1
|
Biondi M, Marino M, Mantini D, Spironelli C. Unveiling altered connectivity between cognitive networks and cerebellum in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2024; 271:47-58. [PMID: 39013344 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.06.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive functioning is a crucial aspect in schizophrenia (SZ), and when altered it has devastating effects on patients' quality of life and treatment outcomes. Several studies suggested that they could result from altered communication between the cortex and cerebellum. However, the neural correlates underlying these impairments have not been identified. In this study, we investigated resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) in SZ patients, by considering the interactions between cortical networks supporting cognition and cerebellum. In addition, we investigated the relationship between SZ patients' rsFC and their symptoms. We used fMRI data from 74 SZ patients and 74 matched healthy controls (HC) downloaded from the publicly available database SchizConnect. We implemented a seed-based connectivity approach to identify altered functional connections between specific cortical networks and cerebellum. We considered ten commonly studied resting state networks, whose functioning encompasses specific cognitive functions, and the cerebellum, whose involvement in supporting cognition has been recently identified. We then explored the relationship between altered rsFC values and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores. The SZ group showed increased connectivity values compared with HC group for cortical networks involved in attentive processes, which were also linked to PANSS items describing attention and language-related processing. We also showed decreased connectivity between cerebellar regions, and increased connectivity between them and attentive networks, suggesting the contribution of cerebellum to attentive and affective deficits. In conclusion, our findings highlighted the link between negative symptoms in SZ and altered connectivity within the cerebellum and between the same and cortical networks supporting cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Marino
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy; Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dante Mantini
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Chiara Spironelli
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Italy; Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lee JP, Chang YH, Tseng YL, Chou TL, Chien YL. Pupillary response during social emotion tasks in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2024. [PMID: 39096024 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Autistic individuals encounter challenges in recognizing emotional expressions of others. Pupillary response has been proposed as an indicator of arousal dysregulation or cognitive load. The pupillary response of autistic individuals during socio-affective tasks remains unclear. This study investigated pupillary response in autistic adults when viewing emotional faces/eyes and recognizing emotions during the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and watching interpersonal touch scenes in the social touch task. The study included 98 participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and 37 typically developing controls (TD). Pupil size was measured using the Tobii X2-30 Eye Tracker. The results showed that autistic adults had larger maximal pupil sizes, smaller minimal pupil sizes, and greater change rates of pupil size, particularly during the RMET Eyes task. Clinical correlations revealed that attention switching difficulty positively correlated with mean pupil size in TD participants, while social communication deficits positively correlated with mean pupil size in autistic participants. In conclusion, our findings suggest atypical pupillary responses in autistic adults during socio-affective tasks, indicating heightened cognitive demand. Further investigation is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms and their association with autistic traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juei-Po Lee
- Department of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Chang
- College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Li Tseng
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Li Chou
- Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Chien
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Prati JM, Pontes-Silva A, Gianlorenço ACL. The cerebellum and its connections to other brain structures involved in motor and non-motor functions: A comprehensive review. Behav Brain Res 2024; 465:114933. [PMID: 38458437 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The cerebellum has a large network of neurons that communicate with several brain structures and participate in different functions. Recent studies have demonstrated that the cerebellum is not only associated with motor functions but also participates in several non-motor functions. It is suggested that the cerebellum can modulate behavior through many connections with different nervous system structures in motor, sensory, cognitive, autonomic, and emotional processes. Recently, a growing number of clinical and experimental studies support this theory and provide further evidence. In light of recent findings, a comprehensive review is needed to summarize the knowledge on the influence of the cerebellum on the processing of different functions. Therefore, the aim of this review was to describe the neuroanatomical aspects of the activation of the cerebellum and its connections with other structures of the central nervous system in different behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Mário Prati
- Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| | - André Pontes-Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ronconi L, Cantiani C, Riva V, Franchin L, Bettoni R, Gori S, Bulf H, Valenza E, Facoetti A. Infants' reorienting efficiency depends on parental autistic traits and predicts future socio-communicative behaviors. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:40-49. [PMID: 38696607 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Attentional reorienting is dysfunctional not only in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but also in infants who will develop ASD, thus constituting a potential causal factor of future social interaction and communication abilities. Following the research domain criteria framework, we hypothesized that the presence of subclinical autistic traits in parents should lead to atypical infants' attentional reorienting, which in turn should impact on their future socio-communication behavior in toddlerhood. During an attentional cueing task, we measured the saccadic latencies in a large sample (total enrolled n = 89; final sample n = 71) of 8-month-old infants from the general population as a proxy for their stimulus-driven attention. Infants were grouped in a high parental traits (HPT; n = 23) or in a low parental traits (LPT; n = 48) group, according to the degree of autistic traits self-reported by their parents. Infants (n = 33) were then longitudinally followed to test their socio-communicative behaviors at 21 months. Results show a sluggish reorienting system, which was a longitudinal predictor of future socio-communicative skills at 21 months. Our combined transgenerational and longitudinal findings suggest that the early functionality of the stimulus-driven attentional network-redirecting attention from one event to another-could be directly connected to future social and communication development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ronconi
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Cantiani
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza, 20, 23842 Lecco, Italy
| | - Valentina Riva
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza, 20, 23842 Lecco, Italy
| | - Laura Franchin
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini, 84, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Roberta Bettoni
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Gori
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Piazzale Sant'Agostino, 2, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Herman Bulf
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Eloisa Valenza
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Via Venezia 8, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Facoetti
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, Via Venezia 8, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rice LC, Rochowiak RN, Plotkin MR, Rosch KS, Mostofsky SH, Crocetti D. Sex Differences and Behavioral Associations with Typically Developing Pediatric Regional Cerebellar Gray Matter Volume. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:589-600. [PMID: 37382829 PMCID: PMC10986327 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01569-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum contributes to motor and higher-order control throughout neurodevelopment, with marked growth during childhood. Few studies have investigated differential associations of cerebellar morphometry with function in males and females. The present study examines sex differences in regional cerebellar gray matter volume (GMV) and the moderating effect of sex on the relationship between GMV and motor, cognitive, and emotional functions in a large cohort of typically developing (TD) children. Participants included 371 TD children (123 females, age 8-12 years). A convolutional neural network-based approach was employed for cerebellar parcellation. Volumes were harmonized using ComBat to adjust for hardware-induced variations. Regression analyses examined the effect of sex on GMV and whether sex moderated the relationship between GMV and motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. Males showed larger GMV in right lobules I-V, bilateral lobules VI, crus II/VIIb, and VIII, left lobule X, and vermis regions I-V and VIII-X. Greater motor function correlated with less vermis VI-VII GMV in females. Greater cognitive function correlated with greater left lobule VI GMV in females and less left lobule VI GMV in males. Finally, greater internalizing symptoms correlated with greater bilateral lobule IX GMV in females but less in males. These findings reveal sexually dimorphic patterns of cerebellar structure and associations with motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. Males generally show larger GMV than females. Larger GMV was associated with better cognitive functioning for females and better motor/emotional functioning for males.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Rice
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Rebecca N Rochowiak
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Micah R Plotkin
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Keri S Rosch
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Neuropsychology Department, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 716 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Karavallil Achuthan S, Stavrinos D, Holm HB, Anteraper SA, Kana RK. Alterations of Functional Connectivity in Autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Revealed by Multi-Voxel Pattern Analysis. Brain Connect 2023; 13:528-540. [PMID: 37522594 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2023.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders that share common and distinct neurobiological mechanisms, with disrupted brain connectivity patterns being a hallmark feature of both conditions. It is challenging to gain a mechanistic understanding of the underlying disorder, because brain connectivity changes in autism and ADHD are heterogeneous. Objectives: The present resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) study focuses on investigating the shared and distinct resting state-fMRI connectivity (rsFC) patterns in autistic and ADHD adults using multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA). By identifying spatial patterns of fMRI activity across a given time course, MVPA is an innovative and powerful method for generating seed regions of interest (ROIs) without a priori hypotheses. Methods: We performed a data-driven, whole-brain, connectome-wide MVPA on rs-fMRI data collected from 15 autistic, 19 ADHD, and 15 neurotypical (NT) young adults. Results: MVPA identified cerebellar vermis 9, precuneus, and the right cerebellum VI for autistic versus NT, right inferior frontal gyrus and vermis 9 for ADHD versus NT, and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for autistic versus ADHD as significant clusters. Post hoc seed-to-voxel analyses using these clusters as seed ROIs were performed for further characterization of group differences. The cerebellum VI, vermis, and precuneus in autistic adults, and the vermis and frontal regions in ADHD showed different connectivity patterns in comparison with NT. Conclusions: The study characterizes the rsFC profile of cerebellum with key cortical areas in autism and ADHD, and it emphasizes the importance of studying the role of the functional connectivity of the cerebellum in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Karavallil Achuthan
