1
|
Wimmer L, Steininger TM, Schmid A, Wittwer J. Category learning in autistic individuals: A meta-analysis. Psychon Bull Rev 2024; 31:460-483. [PMID: 37673843 PMCID: PMC11061057 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-023-02365-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Learning new categories is a fundamental human skill. In the present article, we report the first comprehensive meta-analysis of category learning in autism. Including studies comparing groups of autistic and nonautistic individuals, we investigated whether autistic individuals differ in category learning from nonautistic individuals. In addition, we examined moderator variables accounting for variability between studies. A multilevel meta-analysis of k = 50 studies examining n = 1,220 autistic and n = 1,445 nonautistic individuals based on 112 effect sizes in terms of the standardized mean difference revealed lower-level category learning skills for autistic compared with nonautistic individuals, g = -0.55, 95% CI = [-0.73, -0.38], p < .0001. According to moderator analyses, the significant amount of heterogeneity, Q(111) = 617.88, p < .0001, was explained by only one of the moderator variables under investigation-namely, study language. For the remaining variables-namely, age, year of publication, risk of bias, type of control group, IQ of autistic group, percentage of male autistic participants, type of category, type of task, and type of dependent measure-there were no significant effects. Although hat values and Cook's distance statistics confirmed the robustness of findings, results of Egger's test and a funnel plot suggested the presence of publication bias reflecting an overrepresentation of disadvantageous findings for autistic groups. Objectives for future work include identifying additional moderator variables, examining downstream effects of suboptimal category learning skills, and developing interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lena Wimmer
- Department of Education, University of Freiburg, Rempartstr. 11, D-79098, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
| | - Tim M Steininger
- Department of Education, University of Freiburg, Rempartstr. 11, D-79098, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Annalena Schmid
- Department of Education, University of Freiburg, Rempartstr. 11, D-79098, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Faculty of Applied Psychology, SRH University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jörg Wittwer
- Department of Education, University of Freiburg, Rempartstr. 11, D-79098, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schaeffer J, Abd El-Raziq M, Castroviejo E, Durrleman S, Ferré S, Grama I, Hendriks P, Kissine M, Manenti M, Marinis T, Meir N, Novogrodsky R, Perovic A, Panzeri F, Silleresi S, Sukenik N, Vicente A, Zebib R, Prévost P, Tuller L. Language in autism: domains, profiles and co-occurring conditions. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:433-457. [PMID: 36922431 PMCID: PMC10033486 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02592-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the current knowledge state on pragmatic and structural language abilities in autism and their potential relation to extralinguistic abilities and autistic traits. The focus is on questions regarding autism language profiles with varying degrees of (selective) impairment and with respect to potential comorbidity of autism and language impairment: Is language impairment in autism the co-occurrence of two distinct conditions (comorbidity), a consequence of autism itself (no comorbidity), or one possible combination from a series of neurodevelopmental properties (dimensional approach)? As for language profiles in autism, three main groups are identified, namely, (i) verbal autistic individuals without structural language impairment, (ii) verbal autistic individuals with structural language impairment, and (iii) minimally verbal autistic individuals. However, this tripartite distinction hides enormous linguistic heterogeneity. Regarding the nature of language impairment in autism, there is currently no model of how language difficulties may interact with autism characteristics and with various extralinguistic cognitive abilities. Building such a model requires carefully designed explorations that address specific aspects of language and extralinguistic cognition. This should lead to a fundamental increase in our understanding of language impairment in autism, thereby paving the way for a substantial contribution to the question of how to best characterize neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Schaeffer
- Department of Literary and Cultural Analysis & Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 1642, 1000 BP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | - Sandrine Ferré
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
| | - Ileana Grama
- Department of Literary and Cultural Analysis & Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 1642, 1000 BP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Marta Manenti
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Agustín Vicente
- University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Racha Zebib
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
| | | | - Laurice Tuller
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, INSERM, Tours, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Quantitative trait locus analysis for endophenotypes reveals genetic substrates of core symptom domains and neurocognitive function in autism spectrum disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:407. [PMID: 36153334 PMCID: PMC9509384 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02179-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders and is largely attributable to genetic risk factors. Phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of ASD have been well-recognized; however, genetic substrates for endophenotypes that constitute phenotypic heterogeneity are not yet known. In the present study, we compiled data from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, which contains the demographic and detailed phenotype information of 11,961 individuals. Notably, the whole-genome sequencing data available from MSSNG and iHART for 3833 individuals in this dataset was used to perform an endophenotype-wide association study. Using a linear mixed model, genome-wide association analyses were performed for 29 endophenotype scores and 0.58 million common variants with variant allele frequency ≥ 5%. We discovered significant associations between 9 genetic variants and 6 endophenotype scores comprising neurocognitive development and severity scores for core symptoms of ASD at a significance threshold of p < 5 × 10-7. Of note, the Stereotyped Behaviors and Restricted Interests total score in Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Module 3 was significantly associated with multiple variants in the VPS13B gene, a causal gene for Cohen syndrome and a candidate gene for syndromic ASD. Our findings yielded loci with small effect sizes due to the moderate sample size and, thus, require validation in another cohort. Nonetheless, our endophenotype-wide association analysis extends previous candidate gene discovery in the context of genotype and endophenotype association. As a result, these candidate genes may be responsible for specific traits that constitute core symptoms and neurocognitive function of ASD rather than the disorder itself.
Collapse
|
4
|
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults - Fourth Edition profiles of adults with autism spectrum disorder. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2022; 31:e67. [PMID: 36148868 PMCID: PMC9531589 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796022000506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM In this study, we have compared 229 Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) cognitive profiles of different severity adults with autism spectrum disorder to verify the impact of several variables including sex, age, level of education and autism severity level in an Italian sample. Moreover, we wanted to find out the optimal cut points for the major intelligence quotients in order to discriminate autism severity levels. METHODS Participants were recruited from two National Health System Center in two different Italian regions and were assessed with gold-standard instruments as a part of their clinical evaluation. According to DSM-5, cognitive domains were also measured with multi-componential tests. We used the Italian adaptation of WAIS-IV. We checked our hypotheses using linear regression models and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. RESULTS Our results showed that age and level of education have a strong impact on Verbal Comprehension (VCI) and Working Memory Indexes (WMI). Gender differences are relevant when considering the VCI and Processing Speed index (PSI) in which women obtained the best performance. These differences are still relevant when considering cut points of ROC because 69 resulted to be the optimal cut point for women, 65 for men. CONCLUSIONS Few conclusions can be assumed only examining Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) scores as it includes many different information about broader cognitive abilities. Looking deeper at main indexes and their subtests findings are consistent with previous research on the disorder (moderate correlations of FSIQ, Perceptual Reasoning index, WMI and PSI with the participants' age), while other results are unforeseen (no effect of sex found on FSIQ score) or novel (significant effect of education on VCI and WMI). Using an algorithm predicting optimal cut point for discriminating through autism severity levels can help clinicians to better label and quantify the required help a person may need, a test cannot replace diagnostic and clinical evaluation by experienced clinicians.
