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Cannon J, Cardinaux A, Bungert L, Li C, Sinha P. Reduced precision of motor and perceptual rhythmic timing in autistic adults. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34261. [PMID: 39082034 PMCID: PMC11284439 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent results suggest that autistic individuals exhibit reduced accuracy compared to non-autistic peers in temporally coordinating their actions with predictable external cues, e.g., synchronizing finger taps to an auditory metronome. However, it is not yet clear whether these difficulties are driven primarily by motor differences or extend into perceptual rhythmic timing tasks. We recruited autistic and non-autistic participants for an online study testing both finger tapping synchronization and continuation as well as rhythmic time perception (anisochrony detection). We fractionated each participant's synchronization results into parameters representing error correction, motor noise, and internal time-keeper noise, and also investigated error-correcting responses to small metronome timing perturbations. Contrary to previous work, we did not find strong evidence for reduced synchronization error correction. However, we found compelling evidence for noisier internal rhythmic timekeeping in the synchronization, continuation, and perceptual components of the experiment. These results suggest that noisier internal rhythmic timing processes underlie some sensorimotor coordination challenges in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Cannon
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Annie Cardinaux
- Department of Brain & Cognitive Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lindsay Bungert
- Department of Brain & Cognitive Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cindy Li
- Department of Brain & Cognitive Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- McGovern Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pawan Sinha
- Department of Brain & Cognitive Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Kurtz-Nelson EC, Rea HM, Petriceks AC, Hudac CM, Wang T, Earl RK, Bernier RA, Eichler EE, Neuhaus E. Characterizing the autism spectrum phenotype in DYRK1A-related syndrome. Autism Res 2023; 16:1488-1500. [PMID: 37497568 PMCID: PMC10530559 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Likely gene-disrupting (LGD) variants in DYRK1A are causative of DYRK1A syndrome and associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). While many individuals with DYRK1A syndrome are diagnosed with ASD, they may present with a unique profile of ASD traits. We present a comprehensive characterization of the ASD profile in children and young adults with LGDs in DYRK1A. Individuals with LGD variants in DYRK1A (n = 29) were compared to children who had ASD with no known genetic cause, either with low nonverbal IQ (n = 14) or average or above nonverbal IQ (n = 41). ASD was assessed using the ADOS-2, ADI-R, SRS-2, SCQ, and RBS-R. Quantitative score comparisons were conducted, as were qualitative analyses of clinicians' behavioral observations. Diagnosis of ASD was confirmed in 85% and ID was confirmed in 89% of participants with DYRK1A syndrome. Individuals with DYRK1A syndrome showed broadly similar social communication behaviors to children with idiopathic ASD and below-average nonverbal IQ, with specific challenges noted in social reciprocity and nonverbal communication. Children with DYRK1A syndrome also showed high rates of sensory-seeking behaviors. Phenotypic characterization of individuals with DYRK1A syndrome may provide additional information on mechanisms contributing to co-occurring ASD and ID and contribute to the identification of genetic predictors of specific ASD traits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah M. Rea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Aiva C. Petriceks
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Caitlin M. Hudac
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Research Center, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Tianyun Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University; Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China & National Health Commission of China, Beijing, China
- Autism Research Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Rachel K. Earl
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Raphael A. Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Evan E. Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Emily Neuhaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Silverman JL, Thurm A, Ethridge SB, Soller MM, Petkova SP, Abel T, Bauman MD, Brodkin ES, Harony‐Nicolas H, Wöhr M, Halladay A. Reconsidering animal models used to study autism spectrum disorder: Current state and optimizing future. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 21:e12803. [PMID: 35285132 PMCID: PMC9189007 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), are pervasive, often lifelong disorders, lacking evidence-based interventions for core symptoms. With no established biological markers, diagnoses are defined by behavioral criteria. Thus, preclinical in vivo animal models of NDDs must be optimally utilized. For this reason, experts in the field of behavioral neuroscience convened a workshop with the goals of reviewing current behavioral studies, reports, and assessments in rodent models. Goals included: (a) identifying the maximal utility and limitations of behavior in animal models with construct validity; (b) providing recommendations for phenotyping animal models; and (c) guidelines on how in vivo models should be used and reported reliably and rigorously while acknowledging their limitations. We concluded by recommending minimal criteria for reporting in manuscripts going forward. The workshop elucidated a consensus of potential solutions to several problems, including revisiting claims made about animal model links to ASD (and related conditions). Specific conclusions included: mice (or other rodent or preclinical models) are models of the neurodevelopmental insult, not specifically any disorder (e.g., ASD); a model that perfectly recapitulates a disorder such as ASD is untenable; and greater attention needs be given to validation of behavioral testing methods, data analysis, and critical interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill L. Silverman
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Audrey Thurm
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping ServiceNational Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Sarah B. Ethridge
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping ServiceNational Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Makayla M. Soller
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Stela P. Petkova
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and PharmacologyIowa Neuroscience Institute, University of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- MIND Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of California Davis School of MedicineSacramentoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Edward S. Brodkin
- Department of PsychiatryPerelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Translational Research LaboratoryPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hala Harony‐Nicolas
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and TreatmentIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Markus Wöhr
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Brain and Cognition, Laboratory of Biological PsychologySocial and Affective Neuroscience Research Group, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium,Leuven Brain InstituteKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium,Faculty of Psychology, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Behavioral NeurosciencePhilipps‐University of MarburgMarburgGermany,Center for Mind, Brain, and BehaviorPhilipps‐University of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Alycia Halladay
- Autism Science FoundationUSA,Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyRutgers UniversityPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
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Arnett AB, Wang T, Eichler EE, Bernier RA. Reflections on the genetics-first approach to advancements in molecular genetic and neurobiological research on neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neurodev Disord 2021; 13:24. [PMID: 34148555 PMCID: PMC8215789 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-021-09371-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), are common diagnoses with highly heterogeneous phenotypes and etiology. The genetics-first approach to research on NDDs has led to the identification of hundreds of genes conferring risk for ASD, ID, and related symptoms. MAIN BODY Although relatively few individuals with NDDs share likely gene-disruptive (LGD) mutations in the same gene, characterization of overlapping functions, protein networks, and temporospatial expression patterns among these genes has led to increased understanding of the neurobiological etiology of NDDs. This shift in focus away from single genes and toward broader gene-brain-behavior pathways has been accelerated by the development of publicly available transcriptomic databases, cell type-specific research methods, and sequencing of non-coding genomic regions. CONCLUSIONS The genetics-first approach to research on NDDs has advanced the identification of critical protein function pathways and temporospatial expression patterns, expanding the impact of this research beyond individuals with single-gene mutations to the broader population of patients with NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne B Arnett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Tianyun Wang
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, CHDD, Box 357920, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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