- Department of Psychology & The Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Despina Stavrinos
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Haley B Holm
- Children's Hospital of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sheeba Arnold Anteraper
- Stephens Family Clinical Research Institute, Carle Illinois Advanced Imaging Center, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Rajesh K Kana
- Department of Psychology & The Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Schwartz S, Wang L, Uribe S, Shinn-Cunningham B, Tager-Flusberg H. Auditory evoked potentials in adolescents with autism: An investigation of brain development, intellectual impairment, and neural encoding. Autism Res 2023; 16:1859-1876. [PMID: 37735966 PMCID: PMC10676753 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Limited research has evaluated neural encoding of sounds from a developmental perspective in individuals with autism (ASD), especially among those with intellectual disability. We compared auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in autistic adolescents with a wide range of intellectual abilities (n = 40, NVIQ 30-160) to both age-matched cognitively able neurotypical adolescent controls (NT-A, n = 37) and younger neurotypical children (NT-C, n = 27) to assess potential developmental delays. In addition to a classic measure of peak amplitude, we calculated a continuous measure of intra-class correlation (ICC) between each adolescent participant's AEP and the age-normative, average AEP waveforms calculated from NT-C and NT-A to study differences in signal morphology. We found that peak amplitudes of neural responses were significantly smaller in autistic adolescents compared to NT-A. We also found that the AEP morphology of autistic adolescents looked more like NT-A peers than NT-C but was still significantly different from NT-A AEP waveforms. Results suggest that AEPs of autistic adolescents present differently from NTs, regardless of age, and differences cannot be accounted for by developmental delay. Nonverbal intelligence significantly predicted how closely each adolescent's AEP resembled the age-normed waveform. These results support an evolving theory that the degree of disruption in early neural responses to low-level inputs is reflected in the severity of intellectual impairments in autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Schwartz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sofia Uribe
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Helen Tager-Flusberg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xin J, Huang K, Yi A, Feng Z, Liu H, Liu X, Liang L, Huang Q, Xiao Y. Absence of associations with prefrontal cortex and cerebellum may link to early language and social deficits in preschool children with ASD. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1144993. [PMID: 37215652 PMCID: PMC10192852 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1144993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder, characterized by language and social deficits that begin to appear in the first years of life. Research in preschool children with ASD has consistently reported increased global brain volume and abnormal cortical patterns, and the brain structure abnormalities have also been found to be clinically and behaviorally relevant. However, little is known regarding the associations between brain structure abnormalities and early language and social deficits in preschool children with ASD. Methods In this study, we collected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from a cohort of Chinese preschool children with and without ASD (24 ASD/20 non-ASD) aged 12-52 months, explored group differences in brain gray matter (GM) volume, and examined associations between regional GM volume and early language and social abilities in these two groups, separately. Results We observed significantly greater global GM volume in children with ASD as compared to those without ASD, but there were no regional GM volume differences between these two groups. For children without ASD, GM volume in bilateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum was significantly correlated with language scores; GM volume in bilateral prefrontal cortex was significantly correlated with social scores. No significant correlations were found in children with ASD. Discussion Our data demonstrate correlations of regional GM volume with early language and social abilities in preschool children without ASD, and the absence of these associations appear to underlie language and social deficits in children with ASD. These findings provide novel evidence for the neuroanatomical basis associated with language and social abilities in preschool children with and without ASD, which promotes a better understanding of early deficits in language and social functions in ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xin
- Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Kaiyu Huang
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Aiwen Yi
- Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Ziyu Feng
- Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Heng Liu
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi, China
| | - Lili Liang
- Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Qingshan Huang
- Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Yaqiong Xiao
- Center for Language and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Olson IR, Hoffman LJ, Jobson KR, Popal HS, Wang Y. Little brain, little minds: The big role of the cerebellum in social development. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 60:101238. [PMID: 37004475 PMCID: PMC10067769 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Seminal work in the 1990's found alterations in the cerebellum of individuals with social disorders including autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. In neurotypical populations, distinct portions of the posterior cerebellum are consistently activated in fMRI studies of social cognition and it has been hypothesized that the cerebellum plays an essential role in social cognition, particularly in theory of mind. Here we review the lesion literature and find that the effect of cerebellar damage on social cognition is strongly linked to the age of insult, with dramatic impairments observed after prenatal insult, strong deficits observed after childhood damage, and mild and inconsistent deficits observed following damage to the adult cerebellum. To explain the developmental gradient, we propose that early in life, the forward model dominates cerebellar computations. The forward model learns and uses errors to help build schemas of our interpersonal worlds. Subsequently, we argue that once these schemas have been built up, the inverse model, which is the foundation of automatic processing, becomes dominant. We provide suggestions for how to test this, and also outline directions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid R Olson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadephia PA, USA.
| | - Linda J Hoffman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadephia PA, USA
| | - Katie R Jobson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadephia PA, USA
| | - Haroon S Popal
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadephia PA, USA
| | - Yin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pellegrino M, Ben-Soussan TD, Paoletti P. A Scoping Review on Movement, Neurobiology and Functional Deficits in Dyslexia: Suggestions for a Three-Fold Integrated Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3315. [PMID: 36834011 PMCID: PMC9966639 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Developmental dyslexia is a common complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Many theories and models tried to explain its symptomatology and find ways to improve poor reading abilities. The aim of this scoping review is to summarize current findings and several approaches and theories, focusing on the interconnectedness between motion, emotion and cognition and their connection to dyslexia. Consequently, we present first a brief overview of the main theories and models regarding dyslexia and its proposed neural correlates, with a particular focus on cerebellar regions and their involvement in this disorder. After examining different types of intervention programs and remedial training, we highlight the effects of a specific structured sensorimotor intervention named Quadrato Motor Training (QMT). QMT utilizes several cognitive and motor functions known to be relevant in developmental dyslexia. We introduce its potential beneficial effects on reading skills, including working memory, coordination and attention. We sum its effects ranging from behavioral to functional, structural and neuroplastic, especially in relation to dyslexia. We report several recent studies that employed this training technique with dyslexic participants, discussing the specific features that distinguish it from other training within the specific framework of the Sphere Model of Consciousness. Finally, we advocate for a new perspective on developmental dyslexia integrating motion, emotion and cognition to fully encompass this complex disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Pellegrino
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation for Development and Communication, 06081 Assisi, Italy
| | - Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation for Development and Communication, 06081 Assisi, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sultan S. Translating neuroimaging changes to neuro-endophenotypes of autistic spectrum disorder: a narrative review. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-022-00578-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Autism-spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with heterogeneity in etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation. Neuroanatomical and neurophysiological abnormalities may represent neural endophenotypes for autism spectrum disorders which may help identify subgroups of patients seemingly similar in clinical presentation yet different in their pathophysiological underpinnings. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of disease can pave the way to effective treatments, prevention, and prognostic predictions. The aim of this review is to identify the predominant neural endophenotypes in autism-spectrum disorder. The evidence was researched at the following electronic databases: Pubmed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE.
Results
Enlarged brain, especially frontotemporal cortices have been consistently reported by structural neuroimaging, whereas functional neuroimaging has revealed frontotemporal dysconnectivity.
Conclusions
Regrettably, many of these findings have not been consistent. Therefore, translating these findings into neural endophenotype is by far an attempt in its budding stage. The structural and functional neuroimaging changes may represent neural endophenotypes unique to autism-spectrum disorder. Despite inconsistent results, a clinically meaningful finding may require combined efforts of autism-spectrum-disorder researchers focused on different aspects of basic, genetic, neuroimaging, and clinical research.