Collapse
|
5
|
Renaud F, Béliveau MJ, Akzam-Ouellette MA, Jauvin K, Labelle F. Comparison of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Third Edition and the Leiter-R Intellectual Assessments for Clinic-Referred Children. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT 2022; 40:825-838. [PMID: 36110225 PMCID: PMC9465540 DOI: 10.1177/07342829221105388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A review of clinical records was conducted for children with developmental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties who were assessed with both the Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence-third edition (WPPSI-IIICDN; Wechsler, 2004) and the Leiter international performance scale-revised (Leiter-R; Roid & Miller, 1997) within the same psychological evaluation. Forty children, ages 3-7, were included in this study. Pearson correlations showed that the IQ scores of the two instruments are strongly related (r > .70; p < .001). However, paired t-tests showed that overall Leiter-R scores (M = 99.03) were significantly higher than WPPSI-IIICDN scores (PIQ; M = 82.28, FSIQ; M = 75.24) (p < .001). The discrepancies between the instrument's scores were clinically important as the use of only one of the two instruments could result in misclassification of child intellectual ability. These results should prompt professionals working with this clinical population to be cautious when using results from a single instrument in a child's intellectual evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Renaud
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CIUSSS - Du
Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Julie Béliveau
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CIUSSS - Du
Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marc-Antoine Akzam-Ouellette
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CIUSSS - Du
Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Karine Jauvin
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CIUSSS - Du
Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fannie Labelle
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CIUSSS - Du
Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bylemans T, Heleven E, Baetens K, Deroost N, Baeken C, Van Overwalle F. A narrative sequencing and mentalizing training for adults with autism: A pilot study. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:941272. [PMID: 36062258 PMCID: PMC9433774 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.941272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adults diagnosed with autism experience difficulties with understanding the mental states of others, or themselves (mentalizing) and with adequately sequencing personal stories (narrative coherence). Given that the posterior cerebellum is implicated in both skills, as well as in the etiology of autism, we developed a narrative sequencing and mentalizing training for autistic adults. Participants with an official autism diagnosis were randomly assigned to a Training group (n = 17) or a waiting-list Control group (n = 15). The Training group took part in six weekly sessions in groups of three participants lasting each about 60 min. During training, participants had to (re)tell stories from the perspective of the original storyteller and answer questions that required mentalizing. We found significant improvements in mentalizing about others’ beliefs and in narrative coherence for the Training group compared to the Control group immediately after the training compared to before the training. Almost all participants from the Training group expressed beneficial effects of the training on their mood and half of the participants reported positive effects on their self-confidence in social situations. All participants recommended the current training to others. Results are discussed in light of cerebellar theories on sequencing of social actions during mentalizing. Further improvements to the program are suggested. Our results highlight the potential clinical utility of adopting a neuroscience-informed approach to developing novel therapeutic interventions for autistic populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Bylemans
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Tom Bylemans,
| | - Elien Heleven
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kris Baetens
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Department of Head and Skin (UZGent), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Frank Van Overwalle
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dempsey EE, Moore C, Johnson SA, Stewart SH, Smith IM. Moral Foundations Theory Among Autistic and Neurotypical Children. Front Psychol 2022; 12:782610. [PMID: 35095668 PMCID: PMC8795511 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.782610] [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: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Morality can help guide behavior and facilitate relationships. Although moral judgments by autistic people are similar to neurotypical individuals, many researchers argue that subtle differences signify deficits in autistic individuals. Moral foundation theory describes moral judgments in terms of differences rather than deficits. The current research, aimed at assessing autistic individuals' moral inclinations using Haidt's framework, was co-designed with autistic community members. Our aim was to describe autistic moral thinking from a strengths-based perspective while acknowledging differences that may pose interpersonal challenges among autistic youth. We assessed 25 autistic and 23 neurotypical children's moral judgments using the Moral Foundations Questionnaire for Kids. We used semi-structured interviews and qualitative analysis with a subset of participants to describe children's moral reasoning. Analyses suggested that autistic and neurotypical children make similar judgments about moral transgressions across all five moral foundations. General linear mixed modeling showed that the greatest predictor of recommending punishment was how bad children deemed moral transgressions to be. We also found a trend that autistic children were more likely to recommend punishment for harmless norms violations than were neurotypical children. Future research could use longitudinal methods to understand the development of moral judgments among autistic and neurotypical children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chris Moore
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Shannon A. Johnson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sherry H. Stewart
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Isabel M. Smith
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Autism Research Centre, IWK Health, Halifax, NS, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sukenik N, Tuller L. Lexical Semantic Knowledge of Children with ASD—a Review Study. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-021-00272-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractStudies on the lexical semantic abilities of children with autism have yielded contradicting results. The aim of the current review was to explore studies that have specifically focused on the lexical semantic abilities of children with ASD and try to find an explanation for these contradictions. In the 32 studies reviewed, no single factor was found to affect lexical semantic skills, although children with broader linguistic impairment generally, but not universally, also showed impaired lexical semantic skills. The need for future studies with young ASD participants, with differing intellectual functioning, longitudinal studies, and studies assessing a wide range of language domains are discussed.
Collapse
|
9
|
Keating CT, Fraser DS, Sowden S, Cook JL. Differences Between Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults in the Recognition of Anger from Facial Motion Remain after Controlling for Alexithymia. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:1855-1871. [PMID: 34047905 PMCID: PMC8159724 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
To date, studies have not established whether autistic and non-autistic individuals differ in emotion recognition from facial motion cues when matched in terms of alexithymia. Here, autistic and non-autistic adults (N = 60) matched on age, gender, non-verbal reasoning ability and alexithymia, completed an emotion recognition task, which employed dynamic point light displays of emotional facial expressions manipulated in terms of speed and spatial exaggeration. Autistic participants exhibited significantly lower accuracy for angry, but not happy or sad, facial motion with unmanipulated speed and spatial exaggeration. Autistic, and not alexithymic, traits were predictive of accuracy for angry facial motion with unmanipulated speed and spatial exaggeration. Alexithymic traits, in contrast, were predictive of the magnitude of both correct and incorrect emotion ratings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dagmar S Fraser
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sophie Sowden
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jennifer L Cook
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Audras-Torrent L, Miniarikova E, Couty F, Dellapiazza F, Berard M, Michelon C, Picot MC, Baghdadli A. WISC-V Profiles and Their Correlates in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder without Intellectual Developmental Disorder: Report from the ELENA Cohort. Autism Res 2020; 14:997-1006. [PMID: 33247546 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The intellectual functioning of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) has not been widely studied. However, marked heterogeneity in assessment measures, samples, and results has been an obstacle for the generalization of findings. We aimed to (a) describe WISC-V intellectual functioning in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual developmental disorder, (b) identify WISC-V profiles, and (c) explore whether WISC-V intellectual functioning is related to ASD symptom severity and adaptive skills. Our sample consisted of 121 children from 6 to 16 years of age with ascertained ASD without an intellectual developmental disorder (IDD). The intellectual functioning of the participants was within the average range. Intra-individual analysis showed that children with ASD performed better on visual than auditory working-memory tasks. Moreover, the intellectual functioning of the participants correlated negatively with ASD symptom severity but positively with adaptive communication skills. Overall, we identified six intellectual profiles according to verbal and reasoning skills. These findings highlight the relevance of WISC-V assessment for children with ASD without an IDD to individualize intervention, especially remediation. LAY SUMMARY: This study examined WISC-V intellectual functioning in 121 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without an intellectual developmental disorder (IDD). We found their intellectual functioning to be within the average, as was that of their peers with typical development (TD), and their verbal and reasoning skills were the most discriminant. In addition, the better their intellectual functioning was, the better their adaptive communication skills and the less severe their ASD symptoms. These findings highlight the relevance of WISC-V assessment in ASD to individualize early psychological remediation. Autism Res 2021, 14: 997-1006. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, LLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lee Audras-Torrent
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux (CeAND), Montpellier, France
| | - Ela Miniarikova
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux (CeAND), Montpellier, France
| | - Flore Couty
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux (CeAND), Montpellier, France
| | - Florine Dellapiazza
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux (CeAND), Montpellier, France
| | - Mathilde Berard
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux (CeAND), Montpellier, France
| | - Cécile Michelon
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux (CeAND), Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Christine Picot
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Team DevPsy, Villejuif, France.,Department of Medical Information, University Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Amaria Baghdadli
- Centre de Ressource Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon, Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppementaux (CeAND), Montpellier, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, CESP, Team DevPsy, Villejuif, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yusuf A, Peltekova I, Savion‐Lemieux T, Frei J, Joober R, Howe J, Scherer SW, Elsabbagh M. Adaptation and validation of the Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale for autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. J Genet Couns 2020; 30:305-318. [PMID: 32893416 PMCID: PMC7891368 DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The genetics care pathway experienced by families affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) around the time of diagnosis is currently uncharacterized and potentially variable across contexts. The lack of consensus on outcome measures to capture the impact of genetic services for these families shows a gap in understanding and optimizing this genetics care pathway. The Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale (GCOS‐24) is a validated outcome measure of clinical genetics services. The current study aims to adapt and validate the GCOS‐24 as an outcome measure in the context routine genetic testing in ASD and related conditions. Families seen for their child’s developmental evaluation for ASD and related conditions were invited to participate in a genomics cohort between 2016 and 2018. Families (n = 111) completed the mGCOS‐24 (modified GCOS‐24), adapted from the original GCOS‐24 by clinicians working in the target population’s routine care pathway. The mGCOS‐24 has acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.84) and high test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.88). It also inversely correlates with stress as measured by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10) and distress, as measured by the Distress Thermometer, rs ≥ 0.39, ps < 0.001. The mGCOS‐24 had adequate readability, as supported by cognitive interviews completed by a sub‐sample of five mothers of a child with ASD. Together, our findings show that the mGCOS‐24 has good validity for the target population. Preliminary characterization of the genetics care pathway in this population revealed remarkable variability in pre‐test counseling and limited post‐test counseling. The use of the mGCOS‐24 as an outcome measure is useful in filling some of these gaps by offering a way to assess, and in the future, optimize the genetics care pathway for families affected by autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afiqah Yusuf
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Institute‐HospitalMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Research‐Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQCCanada
| | - Iskra Peltekova
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Institute‐HospitalMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Research‐Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQCCanada
| | - Tal Savion‐Lemieux
- Research‐Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQCCanada
| | - Jennifer Frei
- Research‐Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQCCanada
