and activation abnormalities between patients with ASD (structural MRI: 911; fMRI: 188) and OCD (structural MRI: 928; fMRI: 247) and control subjects. Multimodal meta-analysis compared groups across voxel-based morphometry and fMRI. RESULTS Both disorders shared reduced function and structure in the rostral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex including the anterior cingulate. OCD patients had a disorder-specific increase in structure and function of left basal ganglia (BG) and insula relative to control subjects and ASD patients, who had reduced right BG and insula volumes versus OCD patients. In fMRI, ASD patients showed disorder-specific reduced left dorsolateral-prefrontal activation and reduced posterior cingulate deactivation, whereas OCD patients showed temporoparietal underactivation. CONCLUSIONS The multimodal comparative meta-analysis shows shared and disorder-specific abnormalities. Whereas the rostrodorsomedial prefrontal cortex was smaller in structure and function in both disorders, this was concomitant with increased structure and function in BG and insula in OCD patients, but a reduction in ASD patients, presumably reflecting a disorder-specific frontostriatoinsular dysregulation in OCD in the form of poor frontal control over overactive BG, and a frontostriatoinsular maldevelopment in ASD with reduced structure and function in this network. Disorder-differential mechanisms appear to drive overlapping phenotypes of inhibitory control abnormalities in patients with ASD and OCD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina O Carlisi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Luke J Norman
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steve S Lukito
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Mataix-Cols
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katya Rubia
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Alterations of local spontaneous brain activity and connectivity in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Mol Autism 2015; 6:30. [PMID: 26023326 PMCID: PMC4446946 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-015-0026-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous autism research has hypothesized that abnormalities of functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may vary with the spatial distance between two brain regions. Although several resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) studies have extensively examined long-range (or distant) connectivity in the adult ASD brain, short-range (or local) connectivity has been investigated in less depth. Furthermore, the possible relationship between functional connectivity and brain activity level during the resting state remains unclear. Methods We acquired rsfMRI data from 50 adults with high-functioning ASD and 50 matched controls to examine the properties of spontaneous brain activity using measures of local and distant connectivity together with a measure of the amplitude of brain activity, known as fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF). The two connectivity measures were calculated using a common graph-theoretic framework. We also examined the spatial overlaps between these measures and possible relationships of these disrupted functional measures with autistic traits assessed by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Results Compared to the controls, participants with ASD exhibited local over-connectivity in the right superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, accompanied by local under-connectivity in the bilateral fusiform gyri (FG) and right middle temporal gyrus (MTG). On the other hand, we did not find any significant alterations in distant connectivity. Participants with ASD also exhibited reduced fALFF in the right middle occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus, and FG. Further conjunction and spatial overlap analyses confirmed that the spatial pattern of reduced fALFF substantially overlapped with that of local under-connectivity, demonstrating the co-occurrence of disrupted connectivity and spontaneous activity level in the right inferior occipital gyrus, posterior MTG (pMTG), and FG. Finally, within the ASD group, disrupted local connectivity in the right pMTG significantly correlated with the “social interaction” subscale score of the AQ. Conclusions These findings revealed local functional disruptions in the occipital and temporal regions, especially the right FG and pMTG, in the form of co-occurrence of spontaneous brain activity level and local connectivity, which may underline social and communicative dysfunctions in adult ASD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-015-0026-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
11
|
Nayar K, Franchak J, Adolph K, Kiorpes L. From local to global processing: the development of illusory contour perception. J Exp Child Psychol 2014; 131:38-55. [PMID: 25514785 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Global visual processing is important for segmenting scenes, extracting form from background, and recognizing objects. Local processing involves attention to the local elements, contrast, and boundaries of an image at the expense of extracting a global percept. Previous work is inconclusive regarding the relative development of local and global processing. Some studies suggest that global perception is already present by 8 months of age, whereas others suggest that the ability arises during childhood and continues to develop during adolescence. We used a novel method to assess the development of global processing in 3- to 10-year-old children and an adult comparison group. We used Kanizsa illusory contours as an assay of global perception and measured responses on a touch-sensitive screen while monitoring eye position with a head-mounted eye tracker. Participants were tested using a similarity match-to-sample paradigm. Using converging measures, we found a clear developmental progression with age such that the youngest children performed near chance on the illusory contour discrimination, whereas 7- and 8-year-olds performed nearly perfectly, as did adults. There was clear evidence of a gradual shift from a local processing strategy to a global one; young children looked predominantly at and touched the "pacman" inducers of the illusory form, whereas older children and adults looked predominantly at and touched the middle of the form. These data show a prolonged developmental trajectory in appreciation of global form, with a transition from local to global visual processing between 4 and 7 years of age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Nayar
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - John Franchak
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Karen Adolph
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Lynne Kiorpes
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Martínez-Sanchis S. Neurobiological foundations of multisensory integration in people with autism spectrum disorders: the role of the medial prefrontal cortex. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:970. [PMID: 25538597 PMCID: PMC4255523 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review aims to relate the sensory processing problems in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), especially multisensory integration (MSI), to the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) by exploring neuroanatomical findings; brain connectivity and Default Network (DN); global or locally directed attention; and temporal multisensory binding. The mPFC is part of the brain's DN, which is deactivated when attention is focused on a particular task and activated on rest when spontaneous cognition emerges. In those with ASD, it is hypoactive and the higher the social impairment the greater the atypical activity. With an immature DN, cross-modal integration is impaired, resulting in a collection of disconnected fragments instead of a coherent global perception. The deficit in MSI may lie in the temporal synchronization of neural networks. The time interval in which the stimulation of one sensory channel could influence another would be higher, preventing integration in the typical shorter time range. Thus, the underconnectivity between distant brain areas would be involved in top-down information processes (relying on global integration of data from different sources) and would enhance low level perception processes such as over focused attention to sensory details.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Martínez-Sanchis
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Miller HL, Odegard TN, Allen G. Evaluating information processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: The case for Fuzzy Trace Theory. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|