Collapse
|
12
|
Mapelli L, Soda T, D’Angelo E, Prestori F. The Cerebellar Involvement in Autism Spectrum Disorders: From the Social Brain to Mouse Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073894. [PMID: 35409253 PMCID: PMC8998980 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders that include a variety of forms and clinical phenotypes. This heterogeneity complicates the clinical and experimental approaches to ASD etiology and pathophysiology. To date, a unifying theory of these diseases is still missing. Nevertheless, the intense work of researchers and clinicians in the last decades has identified some ASD hallmarks and the primary brain areas involved. Not surprisingly, the areas that are part of the so-called “social brain”, and those strictly connected to them, were found to be crucial, such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, limbic system, and dopaminergic pathways. With the recent acknowledgment of the cerebellar contribution to cognitive functions and the social brain, its involvement in ASD has become unmistakable, though its extent is still to be elucidated. In most cases, significant advances were made possible by recent technological developments in structural/functional assessment of the human brain and by using mouse models of ASD. Mouse models are an invaluable tool to get insights into the molecular and cellular counterparts of the disease, acting on the specific genetic background generating ASD-like phenotype. Given the multifaceted nature of ASD and related studies, it is often difficult to navigate the literature and limit the huge content to specific questions. This review fulfills the need for an organized, clear, and state-of-the-art perspective on cerebellar involvement in ASD, from its connections to the social brain areas (which are the primary sites of ASD impairments) to the use of monogenic mouse models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mapelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (F.P.)
| | - Teresa Soda
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Prestori
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (T.S.); (E.D.)
- Correspondence: (L.M.); (F.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gallagher S, Sparaci L, Varga S. Disruptions of the Meshed Architecture in Autism Spectrum Disorder. PSYCHOANALYTIC INQUIRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/07351690.2022.2007032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
14
|
Adamaszek M, Cattaneo Z, Ciricugno A, Chatterjee A. The Cerebellum and Beauty: The Impact of the Cerebellum in Art Experience and Creativity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1378:213-233. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99550-8_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
|
15
|
Pitzianti M, Fagioli S, Pontis M, Pasini A. Attention Deficits Influence the Development of Motor Abnormalities in High Functioning Autism. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2021; 52:1131-1142. [PMID: 33145671 PMCID: PMC8528792 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-020-01088-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Early attentional dysfunction is one of the most consistent findings in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including the high functioning autism (HFA). There are no studies that assess how the atypical attentional processes affect the motor functioning in HFA. In this study, we evaluated attentional and motor functioning in a sample of 15 drug-naive patients with HFA and 15 healthy children (HC), and possible link between attentional dysfunction and motor impairment in HFA. Compared to HC, HFA group was seriously impaired in a considerable number of attentional processes and showed a greater number of motor abnormalities. Significant correlations between attention deficits and motor abnormalities were observed in HFA group. These preliminary findings suggest that deficit of attentional processes can be implied in motor abnormalities in HFA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariabernarda Pitzianti
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
- Child Neuropsychiatry, USL Umbria-2, Viale VIII Marzo, 05100, Terni, Italy
| | - Sabrina Fagioli
- Department of Education, University of "Roma Tre", Via del Castro Pretorio 20, 00185, Rome, Italy.
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marco Pontis
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center Ctr Asl 8, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Augusto Pasini
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, "Tor Vergata" University, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
- Child Neuropsychiatry, USL Umbria-2, Viale VIII Marzo, 05100, Terni, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zenke JK, Rahman S, Guo Q, Leung AWS, Gomaa NA. Central Processing in Tinnitus: fMRI Study Outlining Patterns of Activation Using an Auditory Discrimination Task in Normal Versus Tinnitus Patients. Otol Neurotol 2021; 42:e1170-e1180. [PMID: 34086638 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000003194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Elucidate brain activity differences between patients with tinnitus and controls. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING Outpatient Otolaryngology clinic. PATIENTS Three cohorts; 8 controls, 12 with subjective idiopathic tinnitus (tinnitus without hearing loss), and 12 with both tinnitus and hearing loss. INTERVENTION An auditory oddball identification task was performed in fMRI scanner. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Task performance and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores were recorded. Brain activation maps were generated comparing deviant and standard tones as well as at rest. One-way and two-way T-contrasts were generated in addition to multiple regression modeling which identified significant brain regions predicting tinnitus, disease severity, duration, and task performance. RESULTS Task performance worsened in tinnitus patients with increased auditory workload, in terms of additional hearing loss. THI score and grade correlated with false alarms. The limbic system, heschel's gyrus, angular gyrus and cerebellum have a significant effect on both brain behavior in patients with tinnitus, and predictability of tinnitus and its behavioral implications. CONCLUSION Increased auditory workload resulted in poorer task performance. Moreover, it is possible to predict auditory task performance in patients with tinnitus by looking at the activity of specific regions of interest. Heschl's gyrus, angular gyrus, cerebellar, and limbic system activity are important contributors to neurological activity associated with tinnitus. Finally, predictive modeling may influence further research surrounding tinnitus treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julianna K Zenke
- Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery
| | | | - Qi Guo
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
| | - Ada W S Leung
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nahla A Gomaa
- Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Salans M, Tibbs MD, Karunamuni R, Yip A, Huynh-Le MP, Macari AC, Reyes A, Tringale K, McDonald CR, Hattangadi-Gluth JA. Longitudinal change in fine motor skills after brain radiotherapy and in vivo imaging biomarkers associated with decline. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:1393-1403. [PMID: 33543265 PMCID: PMC8328007 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We explored fine motor skills (FMS) before and after brain radiotherapy (RT), analyzing associations between longitudinal FMS and imaging biomarkers of cortical and white matter (WM) integrity in motor regions of interest (ROIs). METHODS On a prospective trial, 52 primary brain tumor patients receiving fractionated brain RT underwent volumetric brain MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and FMS assessments (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Trail Making Test Motor Speed [DKEFS-MS], Grooved Pegboard Dominant Hands [PDH], and Grooved Pegboard Nondominant Hands [PNDH]) at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-RT. Motor ROIs autosegmented included: sensorimotor cortices and superficial WM, corticospinal tracts, cerebellar cortices and WM, and basal ganglia. Volume (cc) was measured in all ROIs at each timepoint. Diffusion biomarkers (FA [fractional anisotropy] and MD [mean diffusivity]) were additionally measured in WM ROIs. Linear mixed-effects models assessed biomarkers as predictors of FMS scores. P values were corrected for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Higher RT dose was associated with right paracentral cortical thinning (β = -2.42 Gy/(month × mm), P = .03) and higher right precentral WM MD (β = 0.69 Gy/(month × µm2/ms), P = .04). Higher left (β = 38.7 points/(month × µm2/ms), P = .004) and right (β = 42.4 points/(month × µm2/ms), P = .01) cerebellar WM MD, left precentral cortical atrophy (β = -8.67 points/(month × mm), P = .02), and reduced right cerebral peduncle FA (β = -0.50 points/month, P = .01) were associated with worse DKEFS-MS performance. Left precentral cortex thinning was associated with worse PDH scores (β = -17.3 points/(month × mm), P = .02). Left (β = -0.87 points/(month × cm3), P = .001) and right (β = -0.64 points/(month × cm3), P = .02) cerebellar cortex, left pons (β = -19.8 points/(month × cm3), P = .02), and right pallidum (β = -10.8 points/(month × cm3), P = .02) atrophy and reduced right internal capsule FA (β = -1.02 points/month, P = .03) were associated with worse PNDH performance. CONCLUSIONS Biomarkers of microstructural injury in motor-associated brain regions were associated with worse FMS. Dose avoidance in these areas may preserve FMS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mia Salans
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Michelle D Tibbs
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Roshan Karunamuni
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Anthony Yip
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Minh-Phuong Huynh-Le
- Department of Radiation Oncology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Anna Christina Macari
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Anny Reyes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kathryn Tringale
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Carrie R McDonald
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jona A Hattangadi-Gluth
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shifting attention between modalities: Revisiting the modality-shift effect in autism. Atten Percept Psychophys 2021; 83:2498-2509. [PMID: 33939157 PMCID: PMC8302542 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-021-02302-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Selective attention to a sensory modality has been observed experimentally in studies of the modality-shift effect – a relative performance benefit for targets preceded by a target in the same modality, compared to a different modality. Differences in selective attention are commonly observed in autism and we investigated whether exogenous (automatic) shift costs between modalities are increased. Autistic adults and neurotypical controls made speeded discrimination responses to simple visual, tactile and auditory targets. Shift costs were observed for each target modality in participant response times and were largest for auditory targets, reflective of fast responses on auditory repeat trials. Critically, shift costs were similar between the groups. However, integrating speed and accuracy data using drift-diffusion modelling revealed that shift costs in drift rates (reflecting the quality of information extracted from the stimulus) were reduced for autistic participants compared with neurotypicals. It may be that, unlike neurotypicals, there is little difference between attention within and between sensory modalities for autistic people. This finding also highlights the benefit of combining reaction time and accuracy data using decision models to better characterise selective attention in autism.