| | - Ridha Joober
- Department of PsychiatryMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Douglas Mental Health University InstituteMontrealQCCanada
| | - Jennifer Howe
- The Centre for Applied GenomicsHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoONCanada
| | - Stephen W. Scherer
- The Centre for Applied GenomicsHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoONCanada
- McLaughlin Centre and Department of Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Institute‐HospitalMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Research‐Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQCCanada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Webster PJ, Frum C, Kurowski-Burt A, Bauer CE, Wen S, Ramadan JH, Baker KA, Lewis JW. Processing of Real-World, Dynamic Natural Stimuli in Autism is Linked to Corticobasal Function. Autism Res 2020; 13:539-549. [PMID: 31944557 PMCID: PMC7418054 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to perceive everyday sensory information differently compared to peers without autism. Research examining these sensory differences has primarily utilized nonnatural stimuli or natural stimuli using static photos with few having utilized dynamic, real-world nonverbal stimuli. Therefore, in this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to characterize brain activation of individuals with high-functioning autism when viewing and listening to a video of a real-world scene (a person bouncing a ball) and anticipating the bounce. We investigated both multisensory and unisensory processing and hypothesized that individuals with ASD would show differential activation in (a) primary auditory and visual sensory cortical and association areas, and in (b) cortical and subcortical regions where auditory and visual information is integrated (e.g. temporal-parietal junction, pulvinar, superior colliculus). Contrary to our hypotheses, the whole-brain analysis revealed similar activation between the groups in these brain regions. However, compared to controls the ASD group showed significant hypoactivation in the left intraparietal sulcus and left putamen/globus pallidus. We theorize that this hypoactivation reflected underconnectivity for mediating spatiotemporal processing of the visual biological motion stimuli with the task demands of anticipating the timing of the bounce event. The paradigm thus may have tapped into a specific left-lateralized aberrant corticobasal circuit or loop involved in initiating or inhibiting motor responses. This was consistent with a dual "when versus where" psychophysical model of corticobasal function, which may reflect core differences in sensory processing of real-world, nonverbal natural stimuli in ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 539-549. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: To understand how individuals with autism perceive the real-world, using magnetic resonance imaging we examined brain activation in individuals with autism while watching a video of someone bouncing a basketball. Those with autism had similar activation to controls in auditory and visual sensory brain regions, but less activation in an area that processes information about body movements and in a region involved in modulating movements. These areas are important for understanding the actions of others and developing social skills.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula J Webster
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Chris Frum
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Amy Kurowski-Burt
- Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Human Performance, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Christopher E Bauer
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Sijin Wen
- Department of Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Jad H Ramadan
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Kathryn A Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - James W Lewis
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Silleresi S, Prévost P, Zebib R, Bonnet-Brilhault F, Conte D, Tuller L. Identifying Language and Cognitive Profiles in Children With ASD via a Cluster Analysis Exploration: Implications for the New ICD-11. Autism Res 2020; 13:1155-1167. [PMID: 31985169 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The new version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) mentions the existence of four different profiles in the verbal part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), describing them as combinations of either spared or impaired functional language and intellectual abilities. The aim of the present study was to put ASD heterogeneity to the forefront by exploring whether clear profiles related to language and intellectual abilities emerge when investigation is extended to the entire spectrum, focusing on verbal children. Our study proposed a systematic investigation of both language (specifically, structural language abilities) and intellectual abilities (specifically, nonverbal cognitive abilities) in 51 6- to 12-year-old verbal children with ASD based on explicitly motivated measures. For structural language abilities, sentence repetition and nonword repetition tasks were selected; for nonverbal cognitive abilities, we chose Raven's Progressive Matrices, as well as Matrix Reasoning and Block Design from the Wechsler Scales. An integrative approach based on cluster analyses revealed five distinct profiles. Among these five profiles, all four logically possible combinations of structural language and nonverbal abilities mentioned in the ICD-11 were detected. Three profiles emerged among children with normal language abilities and two emerged among language-impaired children. Crucially, the existence of discrepant profiles of abilities suggests that children with ASD can display impaired language in presence of spared nonverbal intelligence or spared language in the presence of impaired nonverbal intelligence, reinforcing the hypothesis of the existence of a separate language module in the brain. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1155-1167. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: The present work put Autism Spectrum Disorder heterogeneity to the forefront by exploring whether clear profiles related to language and cognitive abilities emerge when investigation is extended to the entire spectrum (focusing on verbal children). The use of explicitly motivated measures of both language and cognitive abilities and of an unsupervised machine learning approach, the cluster analysis, (a) confirmed the existence of all four logically possible profiles evoked in the new ICD-11, (b) evoked the existence of (at least) a fifth profile of language/cognitive abilities, and (c) reinforced the hypothesis of a language module in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Silleresi
- UMR 1253, Imagery and Brain (iBrain), Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Philippe Prévost
- UMR 1253, Imagery and Brain (iBrain), Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Racha Zebib
- UMR 1253, Imagery and Brain (iBrain), Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | | | - Donatello Conte
- Laboratoire d'Informatique Fondamentale et Appliquée de Tours(LIFAT - EA 6300), Tours, France
| | - Laurice Tuller
- UMR 1253, Imagery and Brain (iBrain), Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Green RR, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Zielinski BA, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. Beery VMI and Brain Volumetric Relations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 2019; 5:77-84. [PMID: 32953403 PMCID: PMC7497806 DOI: 10.1007/s40817-019-00069-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although diminished proficiency on tasks that require visual-motor integration (VMI) has been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), very few studies have examined the association between VMI performance and neuroanatomical regions of interest (ROI) involved in motor and perceptual functioning. To address these issues, the current study included an all-male sample of 41 ASD (ages 3-23 years) and 27 typically developing (TD) participants (ages 5-26 years) who completed the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. All participants underwent 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with image quantification (FreeSurfer software v5.3). The groups were statistically matched on age, handedness, and intracranial volume (ICV). ASD participants performed significantly lower on VMI and IQ measures compared with the TD group. VMI performance was significantly correlated with FSIQ and PIQ in the TD group only. No pre-defined neuroanatomical ROIs were significantly different between groups. Significant correlations were observed in the TD group between VMI and total precentral gyrus gray matter volume (r = .51, p = .006) and total frontal lobe gray matter volume (r = .46, p = .017). There were no significant ROI correlations with Beery VMI performance in ASD participants. At the group level, despite ASD participants exhibiting reduced visuomotor abilities, no systematic relation with motor or sensory-perceptual ROIs was observed. In the TD group, results were consistent with the putative role of the precentral gyrus in motor control along with frontal involvement in planning, organization, and execution monitoring, all essential for VMI performance. Given that similar associations between VMI and ROIs were not observed in those with ASD, neurodevelopment in ASD group participants may not follow homogenous patterns making correlations in these brain regions unlikely to be observed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R. Green
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1001 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Erin D. Bigler
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1001 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602, USA
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Brandon A. Zielinski
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Brittany G. Travers
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Andrew Alexander
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nicholas Lange
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Neurostatistics Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Janet E. Lainhart
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Cechmanek B, Johnston H, Vazhappilly S, Lebel C, Bray S. Somatosensory Regions Show Limited Functional Connectivity Differences in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Connect 2019; 8:558-566. [PMID: 30411970 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2018.0614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
An estimated 70-90% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have sensory symptoms, which may present as hyper- or hyporesponsivity in one or more sensory modalities. These sensitivities correlate with social symptoms, activity, and social interaction levels. Interestingly, sensory symptoms appear to be most prevalent in late childhood, suggesting a developmental component. Although the neural basis of sensory sensitivities remains unclear, atypical functional connectivity of sensory brain regions has been suggested as a potential mechanism. Tactile sensitivities are among the most predictive of social functioning, yet no studies to our knowledge have examined somatosensory functional connectivity in children and adolescents with ASD, when symptoms are typically most prominent. In this study, we used human data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE-I) to assess functional connectivity differences of somatosensory regions during resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging, in youth aged 8-15 years. After head motion exclusion, our sample included 67 participants with ASD and 121 typically developing controls. We additionally examined associations between functional connectivity and age, as well as ASD symptom severity. Together, these seed-based analyses showed limited differences in functional connectivity between groups, either to hypothesized target regions or in terms of global connectivity. Our findings suggest that hyper- or hyposomatosensory functional connectivity at rest is not a population-level feature in ASD. However, this does not preclude increased variability of somatosensory networks across the ASD population. Furthermore, as sensory sensitivities were not specifically assessed in this sample, future studies may be better able to identify patterns of functional connectivity, reflecting individual differences in sensory symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Cechmanek
- 1 Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,2 Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,3 Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada
| | - Harriet Johnston
- 2 Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,3 Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,4 Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada
| | - Sherene Vazhappilly
- 2 Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,3 Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,5 Neuroscience Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- 2 Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,3 Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,6 Department of Radiology and Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,7 Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada
| | - Signe Bray
- 2 Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,3 Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,6 Department of Radiology and Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada .,7 Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary , Calgary, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Schuetze M, Cho IYK, Vinette S, Rivard KB, Rohr CS, Ten Eycke K, Cozma A, McMorris C, McCrimmon A, Dewey D, Bray SL. Learning with individual-interest outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2019; 38:100668. [PMID: 31174061 PMCID: PMC6969337 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent work has suggested atypical neural reward responses in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly for social reinforcers. Less is known about neural responses to restricted interests and few studies have investigated response to rewards in a learning context. We investigated neurophysiological differences in reinforcement learning between adolescents with ASD and typically developing (TD) adolescents (27 ASD, 31 TD). FMRI was acquired during a learning task in which participants chose one of two doors to reveal an image outcome. Doors differed in their probability of showing liked and not-liked images, which were individualized for each participant. Participants chose the door paired with liked images, but not the door paired with not-liked images, significantly above chance and choice allocation did not differ between groups. Interestingly, participants with ASD made choices less consistent with their initial door preferences. We found a neural prediction-error response at the time of outcome in the ventromedial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices that did not differ between groups. Together, behavioural and neural findings suggest that learning with individual interest outcomes is not different between individuals with and without ASD, adding to our understanding of motivational aspects of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Schuetze
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Canada.