Collapse
|
19
|
Zhang A, Zhang L, Wang M, Zhang Y, Jiang F, Jin X, Du X, Ma J. Functional connectivity of thalamus in children with primary nocturnal enuresis: results from a resting-state fMRI study. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:355-363. [PMID: 32125610 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00262-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is characterized by a low cure rate and a high reoccurrence rate, since its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Based on the recent studies that thalamus plays an important role in waking up a sleeping person, here we further investigate the functional connectivity (FC) information between thalamus and other brain regions, in order to make better understanding of the PNE's pathogenesis. In this study, we enrolled 30 children diagnosed with PNE and 30 typically developing children that are age and sex matched, the thalamus-based FC estimates were extracted at the resting-state. Experiments showed that for children with PNE, there were four brain regions found with a reduced connection efficiency with thalamus, that were cerebellum posterior lobe, frontal lobe, parietal lobe and precentral gyrus. It can be concluded that these relevant regions might induce an arousal disorder, and therefore further lead to PNE. This finding also provides a new insight in the pathophysiology of PNE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anyi Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dong-Fang Road, 200127, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lichi Zhang
- Institute for Medical Imaging Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxing Wang
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhong-Shan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dong-Fang Road, 200127, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Jiang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dong-Fang Road, 200127, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingming Jin
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dong-Fang Road, 200127, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxia Du
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhong-Shan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Jun Ma
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dong-Fang Road, 200127, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. .,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Yurkovic JR, Lisandrelli G, Shaffer RC, Dominick KC, Pedapati EV, Erickson CA, Kennedy DP, Yu C. Using head-mounted eye tracking to examine visual and manual exploration during naturalistic toy play in children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3578. [PMID: 33574367 PMCID: PMC7878779 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81102-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Multimodal exploration of objects during toy play is important for a child's development and is suggested to be abnormal in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to either atypical attention or atypical action. However, little is known about how children with ASD coordinate their visual attention and manual actions during toy play. The current study aims to understand if and in what ways children with ASD generate exploratory behaviors to toys in natural, unconstrained contexts by utilizing head-mounted eye tracking to quantify moment-by-moment attention. We found no differences in how 24- to 48-mo children with and without ASD distribute their visual attention, generate manual action, or coordinate their visual and manual behaviors during toy play with a parent. Our findings suggest an intact ability and willingness of children with ASD to explore toys and suggest that context is important when studying child behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Yurkovic
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47401, USA.
| | - Grace Lisandrelli
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47401, USA
| | - Rebecca C Shaffer
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Kelli C Dominick
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Ernest V Pedapati
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Craig A Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Daniel P Kennedy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47401, USA.
| | - Chen Yu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47401, USA.
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Batez M, Milošević Ž, Mikulić I, Sporiš G, Mačak D, Trajković N. Relationship between Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Academic Achievement in Young School-Aged Children. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:6631365. [PMID: 33628796 PMCID: PMC7884140 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6631365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Children in schools are facing many academic challenges. Moreover, there is constant pressure on children and parents to maximize academic achievement. We aimed to determine the relationship between motor competence, physical fitness, and academic achievement in young school-aged children. Participants were 130 elementary school children (mean ± SD8.60 ± 0.61 years; 51 boys and 79 girls) from Serbia. The KTK (Körperkoordinations Test für Kinder) battery of tests was used to assess the motor competence in children; children' physical fitness was assessed using the EUROFIT battery of tests, while academic achievement was assessed based on the children's GPA (grade point average) scores at the end of the school year. Pearson's r showed the weak to moderate relationships between the GPA and motor competence and physical fitness measures. The GPA correlates positively and significantly with almost all motor competence and physical fitness measures, but negatively with BMI (p ≤ 0.05). However, the hierarchical linear regression indicated only the plate tapping and sit and reach as the significant predictors of the GPA. Although both tests positively affect the GPA, the plate tapping (B = -0.22, p = 0.02) tends to influence the GPA more than the sit and reach test (B = 0.18, p = 0.04) after adjusting for effects of motor competence (B = 0.19, p = 0.03), age (B = -0.01, p = 0.89), and BMI (B = -0.19, p = 0.03). This study provides evidence demonstrating that academic achievement is generally associated with physical fitness and motor competence in children. However, plate taping and sit and reach were accounted as the most important predictors for academic achievement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maja Batez
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Ivan Mikulić
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Goran Sporiš
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Draženka Mačak
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
The Neurobiology of Semantic Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Activation Likelihood Estimation Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:3266-3279. [PMID: 33222060 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04794-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Semantic processing impairments are present in a proportion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite the numerous imaging studies investigating this language domain in ASD, there is a lack of consensus regarding the brain structures showing abnormal pattern of activity. This meta-analysis aimed to identify neural activation patterns present during semantic processing in ASD. Findings reveal activation of areas associated with semantic processing and executive functions in ASD. However, the activation was less concise in comparison to controls and there was less activation in the right hemisphere and in areas associated with executive functions. This provides strong support for impaired semantic processing in ASD that is consistently associated with abnormal patterns of neural activity in the semantic network.
Collapse
|
23
|
Zhang M, Liu Z, Ma H, Smith DM. Chronic Physical Activity for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:564886. [PMID: 33192364 PMCID: PMC7642619 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.564886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To explore the effects of physical activity (PA) intervention on executive function (EF) and motor skills (MS) among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Relevant studies were sourced from PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wanfang Data. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) were included based upon the following criteria: (1) participants were children and clinically diagnosed with ADHD/ASD, (2) intervention strategies were identified as chronic physical activity, and (3) EF (e.g., cognitive flexibility) and/or MS (e.g., gross motor skills) were measured at baseline and post-intervention and compared with an eligible control group. Results: Eleven studies involving 346 participants were finally identified. PA elicited significant improvements in EF and MS in children with ADHD/ASD. Regarding changes in the EF of participants, PA showed a great improvement in overall EF [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–1.30, p < 0.00001], inhibitory control (SMD: 1.30, 95% CI 0.58–2.02, p = 0.0004) and cognitive flexibility (SMD: 0.85, 95% CI 0.42–1.29, p = 0.0001), but no significant improvement in working memory (SMD: 0.28, 95% CI −0.15–0.71, p = 0.20). Significant improvements were also found with respect to gross motor skills (SMD: 0.80, 95% CI 0.30–1.30, p = 0.002), but no significant changes were found in fine motor skills (SMD: 0.30, 95% CI −0.91–1.52, p = 0.62). Conclusion: Chronic PA interventions may promote EF and MS in children with ADHD/ASD, especially in inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and gross motor skills. However, PA interventions seemed to have insignificant effects on working memory and fine motor skills to children with ADHD/ASD. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019118622
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meiqi Zhang
- Department of Physical Education and Health Education, Springfield College, Springfield, MA, United States
| | - Zhan Liu
- Department of Physical Education and Health Education, Springfield College, Springfield, MA, United States
| | - Hongtao Ma
- School of Arts, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Daniel M Smith
- Department of Physical Education and Health Education, Springfield College, Springfield, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Bianco V, Finisguerra A, Betti S, D’Argenio G, Urgesi C. Autistic Traits Differently Account for Context-Based Predictions of Physical and Social Events. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E418. [PMID: 32630346 PMCID: PMC7407668 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10070418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is associated with difficulties in making predictions based on contextual cues. Here, we investigated whether the distribution of autistic traits in the general population, as measured through the Autistic Quotient (AQ), is associated with alterations of context-based predictions of social and non-social stimuli. Seventy-eight healthy participants performed a social task, requiring the prediction of the unfolding of an action as interpersonal (e.g., to give) or individual (e.g., to eat), and a non-social task, requiring the prediction of the appearance of a moving shape as a short (e.g., square) or a long (e.g., rectangle) figure. Both tasks consisted of (i) a familiarization phase, in which the association between each stimulus type and a contextual cue was manipulated with different probabilities of co-occurrence, and (ii) a testing phase, in which visual information was impoverished by early occlusion of video display, thus forcing participants to rely on previously learned context-based associations. Findings showed that the prediction of both social and non-social stimuli was facilitated when embedded in high-probability contexts. However, only the contextual modulation of non-social predictions was reduced in individuals with lower 'Attention switching' abilities. The results provide evidence for an association between weaker context-based expectations of non-social events and higher autistic traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bianco
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (V.B.); (S.B.); GIULIA.D' (G.D.)
| | | | - Sonia Betti
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (V.B.); (S.B.); GIULIA.D' (G.D.)
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia D’Argenio
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (V.B.); (S.B.); GIULIA.D' (G.D.)