| | - Ivy Y K Cho
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Foothills Campus, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sarah Vinette
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada
| | - Keelin B Rivard
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Christiane S Rohr
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Foothills Campus, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Kayla Ten Eycke
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Adelina Cozma
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada
| | - Carly McMorris
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Adam McCrimmon
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3D10, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Signe L Bray
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Foothills Campus, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kato Y, Kagitani-Shimono K, Matsuzaki J, Hanaie R, Yamamoto T, Tominaga K, Watanabe Y, Mohri I, Taniike M. White Matter Tract-Cognitive Relationships in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychiatry Investig 2019; 16:220-233. [PMID: 30934190 PMCID: PMC6444094 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2019.01.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between white matter tracts and cognitive symptoms in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS We examined the cognitive functions of 17 children with high-functioning ASD and 18 typically developing (TD) controls and performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. We compared the results between the groups and investigated the correlations between the cognitive scores and DTI parameters within each group. RESULTS The Comprehension scores in the ASD group exhibited a positive correlation with mean diffusivity (MD) in the forceps minor (F minor). In the TD group, the Comprehension scores were positively correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO) and left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and negatively correlated with MD in the left ATR, radial diffusivity (RD) in the right IFO, and RD in the left ATR. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the Matching Numbers scores and MD in the left uncinate fasciculus and F minor, and RD in the F minor. Furthermore, the Sentence Questions scores exhibited a positive correlation with RD in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Relative to TD controls, the specific tract showing a strong correlation with the cognitive scores was reduced in the ASD group. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that white matter tracts connecting specific brain areas may exhibit a weaker relationship with cognitive functions in children with ASD, resulting in less efficient cognitive pathways than those observed in TD children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Kato
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kuriko Kagitani-Shimono
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Junko Matsuzaki
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryuzo Hanaie
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomoka Yamamoto
- Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koji Tominaga
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Watanabe
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ikuko Mohri
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masako Taniike
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Biffi E, Costantini C, Ceccarelli SB, Cesareo A, Marzocchi GM, Nobile M, Molteni M, Crippa A. Gait Pattern and Motor Performance During Discrete Gait Perturbation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2530. [PMID: 30618953 PMCID: PMC6297554 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative evaluation of gait has been considered a useful tool with which to identify subtle signs of motor system peculiarities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is a paucity of studies reporting gait data in ASD as well as investigating learning processes of locomotor activity. Novel advanced technologies that couple treadmills with virtual reality environments and motion capture systems allows the evaluation of gait patterns on multiple steps and the effects of induced gait perturbations, as well as the ability to manipulate visual and proprioceptive feedbacks. This study aims at describing the gait pattern and motor performance during discrete gait perturbation of drug-naïve, school-aged children with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) peers matched by gender and age. Gait analysis was carried out in an immersive virtual environment using a 3-D motion analysis system with a dual-belt, instrumented treadmill. After 6 min of walking, 20 steps were recorded as baseline. Then, each participant was exposed to 20 trials with a discrete gait perturbation applying a split-belt acceleration to the dominant side at toe-off. Single steps around perturbations were inspected. Finally, 20 steps were recorded during a post-perturbation session. At baseline, children with ASD had reduced ankle flexion moment, greater hip flexion at the initial contact, and greater pelvic anteversion. After the discrete gait perturbation, variations of peak of knee extension significantly differed between groups and correlated with the severity of autistic core symptoms. Throughout perturbation trials, more than 60% of parameters showed reliable adaptation with a decay rate comparable between groups. Overall, these findings depicted gait peculiarities in children with ASD, including both kinetic and kinematic features; a motor adaptation comparable to their TD peers, even though with an atypical pattern; and a motor adaptation rate comparable to TD children but involving different aspects of locomotion. The platform showed its usability with children with ASD and its reliability in the definition of paradigms for the study of motor learning while doing complex tasks, such as gait. The additional possibility to accurately manipulate visual and proprioceptive feedback will allow researchers to systematically investigate motor system features in people with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Biffi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | | | | | - Ambra Cesareo
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Maria Nobile
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Toffalini E, Meneghetti C, Carretti B, Lanfranchi S. Environment learning from virtual exploration in individuals with down syndrome: the role of perspective and sketch maps. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2018; 62:30-40. [PMID: 29124810 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spatial knowledge about an environment is an important determinant of ability to move effectively within it and of personal autonomy. Individuals with Down's syndrome (DS) have difficulty managing configural visuospatial information. METHOD Twenty-nine individuals with DS and 29 typically developing (TD) children, matched for mental age, learned about environments through virtual exploration using a route or survey view. A sketch map of the environment was or was not presented before exploration. Then the acquisition of configural knowledge (landmark locations) and route retracing were tested. RESULTS Individuals with DS were able to acquire configural knowledge through virtual exploration in all presentation conditions, and generally performed no worse than matched TD children. However, they were not able to benefit from the conditions that facilitated acquisition of configural knowledge in TD children, that is, seeing a sketch map before exploring and exploring in survey (rather than route) view. As regards route retracing, individuals with DS paused more often than controls and tended to travel longer paths, which made them slower overall. CONCLUSIONS DS reduces children's ability to benefit from additional survey information and may be related to difficulty in elaborating configural/simultaneous information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Toffalini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - C Meneghetti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - B Carretti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - S Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Brynskov C, Eigsti IM, Jørgensen M, Lemcke S, Bohn OS, Krøjgaard P. Syntax and Morphology in Danish-Speaking Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:373-383. [PMID: 27844246 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2962-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The current study examined delays in syntax and morphology, and vocabulary, in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children ages 4-6 years with ASD (n = 21) and typical development (n = 21), matched on nonverbal mental age, completed five language tasks. The ASD group had significant delays in both syntax and morphology, and vocabulary measures, with significant within-group heterogeneity; furthermore, syntactic and morphological measures were impaired even for subgroups matched on vocabulary. Children in the ASD group without early language delay showed syntactic and morphological impairment, with intact performance on vocabulary and sentence repetition. Findings indicate that syntactic and morphological impairments are a significant concern for high-functioning children with ASD, and may be overlooked if language evaluation focuses exclusively on vocabulary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Brynskov
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Inge-Marie Eigsti
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Meta Jørgensen
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sanne Lemcke
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ocke-Schwen Bohn
- Department of English, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Center on Autobiographical Memory Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Krøjgaard
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Center on Autobiographical Memory Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Deficits in Theory of Mind (ToM)-the ability to interpret others' beliefs, intentions and emotions-undermine the ability of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to interact in socially normative ways. This study provides psychometric data for the Adult-Theory of Mind (A-ToM) measure using video-scenarios based in part on Happé's (Instructions for theory of mind story task, 1999) Strange Stories test. The final items discriminated IQ-matched adults with ASD from controls on the social but not the physical items. Additional validity data included a two-component principal components solution, correlations with existing ToM scales, and the absence of correlations with self-report measures of empathy and social anxiety (not requiring inferences about the intent of others). The expected group differences in ToM were accompanied by marked variability in the ASD sample.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neil Brewer
- School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, USA.
| | - Robyn L Young
- School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, USA
| | - Emily Barnett
- School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Dirlikov B, Younes L, Nebel MB, Martinelli MK, Tiedemann AN, Koch CA, Fiorilli D, Bastian AJ, Denckla MB, Miller MI, Mostofsky SH. Novel automated morphometric and kinematic handwriting assessment: A validity study in children with ASD and ADHD. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SCHOOLS AND EARLY INTERVENTION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/19411243.2017.1304841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
23
|
Nader AM, Courchesne V, Dawson M, Soulières I. Does WISC-IV Underestimate the Intelligence of Autistic Children? J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46:1582-9. [PMID: 25308198 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2270-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) is widely used to estimate autistic intelligence (Joseph in The neuropsychology of autism. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2011; Goldstein et al. in Assessment of autism spectrum disorders. Guilford Press, New York, 2008; Mottron in J Autism Dev Disord 34(1):19-27, 2004). However, previous studies suggest that while WISC-III and Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) provide similar estimates of non-autistic intelligence, autistic children perform significantly better on RPM (Dawson et al. in Psychol Sci 18(8):657-662, doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01954.x , 2007). The latest WISC version introduces substantial changes in subtests and index scores; thus, we asked whether WISC-IV still underestimates autistic intelligence. Twenty-five autistic and 22 typical children completed WISC-IV and RPM. Autistic children's RPM scores were significantly higher than their WISC-IV FSIQ, but there was no significant difference in typical children. Further, autistic children showed a distinctively uneven WISC-IV index profile, with a "peak" in the new Perceptual Reasoning Index. In spite of major changes, WISC-IV FSIQ continues to underestimate autistic intelligence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Nader
- Rivière-des-prairies Hospital, Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), 7070 Blvd Perras, Montreal, QC, H1E 1A4, Canada.,Psychology Department, University of Quebec at Montreal, C.P. 8888, succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Valérie Courchesne
- Rivière-des-prairies Hospital, Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), 7070 Blvd Perras, Montreal, QC, H1E 1A4, Canada.,Psychology Department, University of Quebec at Montreal, C.P. 8888, succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada.,Psychology Department, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Michelle Dawson
- Rivière-des-prairies Hospital, Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), 7070 Blvd Perras, Montreal, QC, H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Isabelle Soulières
- Rivière-des-prairies Hospital, Centre d'Excellence en Troubles Envahissants du Développement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), 7070 Blvd Perras, Montreal, QC, H1E 1A4, Canada. .,Psychology Department, University of Quebec at Montreal, C.P. 8888, succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Mattison M, Dando CJ, Ormerod TC. Drawing the answers: Sketching to support free and probed recall by child witnesses and victims with autism spectrum disorder. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2016; 22:181-194. [DOI: 10.1177/1362361316669088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The success of witness interviews in the criminal justice system depends on the accuracy of information obtained, which is a function of both amount and quality of information. Attempts to enhance witness retrieval such as mental reinstatement of context have been designed with typically developed adults in mind. In this article, the relative benefits of mental and sketch reinstatement mnemonics are explored with both typically developing children and children with autism. Children watched a crime event video, and their retrieval of event information was examined in free and probed recall phases of a cognitive interview. As expected, typically developing children recalled more correct information of all types than children with autism during free and probed recall phases. Sketching during free recall was more beneficial for both groups in both phases in reducing the amount of incorrect items, but the relative effect of sketching on enhancing retrieval accuracy was greater for children with autism. The results indicate the benefits of choosing retrieval mnemonics that are sensitive to the specific impairments of autistic individuals and suggest that retrieval accuracy during interviews can be enhanced, in some cases to the same level as that of typically developing individuals.
Collapse
|
25
|
D'Mello AM, Moore DM, Crocetti D, Mostofsky SH, Stoodley CJ. Cerebellar gray matter differentiates children with early language delay in autism. Autism Res 2016; 9:1191-1204. [PMID: 27868392 PMCID: PMC11079618 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Early language delay (ELD) is one of the earliest indicators of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and predicts later cognitive and behavioral outcomes. We aimed to determine the neural correlates of ELD in autism, and examine the relationships between gray matter (GM), age of first word/phrase, and core ASD symptoms. We used voxel-based morphometry to examine whole-brain differences in GM in 8-13 year old children with autism (n = 13 ELD; n = 22 non-ELD) and 35 age-matched typically developing (TD) children. Multiple regression analyses examined the relationships between GM, age of first word/phrase, and autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) scores. Composite age of first word/phrase negatively correlated with GM throughout the cerebellum. Both ASD groups (ELD and non-ELD) had reduced GM in right cerebellar Crus I/II when compared to TD children. Left cerebellar Crus I/II was the only region in the brain that differentiated ELD and non-ELD children, with ELD children showing reduced GM relative to both non-ELD and TD groups. Group×score interactions converged in left Crus I/II, such that the non-ELD group showed poorer ADOS scores with increasing GM, whereas the ELD group showed poorer ADOS scores as GM decreased. Reduced GM in right cerebellar Crus I/I was related ASD diagnosis, while children with ELD showed additional reduced GM in left Crus I/II. These findings highlight the importance of specific cerebellar networks in both ASD and early language development, and suggest that bilateral disruption in cerebellar regions that interconnect with fronto-parietal networks could impact language acquisition in ASD. Autism Res 2016, 9: 1191-1204. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anila M D'Mello
- Developmental Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC
| | - Dorothea M Moore
- Developmental Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research (CNIR), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research (CNIR), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Catherine J Stoodley
- Developmental Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kunda M, Soulières I, Rozga A, Goel AK. Error patterns on the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices Test. INTELLIGENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
27
|
L’hétérogénéité du développement cognitif et socio-émotionnel d’enfants atteints de trouble du spectre de l’autisme en lien avec la sévérité des troubles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurenf.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
28
|
Mouga S, Café C, Almeida J, Marques C, Duque F, Oliveira G. Intellectual Profiles in the Autism Spectrum and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46:2940-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2838-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
29
|
Howe YJ, O'Rourke JA, Yatchmink Y, Viscidi EW, Jones RN, Morrow EM. Female Autism Phenotypes Investigated at Different Levels of Language and Developmental Abilities. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 45:3537-49. [PMID: 26100851 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2501-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the differences in clinical symptoms between females and males with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across three verbal ability groups (nonverbal, phrase and fluent speech), based on which Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule module was administered to 5723 individuals in four research datasets. In the Simons Simplex Collection and Autism Treatment Network, females with ASD and phrase or fluent speech had lower cognitive, adaptive, and social abilities than males. In the Autism Genetics Resource Exchange and the Autism Consortium, females with phrase or fluent speech had similar or better adaptive and social abilities than males. Females who were nonverbal had similar cognitive, adaptive, and social abilities as males. Population-based longitudinal studies of verbally fluent females with ASD are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yamini J Howe
- Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Hasbro Children's/Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Julia A O'Rourke
- Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Lexington, MA, USA
- Laboratory of Computer Science, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yvette Yatchmink
- Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Hasbro Children's/Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Emma W Viscidi
- Division of Biology and Medicine, Department of Community Health/Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Richard N Jones
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Eric M Morrow
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry and Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
- Developmental Disorders Genetics Research Program, Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Nebel MB, Eloyan A, Nettles CA, Sweeney KL, Ament K, Ward RE, Choe AS, Barber AD, Pekar JJ, Mostofsky SH. Intrinsic Visual-Motor Synchrony Correlates With Social Deficits in Autism. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 79:633-41. [PMID: 26543004 PMCID: PMC4777671 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Imitation, which is impaired in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and critically depends on the integration of visual input with motor output, likely impacts both motor and social skill acquisition in children with ASD; however, it is unclear what brain mechanisms contribute to this impairment. Children with ASD also exhibit what appears to be an ASD-specific bias against using visual feedback during motor learning. Does the temporal congruity of intrinsic activity, or functional connectivity, between motor and visual brain regions contribute to ASD-associated deficits in imitation, motor, and social skills? METHODS We acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans from 100 8- to 12-year-old children (50 ASD). Group independent component analysis was used to estimate functional connectivity between visual and motor systems. Brain-behavior relationships were assessed by regressing functional connectivity measures with social deficit severity, imitation, and gesture performance scores. RESULTS We observed increased intrinsic asynchrony between visual and motor systems in children with ASD and replicated this finding in an independent sample from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange. Moreover, children with more out-of-sync intrinsic visual-motor activity displayed more severe autistic traits, while children with greater intrinsic visual-motor synchrony were better imitators. CONCLUSIONS Our twice replicated findings confirm that visual-motor functional connectivity is disrupted in ASD. Furthermore, the observed temporal incongruity between visual and motor systems, which may reflect diminished integration of visual consequences with motor output, was predictive of the severity of social deficits and may contribute to impaired social-communicative skill development in children with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Beth Nebel
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Ani Eloyan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Carrie A. Nettles
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Kristie L. Sweeney
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Katarina Ament
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Rebecca E. Ward
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ann S. Choe
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Anita D. Barber
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - James J. Pekar