- PhD Program in Neural and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34128 Trieste, Italy
| | - Cosimo Urgesi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (V.B.); (S.B.); GIULIA.D' (G.D.)
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pasian di Prato, 33037 Udine, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Siqueiros Sanchez M, Pettersson E, Kennedy DP, Bölte S, Lichtenstein P, D'Onofrio BM, Falck-Ytter T. Visual Disengagement: Genetic Architecture and Relation to Autistic Traits in the General Population. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:2188-2200. [PMID: 30859356 PMCID: PMC7261271 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03974-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Visual disengagement has been hypothesized as an endophenotype for autism. In this study we used twin modelling to assess the role of genetics in basic measures of visual disengagement, and tested their putative association to autistic traits in the general population. We used the Gap Overlap task in a sample of 492 twins. Results showed that most of the covariance among eye movement latencies across conditions was shared and primarily genetic. Further, there were unique genetic contributions to the Gap condition, but not to the Overlap condition-i.e. the one theorized to capture visual disengagement. We found no phenotypic association between autistic traits and disengagement, thus not supporting the hypothesis of visual disengagement as an endophenotype for autistic traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Siqueiros Sanchez
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 113 30, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, 113 64, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Pettersson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel P Kennedy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Sven Bölte
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 113 30, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, 113 64, Stockholm, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, 113 30, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paul Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Brian M D'Onofrio
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Terje Falck-Ytter
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 113 30, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, 113 64, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS), Uppsala, 752 38, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Koike T, Tanabe HC, Adachi-Abe S, Okazaki S, Nakagawa E, Sasaki AT, Shimada K, Sugawara SK, Takahashi HK, Yoshihara K, Sadato N. Role of the right anterior insular cortex in joint attention-related identification with a partner. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 14:1131-1145. [PMID: 31919530 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz087] [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: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding others as intentional agents is critical in social interactions. We perceive others' intentions through identification, a categorical judgment that others should work like oneself. The most primitive form of understanding others' intentions is joint attention (JA). During JA, an initiator selects a shared object through gaze (initiative joint attention, IJA), and the responder follows the direction of the initiator's gaze (reactive joint attention, RJA). Therefore, both participants share the intention of object selection. However, the neural underpinning of shared intention through JA remains unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that JA is represented by inter-individual neural synchronization of the intention-related activity. Additionally, JA requires eye contact that activates the limbic mirror system; therefore, we hypothesized that this system is involved in shared attention through JA. To test these hypotheses, participants underwent hyperscanning fMRI while performing JA tasks. We found that IJA-related activation of the right anterior insular cortex of participants was positively correlated with RJA-related activation of homologous regions in their partners. This area was activated by volitional selection of the target during IJA. Therefore, identification with others by JA is likely accomplished by the shared intentionality of target selection represented by inter-individual synchronization of the right anterior insular cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahiko Koike
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Hiroki C Tanabe
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Division of Psychology, Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Saori Adachi-Abe
- Department of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 113-8510, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Okazaki
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, 910-1193, Fukui, Japan
| | - Eri Nakagawa
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Graduate School of Intercultural Studies School of Languages and Communication, Kobe University, 657-8501, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akihiro T Sasaki
- Pathophysiological and Health Science Team, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, 650-0047, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 558-8585, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koji Shimada
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Graduate School of Intercultural Studies School of Languages and Communication, Kobe University, 657-8501, Kobe, Japan
| | - Sho K Sugawara
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
| | - Haruka K Takahashi
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, 240-0193, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kazufumi Yoshihara
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 819-0395, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Norihiro Sadato
- Division of Cerebral Integration, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), 444-8585, Okazaki, Japan.,Biomedical Imaging Research Center (BIRC), University of Fukui, 910-1193, Fukui, Japan.,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, 240-0193, Kanagawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ricci L, Motolese F, Tombini M, Lanzone J, Rea R, Di Matteo F, Di Lazzaro V, Assenza G. Metronidazole Encephalopathy EEG Features: A Case Report with Systematic Review of the Literature. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E227. [PMID: 32290116 PMCID: PMC7226540 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy (MIE) is a rare and often under-recognized iatrogenic condition. The diagnosis should be considered in metronidazole-treated patients presenting with acute encephalopathy, unprovoked seizures and cerebellar signs. While typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings strongly support the diagnosis, electroencephalography (EEG) features have been rarely reported and poorly described. We present a longitudinal EEG assessment in one patient with encephalopathy due to metronidazole toxicity who presented a peculiar EEG pattern presentation and evolution. During the acute phase of encephalopathy, the EEG showed a monomorphic, sharply contoured theta activity symmetrically represented over frontal regions with an anterior-posterior progression which evolved in parallel with clinical worsening. Together with a systematic review of the literature, we discuss whether this EEG activity may represent a distinct neurophysiological correlate of 'cerebellar encephalopathy'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Ricci
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.T.); (J.L.); (V.D.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Francesco Motolese
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.T.); (J.L.); (V.D.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Mario Tombini
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.T.); (J.L.); (V.D.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Jacopo Lanzone
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.T.); (J.L.); (V.D.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Roberta Rea
- Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (R.R.); (F.D.M.)
| | - Francesco Di Matteo
- Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (R.R.); (F.D.M.)
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.T.); (J.L.); (V.D.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Giovanni Assenza
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.T.); (J.L.); (V.D.L.); (G.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Lanillos P, Oliva D, Philippsen A, Yamashita Y, Nagai Y, Cheng G. A review on neural network models of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Neural Netw 2020; 122:338-363. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neunet.2019.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
29
|
Inkelis SM, Moore EM, Bischoff-Grethe A, Riley EP. Neurodevelopment in adolescents and adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD): A magnetic resonance region of interest analysis. Brain Res 2020; 1732:146654. [PMID: 31930998 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The neurodevelopmental trajectory in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) has not been well characterized. We examined age-related differences in the volume of the corpus callosum, basal ganglia, and cerebellum across adolescence and young adulthood, due to the sensitivity of these regions to prenatal alcohol exposure. T1-weighted anatomical magnetic resonance images (MRI) were acquired from a cross-sectional sample of subjects 13-30 years old who had received an alcohol-related diagnosis (FASD, n = 107) and typically developing controls (CON, n = 56). FreeSurfer v5.3 was used to obtain volumetric data for the corpus callosum, caudate, putamen, pallidum, and cerebellum. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the effects of group (FASD, CON), sex, and age on region volume. Data were analyzed with and without correction for intracranial volume (ICV). All subregions were significantly smaller in the FASD group compared to controls, and these findings persisted even after ICV correction. Furthermore, the FASD and control groups differed in their relationship between age and total volume of the corpus callosum, caudate, and cerebellum. Specifically, older FASD individuals had smaller total volume in these regions; this relationship was not seen in the control group. Control males demonstrated larger volumes than control females in all regions prior to ICV correction; however, sex differences were attenuated in the FASD group in both the pallidum and cerebellum. Sex differences remained after ICV correction in the pallidum and cerebellum. These cross-sectional findings suggest that at least some brain regions may become smaller at an earlier than expected age in individuals with FASD, and that sex is an important factor to consider when examining neural structures in FASD. Further evaluation is necessary using longitudinal methods and including older ages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Inkelis
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Eileen M Moore
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | | | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Tremblay SA, Chapman CA, Courtemanche R. State-Dependent Entrainment of Prefrontal Cortex Local Field Potential Activity Following Patterned Stimulation of the Cerebellar Vermis. Front Syst Neurosci 2019; 13:60. [PMID: 31736718 PMCID: PMC6828963 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2019.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is involved in sensorimotor, cognitive, and emotional functions through cerebello-cerebral connectivity. Cerebellar neurostimulation thus likely affects cortical circuits, as has been shown in studies using cerebellar stimulation to treat neurological disorders through modulation of frontal EEG oscillations. Here we studied the effects of different frequencies of cerebellar stimulation on oscillations and coherence in the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex in the urethane-anesthetized rat. Local field potentials were recorded in the right lateral cerebellum (Crus I/II) and bilaterally in the prefrontal cortex (frontal association area, FrA) in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Stimulation was delivered to the cerebellar vermis (lobule VII) using single pulses (0.2 Hz for 60 s), or repeated pulses at 1 Hz (30 s), 5 Hz (10 s), 25 Hz (2 s), and 50 Hz (1 s). Effects of stimulation were influenced by the initial state of EEG activity which varies over time during urethane-anesthesia; 1 Hz stimulation was more effective when delivered during the slow-wave state (Stage 1), while stimulation with single-pulse, 25, and 50 Hz showed stronger effects during the activated state (Stage 2). Single-pulses resulted in increases in oscillatory power in the delta and theta bands for the cerebellum, and in frequencies up to 80 Hz in cortical sites. 1 Hz stimulation induced a decrease in 0–30 Hz activity and increased activity in the 30–200 Hz range, in the right FrA. 5 Hz stimulation reduced power in high frequencies in Stage 1 and induced mixed effects during Stage 2.25 Hz stimulation increased cortical power at low frequencies during Stage 2, and increased power in higher frequency bands during Stage 1. Stimulation at 50 Hz increased delta-band power in all recording sites, with the strongest and most rapid effects in the cerebellum. 25 and 50 Hz stimulation also induced state-dependent effects on cerebello-cortical and cortico-cortical coherence at high frequencies. Cerebellar stimulation can therefore entrain field potential activity in the FrA and drive synchronization of cerebello-cortical and cortico-cortical networks in a frequency-dependent manner. These effects highlight the role of the cerebellar vermis in modulating large-scale synchronization of neural networks in non-motor frontal cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stéfanie A Tremblay
- Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - C Andrew Chapman
- Department of Psychology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Richard Courtemanche
- Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology, Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Brissenden JA, Somers DC. Cortico-cerebellar networks for visual attention and working memory. Curr Opin Psychol 2019; 29:239-247. [PMID: 31202085 PMCID: PMC7256875 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar cortex, which is cytoarchitectonically homogenous, can be functionally differentiated by connectivity differences across the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortical dorsal attention network exhibits strong, selective connectivity with a set of cerebellar circuits, including lobule VIIb/VIIIa. Recent findings demonstrate that lobule VIIb/VIIIa exhibits functional properties characteristic of the cortical dorsal attention network: task-specific activation; working memory load-dependent responses; and the representation of visuospatial location. Moreover, functional cortico-cerebellar subnetworks exhibit topographic specialization for different aspects of visual attentional processing. Thus, cerebellar lobule VIIb/VIIIa, rather than simply supporting motor functions, appears to be an integral part of the brain's visual attentional circuitry. More generally, these findings suggest that parallel cortico-cerebellar networks may play highly specific functional roles in a broad range of cognitive processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A Brissenden
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - David C Somers
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
Although impairment in sensory integration is suggested in the autism spectrum (AS), empirical evidences remain equivocal. We assessed the integration of low-level visual and tactile information within and across modalities in AS and typically developing (TD) individuals. TD individuals demonstrated increased redundancy gain for cross-modal relative to double tactile or visual stimulation, while AS individuals showed similar redundancy gain between cross-modal and double tactile conditions. We further observed that violation of the race model inequality for cross-modal conditions was observed over a wider proportion of the reaction times distribution in TD than AS individuals. Importantly, the reduced cross-modal integration in AS individuals was not related to atypical attentional shift between modalities. We conclude that AS individuals displays selective decrease of cross-modal integration of low-level information.
Collapse
|
33
|
Ronconi L, Devita M, Molteni M, Gori S, Facoetti A. Brief Report: When Large Becomes Slow: Zooming-Out Visual Attention Is Associated to Orienting Deficits in Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 48:2577-2584. [PMID: 29453707 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies independently demonstrated impairments in rapid orienting/disengagement and zooming-out of spatial attention in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These attentional mechanisms, however, are not completely independent. Aiming at a more complete picture of spatial attention deficits in ASD, we examined the relationship between orienting and zooming in participants with ASD and typically developing peers. We modified a classical spatial cuing task, presenting two small or large cues in the two visual hemifields and subsequently cueing attention to one of them. Our results demonstrate a sluggish orienting mechanism in ASD only when a large attentional focus is deployed. Moreover, only the sluggish orienting mechanism in the large cues condition predicts the severity in the social-interaction symptomatology in individuals with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ronconi
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. .,Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy. .,Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.
| | - Maria Devita
- Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Massimo Molteni
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Simone Gori
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.,Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Andrea Facoetti
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wu PM, Shih HI, Yu WH, Chen LW, Wang LC, Huang CC, Tu YF. Corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis size in very preterm infants: Relationship to long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Pediatr Neonatol 2019; 60:178-185. [PMID: 29910162 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neonatal changes of corpus callosum or cerebellar volume in preterm infants have been shown to link with abnormal mentality and motor disability in early childhood. This study aims to predict the long-term neurological outcomes by measuring these changes on neonatal brain ultrasound in preterm infants. METHODS Our cohort consisted of infants aged below 32 weeks' gestation with very low birth body weights who completed neuro-assessments at 5 years of age. Corpus callosum or cerebellar vermis were measured at 28-30 weeks and at 37-40 weeks gestational age in premature infants with cerebral palsy (CP), mental retardation (MR) and normal control premature infants. RESULTS There are 12 patients in MR group, 12 in CP group and 27 patients as controls for final analysis. There was no significant difference in other factors between study groups except lower gestational age (P = 0.043) in CP group. Respiratory distress syndrome was more common in MR group (P = 0.037) and cystic periventricular leukomalacia was more common in CP group (P < 0.001) than controls. After adjusting for sex and birth body weight, the MR group had smaller cerebellar vermis area at 37-40 gestational weeks (P = 0.002) than controls. They also reduced the growth of corpus callosum area (difference = -0.12 ± 0.16, P = 0.029) and cerebellar vermis area (difference = 1.10 ± 0.44, P = 0.020) from 28 to 30 gestational weeks to 37-40 gestational weeks compared with controls (difference = 0.03 ± 0.15, 1.92 ± 0.70, respectively). In contrast, the CP group had reduced the growth of corpus callosum body (difference = -0.02 ± 0.18, P = 0.034) compared with controls (difference = 0.03 ± 0.04). They subsequently had smaller body thickness of corpus callosum (0.10 ± 0.02, P = 0.015) at 37-40 gestational weeks than controls (0.14 ± 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Serial monitoring corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis size in early life of very preterm babies may predict the motor or mentality neurological outcome at 5 years of age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Po-Ming Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-I Shih
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hao Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Li-Wen Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Lie-Chuan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Ching Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Tu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Holiga Š, Hipp JF, Chatham CH, Garces P, Spooren W, D’Ardhuy XL, Bertolino A, Bouquet C, Buitelaar JK, Bours C, Rausch A, Oldehinkel M, Bouvard M, Amestoy A, Caralp M, Gueguen S, Ly-Le Moal M, Houenou J, Beckmann CF, Loth E, Murphy D, Charman T, Tillmann J, Laidi C, Delorme R, Beggiato A, Gaman A, Scheid I, Leboyer M, d’Albis MA, Sevigny J, Czech C, Bolognani F, Honey GD, Dukart J. Patients with autism spectrum disorders display reproducible functional connectivity alterations. Sci Transl Med 2019. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aat9223 order by 39635--] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Štefan Holiga
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joerg F. Hipp
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christopher H. Chatham
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pilar Garces
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Will Spooren
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Liogier D’Ardhuy
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Céline Bouquet
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan K. Buitelaar
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Carsten Bours
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Annika Rausch
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Marianne Oldehinkel
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
- Brain & Mental Health Laboratory, Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Manuel Bouvard
- Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Charles Perrens Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Anouck Amestoy
- Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Charles Perrens Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mireille Caralp
- INSERM, National Biobank Infrastructure, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Sonia Gueguen
- INSERM, Clinical Research Department, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Josselin Houenou
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, UNIACT Lab, Psychiatry Team, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Christian F. Beckmann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical center, Nijmegen 6525 EN, Netherlands
| | - Eva Loth
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Declan Murphy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Julian Tillmann
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
- Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement, and Intervention, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Charles Laidi
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- APHP, Robert Debré Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Paris, France
- Pasteur Institute, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Anita Beggiato
- APHP, Robert Debré Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Paris, France
- Pasteur Institute, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Alexandru Gaman
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Isabelle Scheid
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Marc-Antoine d’Albis
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, DHU PePSY, Pôle de psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, INSERM U955, IMRB, Equipe 15, Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Fondation FondaMental, 94000 Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, UNIACT Lab, Psychiatry Team, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jeff Sevigny
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Czech
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Federico Bolognani
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
- Therachon AG, Aeschenvorstadt 36, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Garry D. Honey
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juergen Dukart
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann–La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Holiga Š, Hipp JF, Chatham CH, Garces P, Spooren W, D’Ardhuy XL, Bertolino A, Bouquet C, Buitelaar JK, Bours C, Rausch A, Oldehinkel M, Bouvard M, Amestoy A, Caralp M, Gueguen S, Ly-Le Moal M, Houenou J, Beckmann CF, Loth E, Murphy D, Charman T, Tillmann J, Laidi C, Delorme R, Beggiato A, Gaman A, Scheid I, Leboyer M, d’Albis MA, Sevigny J, Czech C, Bolognani F, Honey GD, Dukart J. Patients with autism spectrum disorders display reproducible functional connectivity alterations. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:11/481/eaat9223. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aat9223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high clinical burden, little is known about pathophysiology underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) studies have found atypical synchronization of brain activity in ASD. However, no consensus has been reached on the nature and clinical relevance of these alterations. Here, we addressed these questions in four large ASD cohorts. Using rs-fMRI, we identified functional connectivity alterations associated with ASD. We tested for associations of these imaging phenotypes with clinical and demographic factors such as age, sex, medication status, and clinical symptom severity. Our results showed reproducible patterns of ASD-associated functional hyper- and hypoconnectivity. Hypoconnectivity was primarily restricted to sensory-motor regions, whereas hyperconnectivity hubs were predominately located in prefrontal and parietal cortices. Shifts in cortico-cortical between-network connectivity from outside to within the identified regions were shown to be a key driver of these abnormalities. This reproducible pathophysiological phenotype was partially associated with core ASD symptoms related to communication and daily living skills and was not affected by age, sex, or medication status. Although the large effect sizes in standardized cohorts are encouraging with respect to potential application as a treatment and for patient stratification, the moderate link to clinical symptoms and the large overlap with healthy controls currently limit the usability of identified alterations as diagnostic or efficacy readout.