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Stewart H. Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Sheppard DP, Kvavilashvili L, Ryder N. Event-based prospective memory in mildly and severely autistic children. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2016; 49-50:22-33. [PMID: 26647004 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2015.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing body of research into the development of prospective memory (PM) in typically developing children but research is limited in autistic children (Aut) and rarely includes children with more severe symptoms. AIMS This study is the first to specifically compare event-based PM in severely autistic children to mildly autistic and typically developing children. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Fourteen mildly autistic children and 14 severely autistic children, aged 5-13 years, were matched for educational attainment with 26 typically developing children aged 5-6 years. Three PM tasks and a retrospective memory task were administered. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Results showed that severely autistic children performed less well than typically developing children on two PM tasks but mildly autistic children did not differ from either group. No group differences were found on the most motivating (a toy reward) task. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The findings suggest naturalistic tasks and motivation are important factors in PM success in severely autistic children and highlights the need to consider the heterogeneity of autism and symptom severity in relation to performance on event-based PM tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nuala Ryder
- Department of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Sharer E, Crocetti D, Muschelli J, Barber AD, Nebel MB, Caffo BS, Pekar JJ, Mostofsky SH. Neural Correlates of Visuomotor Learning in Autism. J Child Neurol 2015; 30:1877-86. [PMID: 26350725 PMCID: PMC4941625 DOI: 10.1177/0883073815600869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Motor impairments are prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder. The Serial Reaction Time Task, a well-established visuomotor sequence learning probe, has produced inconsistent behavioral findings in individuals with autism. Moreover, it remains unclear how underlying neural processes for visuomotor learning in children with autism compare to processes for typically developing children. Neural activity differences were assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging during a modified version of the Serial Reaction Time Task in children with and without autism. Though there was no group difference in visuomotor sequence learning, underlying patterns of neural activation significantly differed when comparing sequence (i.e., learning) to random (i.e., nonlearning) blocks. Children with autism demonstrated decreased activity in brain regions implicated in visuomotor sequence learning: superior temporal sulcus and posterior cingulate cortex. The findings implicate differences in brain mechanisms that support initial sequence learning in autism and can help explain behavioral observations of autism-associated impairments in skill development (motor, social, communicative) reliant on visuomotor integration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Sharer
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - John Muschelli
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Anita D. Barber
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland,Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mary Beth Nebel
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland,Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brian S. Caffo
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jim J. Pekar
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland,Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland,FM Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stewart H. Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland,Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Van Eylen L, Boets B, Steyaert J, Wagemans J, Noens I. Executive functioning in autism spectrum disorders: influence of task and sample characteristics and relation to symptom severity. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015; 24:1399-417. [PMID: 25697266 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-015-0689-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Impaired executive functioning (EF) has been proposed to underlie symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, insight in the EF profile of ASD individuals is hampered due to task impurity and inconsistent findings. To elucidate these inconsistencies, we investigated the influence of task and sample characteristics on EF in ASD, with an extended test battery designed to reduce task impurity. Additionally, we studied the relation between EF and ASD symptoms. EF (inhibition, cognitive flexibility, generativity, working memory and planning) was measured in open-ended versus structured assessment situations, while controlling for possible confounding EF and non-EF variables. The performance of 50 individuals with ASD was compared with that of 50 age, gender and IQ matched typically developing (TD) individuals. The effects of group (ASD versus TD), age (children versus adolescents) and gender were examined, as well as the correlation between age, IQ, ASD symptoms and EF. Individuals with ASD showed impairments in all EF domains, but deficits were more pronounced in open-ended compared to structured settings. Group differences did not depend on gender and only occasionally on participants' age. This suggests that inconsistencies between studies largely result from differences in task characteristics and less from differences in the investigated sample features. However, age and IQ strongly correlated with EF, indicating that group differences in these factors should be controlled for when studying EF. Finally, EF correlated with both social and non-social ASD symptoms, but further research is needed to clarify the nature of this relationship.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lien Van Eylen
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, Box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bart Boets
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Wagemans
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Noens
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, Box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Moseley R, Ypma R, Holt R, Floris D, Chura L, Spencer M, Baron-Cohen S, Suckling J, Bullmore E, Rubinov M. Whole-brain functional hypoconnectivity as an endophenotype of autism in adolescents. Neuroimage Clin 2015; 9:140-52. [PMID: 26413477 PMCID: PMC4556734 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Endophenotypes are heritable and quantifiable markers that may assist in the identification of the complex genetic underpinnings of psychiatric conditions. Here we examined global hypoconnectivity as an endophenotype of autism spectrum conditions (ASCs). We studied well-matched groups of adolescent males with autism, genetically-related siblings of individuals with autism, and typically-developing control participants. We parcellated the brain into 258 regions and used complex-network analysis to detect a robust hypoconnectivity endophenotype in our participant group. We observed that whole-brain functional connectivity was highest in controls, intermediate in siblings, and lowest in ASC, in task and rest conditions. We identified additional, local endophenotype effects in specific networks including the visual processing and default mode networks. Our analyses are the first to show that whole-brain functional hypoconnectivity is an endophenotype of autism in adolescence, and may thus underlie the heritable similarities seen in adolescents with ASC and their relatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R.L. Moseley
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - R.J.F. Ypma
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- University of Cambridge, Hughes Hall, Cambridge, UK
| | - R.J. Holt
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - D. Floris
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - L.R. Chura
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - M.D. Spencer
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - S. Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service (CLASS) Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough National Health Service Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - J. Suckling
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridgeshire & Peterborough National Health Service Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - E. Bullmore
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridgeshire & Peterborough National Health Service Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
- ImmunoPsychiatry, Alternative Discovery & Development, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - M. Rubinov
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Churchill College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Mahajan R, Dirlikov B, Crocetti D, Mostofsky SH. Motor Circuit Anatomy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder With or Without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Autism Res 2015; 9:67-81. [PMID: 25962921 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the morphology of frontal-parietal regions relevant to motor functions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with or without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We also explored its associations with autism severity and motor skills, and the impact of comorbid ADHD on these associations. Participants included 126 school-age children: 30 had ASD only, 33 had ASD with ADHD, and 63 were typically developing. High resolution 3T MPRAGE images were acquired to examine the cortical morphology (gray matter volume, GMV, surface area, SA, and cortical thickness, CT) in three regions of interest (ROI): precentral gyrus (M1), postcentral gyrus (S1), and inferior parietal cortex (IPC). Children with ASD showed abnormal increases in GMV and SA in all three ROIs: (a) increased GMV in S1 bilaterally and in right M1 was specific to children with ASD without ADHD; (b) all children with ASD (with or without ADHD) showed increases in the left IPC SA. Furthermore, on measures of motor function, impaired praxis was associated with increased GMV in right S1 in the ASD group with ADHD. Children with ASD with ADHD showed a positive relationship between bilateral S1 GMV and manual dexterity, whereas children with ASD without ADHD showed a negative relationship. Our findings suggest that (a) ASD is associated with abnormal morphology of cortical circuits crucial to motor control and learning; (b) anomalous overgrowth of these regions, particularly S1, may contribute to impaired motor skill development, and (c) functional and morphological differences are apparent between children with ASD with or without ADHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajneesh Mahajan
- From Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Psychiatry, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Benjamin Dirlikov
- From Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Deana Crocetti
- From Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- From Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Rao VS, Raman V, Mysore AV. Issues related to obtaining intelligence quotient-matched controls in autism research. Indian J Psychol Med 2015; 37:149-53. [PMID: 25969598 PMCID: PMC4418245 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7176.155612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is considered to be an index of global cognitive functioning and has traditionally been used as a fulcral measure in case-control studies in neuro-developmental disorders such as autism. AIM The aim is to highlight the issues of "matching for IQ" with controls in autism research. MATERIALS AND METHODS Percentile scores on the Coloured Progressive Matrices of 20 children with autism in the age range of 5 to 12 years have been graphically compared with 21 age matched typically developing children. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The percentile scores of the so-called high functioning children with autism from special schools were well below that of typically developing children. There are many challenges when using IQ in case-control studies of autism. Alternative approaches need to be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanitha S Rao
- St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Vijaya Raman
- St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ashok V Mysore
- St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
D'Mello AM, Crocetti D, Mostofsky SH, Stoodley CJ. Cerebellar gray matter and lobular volumes correlate with core autism symptoms. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2015; 7:631-9. [PMID: 25844317 PMCID: PMC4375648 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neuroanatomical differences in the cerebellum are among the most consistent findings in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but little is known about the relationship between cerebellar dysfunction and core ASD symptoms. The newly-emerging existence of cerebellar sensorimotor and cognitive subregions provides a new framework for interpreting the functional significance of cerebellar findings in ASD. Here we use two complementary analyses — whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and the SUIT cerebellar atlas — to investigate cerebellar regional gray matter (GM) and volumetric lobular measurements in 35 children with ASD and 35 typically-developing (TD) children (mean age 10.4 ± 1.6 years; range 8–13 years). To examine the relationships between cerebellar structure and core ASD symptoms, correlations were calculated between scores on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI) and the VBM and volumetric data. Both VBM and the SUIT analyses revealed reduced GM in ASD children in cerebellar lobule VII (Crus I/II). The degree of regional and lobular gray matter reductions in different cerebellar subregions correlated with the severity of symptoms in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Structural differences and behavioral correlations converged on right cerebellar Crus I/II, a region which shows structural and functional connectivity with fronto-parietal and default mode networks. These results emphasize the importance of the location within the cerebellum to the potential functional impact of structural differences in ASD, and suggest that GM differences in cerebellar right Crus I/II are associated with the core ASD profile. The cerebellum is one of the most consistent sites of abnormality in autism. We investigated cerebellar structure in autism using two independent methods. Cerebellar gray matter was reduced in several regions in children with autism. The degree of cerebellar gray matter reduction predicted core autism symptom severity. Structural differences and behavioral correlations converged on cerebellar Crus I/II.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anila M D'Mello
- Developmental Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopment and Imaging Research (CNIR), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopment and Imaging Research (CNIR), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Catherine J Stoodley
- Developmental Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Webb SJ, Bernier R, Henderson HA, Johnson MH, Jones EJH, Lerner MD, McPartland JC, Nelson CA, Rojas DC, Townsend J, Westerfield M. Guidelines and best practices for electrophysiological data collection, analysis and reporting in autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2015; 45:425-43. [PMID: 23975145 PMCID: PMC4141903 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1916-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The EEG reflects the activation of large populations of neurons that act in synchrony and propagate to the scalp surface. This activity reflects both the brain's background electrical activity and when the brain is being challenged by a task. Despite strong theoretical and methodological arguments for the use of EEG in understanding the neural correlates of autism, the practice of collecting, processing and evaluating EEG data is complex. Scientists should take into consideration both the nature of development in autism given the life-long, pervasive course of the disorder and the disability of altered or atypical social, communicative, and motor behaviors, all of which require accommodations to traditional EEG environments and paradigms. This paper presents guidelines for the recording, analyzing, and interpreting of EEG data with participants with autism. The goal is to articulate a set of scientific standards as well as methodological considerations that will increase the general field's understanding of EEG methods, provide support for collaborative projects, and contribute to the evaluation of results and conclusions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jane Webb
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, M/S CW8-6, SCRI Po Box 5371, Seattle, WA, 98145, USA,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Marko MK, Crocetti D, Hulst T, Donchin O, Shadmehr R, Mostofsky SH. Behavioural and neural basis of anomalous motor learning in children with autism. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 138:784-97. [PMID: 25609685 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social and communication skills and repetitive and stereotyped interests and behaviours. Although not part of the diagnostic criteria, individuals with autism experience a host of motor impairments, potentially due to abnormalities in how they learn motor control throughout development. Here, we used behavioural techniques to quantify motor learning in autism spectrum disorder, and structural brain imaging to investigate the neural basis of that learning in the cerebellum. Twenty children with autism spectrum disorder and 20 typically developing control subjects, aged 8-12, made reaching movements while holding the handle of a robotic manipulandum. In random trials the reach was perturbed, resulting in errors that were sensed through vision and proprioception. The brain learned from these errors and altered the motor commands on the subsequent reach. We measured learning from error as a function of the sensory modality of that error, and found that children with autism spectrum disorder outperformed typically developing children when learning from errors that were sensed through proprioception, but underperformed typically developing children when learning from errors that were sensed through vision. Previous work had shown that this learning depends on the integrity of a region in the anterior cerebellum. Here we found that the anterior cerebellum, extending into lobule VI, and parts of lobule VIII were smaller than normal in children with autism spectrum disorder, with a volume that was predicted by the pattern of learning from visual and proprioceptive errors. We suggest that the abnormal patterns of motor learning in children with autism spectrum disorder, showing an increased sensitivity to proprioceptive error and a decreased sensitivity to visual error, may be associated with abnormalities in the cerebellum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mollie K Marko
- 1 Laboratory for Computational Motor Control, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Deana Crocetti
- 2 Centre for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas Hulst
- 3 Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Opher Donchin
- 4 The Motor Learning Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Reza Shadmehr
- 1 Laboratory for Computational Motor Control, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- 2 Centre for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 5 Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Sketching to Remember: Episodic Free Recall Task Support for Child Witnesses and Victims with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 45:1751-65. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2335-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
41
|
Visuospatial processing in children with autism: no evidence for (training-resistant) abnormalities. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 44:2230-43. [PMID: 24696376 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2107-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been assumed to show evidence of abnormal visuospatial processing, which has been attributed to a failure to integrate local features into coherent global Gestalts and/or to a bias towards local processing. As the available data are based on baseline performance only, which does not provide insight into cognitive/neural plasticity and actual cognitive potential, we investigated how training-resistant possible visuospatial processing differences between children with and without ASD are. In particular, we studied the effect of computerized versus face-to-face visuospatial training in a group of normally intelligent children with ASD and typically developing children as control. Findings show that (a) children with and without ASD do not differ much in visuospatial processing (as assessed by a tangram-like task) and the few differences we observed were all eliminated by training; (b) training can improve visuospatial processing (equally) in both children with ASD and normally developing children; and (c) computer-based and face-to-face training was equally effective.
Collapse
|
42
|
A preliminary study of gender differences in autobiographical memory in children with an autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 44:2087-95. [PMID: 24777286 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2109-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Autobiographical memory was assessed in 24 children (12 male, 12 female, aged between 8 and 16 years) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a comparison group of 24 typically developing (TD) children matched for age, IQ, gender and receptive language. Results suggested that a deficit in specific memory retrieval in the ASD group was more characteristic of male participants. Females in both the TD and ASD groups generated more detailed and emotional memories than males. They also demonstrated superior verbal fluency scores; verbal fluency and autobiographical memory cueing task performance were significantly positively correlated in females. Results are discussed in light of recent research suggesting gender differences in the phenotype of ASD.
Collapse
|
43
|
Tyson K, Kelley E, Fein D, Orinstein A, Troyb E, Barton M, Eigsti IM, Naigles L, Schultz RT, Stevens M, Helt M, Rosenthal M. Language and verbal memory in individuals with a history of autism spectrum disorders who have achieved optimal outcomes. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 44:648-63. [PMID: 23982487 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1921-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Some individuals who lose their autism spectrum disorder diagnosis may continue to display subtle weaknesses in language. We examined language and verbal memory in 44 individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA), 34 individuals with "optimal outcomes" (OO) and 34 individuals with typical development (TD). The OO group scored in the average range or above on all measures and showed few differences from the TD group. The HFA group performed within the average range but showed significantly lower mean performance than the other groups on multiple language measures, even when controlling for verbal IQ. Results also indicate that OO individuals show strong language abilities in all areas tested, but that their language may show greater reliance on verbal memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Tyson
- Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Baum KT, Shear PK, Howe SR, Bishop SL. A comparison of WISC-IV and SB-5 intelligence scores in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2014; 19:736-45. [PMID: 25398894 DOI: 10.1177/1362361314554920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In autism spectrum disorders, results of cognitive testing inform clinical care, theories of neurodevelopment, and research design. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the Stanford-Binet are commonly used in autism spectrum disorder evaluations and scores from these tests have been shown to be highly correlated in typically developing populations. However, they have not been compared in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, whose core symptoms can make testing challenging, potentially compromising test reliability. We used a within-subjects research design to evaluate the convergent validity between the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th ed., and Stanford-Binet, 5th ed., in 40 youth (ages 10-16 years) with autism spectrum disorder. Corresponding intelligence scores were highly correlated (r = 0.78 to 0.88), but full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) scores (t(38) = -2.27, p = 0.03, d = -0.16) and verbal IQ scores (t(36) = 2.23, p = 0.03; d = 0.19) differed between the two tests. Most participants obtained higher full-scale IQ scores on the Stanford-Binet, 5th ed., compared to Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th ed., with 14% scoring more than one standard deviation higher. In contrast, verbal indices were higher on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th ed., Verbal-nonverbal discrepancy classifications were only consistent for 60% of the sample. Comparisons of IQ test scores in autism spectrum disorder and other special groups are important, as it cannot necessarily be assumed that convergent validity findings in typically developing children and adolescents hold true across all pediatric populations.