Collapse
|
37
|
The Impact of Different Movement Types on Motor Planning and Execution in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Motor Control 2019; 23:398-417. [PMID: 30696348 DOI: 10.1123/mc.2017-0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Although there are consistent reports that motor skills are affected in individuals with autism, the details are still debated; specifically, why individuals spend more time preparing movements and whether or not movement execution takes longer. The present study investigated if the conflicting reports were related to: (a) differences in movement type and (b) if longer reaction times were related to the time for motor planning or for force-generation processes. Participants performed three different movement types. People with autism had longer premotor reaction times and movement times for the three-dimensional movements only. We suggest individuals with autism have difficulty planning and executing unconstrained reaching movements specifically. The present results are consistent with evidence that autistic individuals have more difficulty effectively using visual feedback but can use tactile feedback to execute reaching movements efficiently and accurately.
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
After been exposed to the visual input, in the first year of life, the brain experiences subtle but massive changes apparently crucial for communicative/emotional and social human development. Its lack could be the explanation of the very high prevalence of autism in children with total congenital blindness. The present theory postulates that the superior colliculus is the key structure for such changes for several reasons: it dominates visual behavior during the first months of life; it is ready at birth for complex visual tasks; it has a significant influence on several hemispheric regions; it is the main brain hub that permanently integrates visual and non-visual, external and internal information (bottom-up and top-down respectively); and it owns the enigmatic ability to take non-conscious decisions about where to focus attention. It is also a sentinel that triggers the subcortical mechanisms which drive social motivation to follow faces from birth and to react automatically to emotional stimuli. Through indirect connections it also activates simultaneously several cortical structures necessary to develop social cognition and to accomplish the multiattentional task required for conscious social interaction in real life settings. Genetic or non-genetic prenatal or early postnatal factors could disrupt the SC functions resulting in autism. The timing of postnatal biological disruption matches the timing of clinical autism manifestations. Astonishing coincidences between etiologies, clinical manifestations, cognitive and pathogenic autism theories on one side and SC functions on the other are disclosed in this review. Although the visual system dependent of the SC is usually considered as accessory of the LGN canonical pathway, its imprinting gives the brain a qualitatively specific functions not supplied by any other brain structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rubin Jure
- Centro Privado de Neurología y Neuropsicología Infanto Juvenil WERNICKE, Córdoba, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Vandervert L. How Prediction Based on Sequence Detection in the Cerebellum Led to the Origins of Stone Tools, Language, and Culture and, Thereby, to the Rise of Homo sapiens. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:408. [PMID: 30483059 PMCID: PMC6243095 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This article extends Leiner et al.'s watershed position that cerebellar mechanisms played prominent roles in the evolution of the manipulation and refinement of ideas and language. First it is shown how cerebellar mechanism of sequence-detection may lead to the foundational learning of a predictive working memory in the infant. Second, it is argued how this same cerebellar mechanism may have led to the adaptive selection toward the progressively predictive phonological loop in the evolution of working memory of pre-humans. Within these contexts, cerebellar sequence detection is then applied to an analysis of leading anthropologists Stout and Hecht's cerebral cortex-based explanation of the evolution of culture and language through the repetitious rigors of stone-tool knapping. It is argued that Stout and Hecht's focus on the roles of areas of the brain's cerebral cortex is seriously lacking, because it can be readily shown that cerebellar sequence detection importantly (perhaps predominantly) provides more fundamental explanations for the origins of culture and language. It is shown that the cerebellum does this in the following ways: (1) through prediction-enhancing silent speech in working memory, (2) through prediction in observational learning, and (3) through prediction leading to accuracy in stone-tool knapping. It is concluded, in agreement with Leiner et al. that the more recently proposed mechanism of cerebellar sequence-detection has played a prominent role in the evolution of culture, language, and stone-tool technology, the earmarks of Homo sapiens. It is further concluded that through these same mechanisms the cerebellum continues to play a prominent role in the relentless advancement of culture.
Collapse
|
40
|
King JB, Prigge MBD, King CK, Morgan J, Dean DC, Freeman A, Villaruz JAM, Kane KL, Bigler ED, Alexander AL, Lange N, Zielinski BA, Lainhart JE, Anderson JS. Evaluation of Differences in Temporal Synchrony Between Brain Regions in Individuals With Autism and Typical Development. JAMA Netw Open 2018; 1:e184777. [PMID: 30646371 PMCID: PMC6324391 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.4777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Despite reports of widespread but heterogeneous atypicality of functional connectivity in individuals with autism, little is known regarding the temporal dynamics of functional brain connections and how they relate to autistic traits. OBJECTIVE To investigate differences in temporal synchrony between brain regions in individuals with autism and those with typical development. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study, conducted at the University of Utah, included 90 adolescent and adult male participants. A larger sample from the multisite Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) was also used as a replication sample. The study includes data acquired between December 2016 and April 2018. Aggregate data included in the replication sample were released to the public in August 2012 (ABIDE I) and June 2016 (ABIDE II). Data analysis were conducted between January 2018 and April 2018. EXPOSURES Male individuals diagnosed as having autism (n = 52) and typically developing male individuals (n = 38). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Long duration (30 minutes/individual) of multiband, multiecho functional magnetic resonance imaging was acquired to estimate functional connectivity between brain regions. Sustained connectivity, a measure of functional connectivity duration, as well as lagged temporal dynamics related to functional connectivity, were compared between groups for 361 gray matter regions of interest and a 17-network parcellation. Lagged findings were replicated in the larger ABIDE sample (n = 1402). Sustained connectivity findings were also associated with behavioral and cognitive variables. RESULTS In 52 males with autism (mean [SD] age, 27.73 [8.66] years) and 38 control males with typical development (mean [SD] age, 27.09 [7.49] years), increases in both sustained and functional connectivity at several lags were found in individuals with autism compared with the control group. Group differences in functional connectivity were replicated in the larger ABIDE data set at a 6-second lag. Measures of symptom severity in individuals with autism were positively associated with sustained connectivity values. In the control group, sustained connectivity was negatively associated with cognitive processing. A replication sample (n = 1402) composed of 579 individuals with autism (80 female and 499 male; mean [SD] age, 15.08 [6.89] years) and 823 in the control group (211 female and 612 male; mean [SD] age, 15.06 [6.79] years) from the ABIDE data set was also analyzed. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Whereas the magnitude of functional connectivity in autism is variable across brain regions, participant samples, and development, prolonged temporal synchrony of functional connections is reproducibly observed in autism, suggesting a potential mechanism for core symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jace B. King
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Molly B. D. Prigge
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
| | - Carolyn K. King
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Jubel Morgan
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
| | | | - Abigail Freeman
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
| | | | - Karen L. Kane
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
| | - Erin D. Bigler
- Psychology Department and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Andrew L. Alexander
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
| | - Nicholas Lange
- McLean Hospital and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Brandon A. Zielinski
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Janet E. Lainhart
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison
| | - Jeffrey S. Anderson
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Distractor Inhibition in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence of a Selective Impairment for Individuals with Co-occurring Motor Difficulties. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 49:669-682. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3744-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
42
|
Ronconi L, Gori S, Federici A, Devita M, Carna S, Sali ME, Molteni M, Casartelli L, Facoetti A. Weak surround suppression of the attentional focus characterizes visual selection in the ventral stream in autism. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 18:912-922. [PMID: 29876276 PMCID: PMC5988461 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neurophysiological findings in the typical population demonstrate that spatial scrutiny for visual selection determines a center-surround profile of the attentional focus, which is the result of recurrent processing in the visual system. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manifest several anomalies in their visual selection, with strengths in detail-oriented tasks, but also difficulties in distractor inhibition tasks. Here, we asked whether contradictory aspects of perception in ASD might be due to a different center-surround profile of their attentional focus. In two experiments, we tested two independent samples of children with ASD, comparing them with typically developing (TD) peers. In Experiment 1, we used a psychophysical task that mapped the entire spatial profile of the attentional focus. In Experiment 2, we used dense-array electroencephalography (EEG) to explore its neurophysiological underpinnings. Experiment 1 results showed that the suppression, surrounding the attentional focus, was markedly reduced in children with ASD. Experiment 2 showed that the center-surround profile in TD children resulted in a modulation of the posterior N2 ERP component, with cortical sources in the lateral-occipital and medial/inferior temporal areas. In contrast, children with ASD did not show modulation of the N2 and related activations in the ventral visual stream. Furthermore, behavioural and neurophysiological measures of weaker suppression predicted more severe autistic symptomatology. The present findings, showing an altered center-surround profile during attentional selection, give an important insight to understand superior visual processing in autism as well as the experiencing of sensory overload.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ronconi
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Italy; Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Italy; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.