Collapse
|
45
|
Bodner KE, Williams DL, Engelhardt CR, Minshew NJ. A Comparison of Measures for Assessing the Level and Nature of Intelligence in Verbal Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2014; 8:1434-1442. [PMID: 25180048 PMCID: PMC4148695 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Previous work has suggested that the Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) are better suited for capturing the nature of intelligence for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than the Wechsler scales. The RPM measures 'fluid intelligence', an area for which it has been argued that persons with ASD have a relative strength. Given that measures of intelligence are used for establishing clinical diagnoses, for making educational decisions, and for group-matching in research studies, continued examination of this contention is warranted. In the current study, verbal children with ASD performed moderately better on the RPM than on the Wechsler scales; children without ASD received higher percentile scores on the Wechsler than on the RPM. Adults with and without ASD received higher percentile scores on the Wechsler than the RPM. Results suggest that the RPM and Wechsler scales measure different aspects of cognitive abilities in verbal individuals with ASD. For the verbal children and adults with ASD in the current study, the RPM and Wechsler scales have unique contributions that must be considered in context when establishing a baseline of cognitive function. The results of this investigation highlight the importance of thoughtfully selecting appropriate measures of intelligence consistent with clinical, educational, and research purposes, especially for verbal children and adults with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly E. Bodner
- NIH Autism Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Suite 300 Webster Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593, Phone: +1 (412) 246-5460, Fax: +1 (412) 246-5470
| | - Diane L. Williams
- NIH Autism Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Suite 300 Webster Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593, Phone: +1 (412) 246-5460, Fax: +1 (412) 246-5470
- Speech-Language Pathology, Rangos School of Health Sciences, Fisher Hall 409, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, Phone: +1 (412) 396-4217, Fax: +1 (412) 396-4196,
| | - Christopher R. Engelhardt
- Department of Health Psychology, Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, 205 Portland Street, Columbia, MO, 65211, Phone: +1 573-882-1923, Fax: +1 573-884-1151,
| | - Nancy J. Minshew
- NIH Autism Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Suite 300 Webster Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593, Phone: +1 (412) 246-5460, Fax: +1 (412) 246-5470
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry & Neurology, 3811 O'Hara Street, Suite 300 Webster Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593, Phone: +1 (412) 246-5460, Fax: +1 (412) 246-5470,
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Peterson D, Mahajan R, Crocetti D, Mejia A, Mostofsky S. Left-hemispheric microstructural abnormalities in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2014; 8:61-72. [PMID: 25256103 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Current theories of the neurobiological basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) posit an altered pattern of connectivity in large-scale brain networks. Here we used diffusion tensor imaging to investigate the microstructural properties of the white matter (WM) that mediates interregional connectivity in 36 high-functioning children with ASD (HF-ASD) as compared with 37 controls. By employing an atlas-based analysis using large deformation diffeometric morphic mapping registration, a widespread but left-lateralized pattern of abnormalities was revealed. The mean diffusivity (MD) of water in the WM of HF-ASD children was significantly elevated throughout the left hemisphere, particularly in the outer-zone cortical WM. Across diagnostic groups, there was a significant effect of age on left-hemisphere MD, with a similar reduction in MD during childhood in both typically developing and HF-ASD children. The increased MD in children with HF-ASD suggests hypomyelination and may reflect increased short-range cortico-cortical connections subsequent to early WM overgrowth. These findings also highlight left-hemispheric connectivity as relevant to the pathophysiology of ASD and indicate that the spatial distribution of microstructural abnormalities in HF-ASD is widespread and left-lateralized. This altered left-hemispheric connectivity may contribute to deficits in communication and praxis observed in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Peterson
- Center for Neurodevelopment and Imaging Research (CNIR), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Meilleur AAS, Berthiaume C, Bertone A, Mottron L. Autism-specific covariation in perceptual performances: "g" or "p" factor? PLoS One 2014; 9:e103781. [PMID: 25117450 PMCID: PMC4130524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autistic perception is characterized by atypical and sometimes exceptional performance in several low- (e.g., discrimination) and mid-level (e.g., pattern matching) tasks in both visual and auditory domains. A factor that specifically affects perceptive abilities in autistic individuals should manifest as an autism-specific association between perceptual tasks. The first purpose of this study was to explore how perceptual performances are associated within or across processing levels and/or modalities. The second purpose was to determine if general intelligence, the major factor that accounts for covariation in task performances in non-autistic individuals, equally controls perceptual abilities in autistic individuals. Methods We asked 46 autistic individuals and 46 typically developing controls to perform four tasks measuring low- or mid-level visual or auditory processing. Intelligence was measured with the Wechsler's Intelligence Scale (FSIQ) and Raven Progressive Matrices (RPM). We conducted linear regression models to compare task performances between groups and patterns of covariation between tasks. The addition of either Wechsler's FSIQ or RPM in the regression models controlled for the effects of intelligence. Results In typically developing individuals, most perceptual tasks were associated with intelligence measured either by RPM or Wechsler FSIQ. The residual covariation between unimodal tasks, i.e. covariation not explained by intelligence, could be explained by a modality-specific factor. In the autistic group, residual covariation revealed the presence of a plurimodal factor specific to autism. Conclusions Autistic individuals show exceptional performance in some perceptual tasks. Here, we demonstrate the existence of specific, plurimodal covariation that does not dependent on general intelligence (or “g” factor). Instead, this residual covariation is accounted for by a common perceptual process (or “p” factor), which may drive perceptual abilities differently in autistic and non-autistic individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrée-Anne S. Meilleur
- The University of Montreal Center of Excellence for Pervasive Developmental Disorders (CETEDUM), Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Claude Berthiaume
- The University of Montreal Center of Excellence for Pervasive Developmental Disorders (CETEDUM), Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Armando Bertone
- The University of Montreal Center of Excellence for Pervasive Developmental Disorders (CETEDUM), Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- School/Applied Child Psychology, Department of Education and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laurent Mottron
- The University of Montreal Center of Excellence for Pervasive Developmental Disorders (CETEDUM), Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Henderson L, Powell A, Gareth Gaskell M, Norbury C. Learning and consolidation of new spoken words in autism spectrum disorder. Dev Sci 2014; 17:858-71. [DOI: 10.1111/desc.12169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Powell
- Department of Psychology; Royal Holloway; University of London; UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Investigating eye movement patterns, language, and social ability in children with autism spectrum disorder. Dev Psychopathol 2014; 26:529-37. [DOI: 10.1017/s0954579414000108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAlthough all intellectually high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display core social and communication deficits, some develop language within a normative timescale and others experience significant delays and subsequent language impairment. Early attention to social stimuli plays an important role in the emergence of language, and reduced attention to faces has been documented in infants later diagnosed with ASD. We investigated the extent to which patterns of attention to social stimuli would differentiate early and late language onset groups. Children with ASD (mean age = 10 years) differing on language onset timing (late/normal) and a typically developing comparison group completed a task in which visual attention to interacting and noninteracting human figures was mapped using eye tracking. Correlations on visual attention data and results from tests measuring current social and language ability were conducted. Patterns of visual attention did not distinguish typically developing children and ASD children with normal language onset. Children with ASD and late language onset showed significantly reduced attention to salient social stimuli. Associations between current language ability and social attention were observed. Delay in language onset is associated with current language skills as well as with specific eye-tracking patterns.
Collapse
|
50
|
Nebel MB, Joel SE, Muschelli J, Barber AD, Caffo BS, Pekar JJ, Mostofsky SH. Disruption of functional organization within the primary motor cortex in children with autism. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 35:567-80. [PMID: 23118015 PMCID: PMC3864146 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2011] [Revised: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that motor impairments are prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), relate to the social and communicative deficits at the core of the diagnosis and may reflect abnormal connectivity within brain networks underlying motor control and learning. Parcellation of resting-state functional connectivity data using spectral clustering approaches has been shown to be an effective means of visualizing functional organization within the brain but has most commonly been applied to explorations of normal brain function. This article presents a parcellation of a key area of the motor network, the primary motor cortex (M1), a key area of the motor control network, in adults, typically developing (TD) children and children with ASD and introduces methods for selecting the number of parcels, matching parcels across groups and testing group differences. The parcellation is based solely on patterns of connectivity between individual M1 voxels and all voxels outside of M1, and within all groups, a gross dorsomedial to ventrolateral organization emerged within M1 which was left-right symmetric. Although this gross organizational scheme was present in both groups of children, statistically significant group differences in the size and segregation of M1 parcels within regions of the motor homunculus corresponding to the upper and lower limbs were observed. Qualitative comparison of the M1 parcellation for children with ASD with that of younger and older TD children suggests that these organizational differences, with a lack of differentiation between lower limb/trunk regions and upper limb/hand regions, may be due, at least in part, to a delay in functional specialization within the motor cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Beth Nebel
- Laboratory for Neurocognitive and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|