| | - Simone Gori
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy; Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Federici
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria Devita
- Department of Human and Social Science, University of Bergamo, Italy
| | - Serena Carna
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Maria E Sali
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Massimo Molteni
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Luca Casartelli
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Andrea Facoetti
- Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Italy; Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ghai S, Ghai I, Effenberg AO. Effect of rhythmic auditory cueing on gait in cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2018; 14:43-59. [PMID: 29339922 PMCID: PMC5746070 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s148053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Auditory entrainment can influence gait performance in movement disorders. The entrainment can incite neurophysiological and musculoskeletal changes to enhance motor execution. However, a consensus as to its effects based on gait in people with cerebral palsy is still warranted. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to analyze the effects of rhythmic auditory cueing on spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait in people with cerebral palsy. Systematic identification of published literature was performed adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine guidelines, from inception until July 2017, on online databases: Web of Science, PEDro, EBSCO, Medline, Cochrane, Embase and ProQuest. Kinematic and spatiotemporal gait parameters were evaluated in a meta-analysis across studies. Of 547 records, nine studies involving 227 participants (108 children/119 adults) met our inclusion criteria. The qualitative review suggested beneficial effects of rhythmic auditory cueing on gait performance among all included studies. The meta-analysis revealed beneficial effects of rhythmic auditory cueing on gait dynamic index (Hedge's g=0.9), gait velocity (1.1), cadence (0.3), and stride length (0.5). This review for the first time suggests a converging evidence toward application of rhythmic auditory cueing to enhance gait performance and stability in people with cerebral palsy. This article details underlying neurophysiological mechanisms and use of cueing as an efficient home-based intervention. It bridges gaps in the literature, and suggests translational approaches on how rhythmic auditory cueing can be incorporated in rehabilitation approaches to enhance gait performance in people with cerebral palsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shashank Ghai
- Institute for Sports Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ishan Ghai
- School of Life Sciences, Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany
| | - Alfred O Effenberg
- Institute for Sports Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Aisenberg D, Sapir A, Close A, Henik A, d'Avossa G. Right anterior cerebellum BOLD responses reflect age related changes in Simon task sequential effects. Neuropsychologia 2017; 109:155-164. [PMID: 29233718 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Participants are slower to report a feature, such as color, when the target appears on the side opposite the instructed response, than when the target appears on the same side. This finding suggests that target location, even when task-irrelevant, interferes with response selection. This effect is magnified in older adults. Lengthening the inter-trial interval, however, suffices to normalize the congruency effect in older adults, by re-establishing young-like sequential effects (Aisenberg et al., 2014). We examined the neurological correlates of age related changes by comparing BOLD signals in young and old participants performing a visual version of the Simon task. Participants reported the color of a peripheral target, by a left or right-hand keypress. Generally, BOLD responses were greater following incongruent than congruent targets. Also, they were delayed and of smaller amplitude in old than young participants. BOLD responses in visual and motor regions were also affected by the congruency of the previous target, suggesting that sequential effects may reflect remapping of stimulus location onto the hand used to make a response. Crucially, young participants showed larger BOLD responses in right anterior cerebellum to incongruent targets, when the previous target was congruent, but smaller BOLD responses to incongruent targets when the previous target was incongruent. Old participants, however, showed larger BOLD responses to congruent than incongruent targets, irrespective of the previous target congruency. We conclude that aging may interfere with the trial by trial updating of the mapping between the task-irrelevant target location and response, which takes place during the inter-trial interval in the cerebellum and underlays sequential effects in a Simon task.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Aisenberg
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Department of clinical Psychology - Gerontology, Ruppin Academic center, Emek Hefer, Israel.
| | - A Sapir
- School of Psychology and Wolfson Center of Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, Bangor University, Wales, UK
| | - A Close
- School of Psychology and Wolfson Center of Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, Bangor University, Wales, UK
| | - A Henik
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - G d'Avossa
- School of Psychology and Wolfson Center of Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, Bangor University, Wales, UK
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gouleme N, Scheid I, Peyre H, Seassau M, Maruani A, Clarke J, Delorme R, Bucci MP. Postural Control and Emotion in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Transl Neurosci 2017; 8:158-166. [PMID: 29177103 PMCID: PMC5700205 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2017-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders subjects (ASD) are well known to have deficits in social interaction. We recorded simultaneously eye movements and postural sway during exploration of emotional faces in children with ASD and typically developing children (TD). We analyzed several postural and ocular parameters. The results showed that all postural parameters were significantly greater in children with ASD; ASD made significantly fewer saccades and had shorter fixation time than TD, particularly in the eyes, and especially for unpleasant emotions. These results suggest that poor postural control of ASD and their impaired visual strategies could be due to a lack of interest in social cognition, causing a delay in the development of the cortical areas, and thus could have an effect on their postural control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Gouleme
- UMR 1141 Inserm - Université Paris Diderot., Robert Debré Hospital, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Scheid
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,High Functioning Autism Expert Centre, Fondamental Foundation, Paris, France
| | - Hugo Peyre
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,High Functioning Autism Expert Centre, Fondamental Foundation, Paris, France
| | - Magali Seassau
- e(ye)BRAIN, 1 bis rue Jean le Galleu, 94200, Ivry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Anna Maruani
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,High Functioning Autism Expert Centre, Fondamental Foundation, Paris, France
| | - Julia Clarke
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,High Functioning Autism Expert Centre, Fondamental Foundation, Paris, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France.,High Functioning Autism Expert Centre, Fondamental Foundation, Paris, France
| | - Maria Pia Bucci
- UMR 1141 Inserm - Université Paris Diderot., Robert Debré Hospital, 48 Boulevard Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Gillespie-Smith K, Ballantyne C, Branigan HP, Turk DJ, Cunningham SJ. The I in autism: Severity and social functioning in autism are related to self-processing. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 36:127-141. [DOI: 10.1111/bjdp.12219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karri Gillespie-Smith
- Division of Psychology; School of Media, Culture and Society; University of West of Scotland; Paisley UK
| | - Carrie Ballantyne
- Division of Psychology; School of Media, Culture and Society; University of West of Scotland; Paisley UK
| | | | - David J. Turk
- School of Experimental Psychology; Bristol University; UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Martínez K, Merchán-Naranjo J, Pina-Camacho L, Alemán-Gómez Y, Boada L, Fraguas D, Moreno C, Arango C, Janssen J, Parellada M. Atypical age-dependency of executive function and white matter microstructure in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017; 26:1361-1376. [PMID: 28447268 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-0990-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Executive function (EF) performance is associated with measurements of white matter microstructure (WMS) in typical individuals. Impaired EF is a hallmark symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but it is unclear how impaired EF relates to variability in WMS. Twenty-one male youth (8-18 years) with ASD and without intellectual disability and twenty-one typical male participants (TP) matched for age, intelligence quotient, handedness, race and parental socioeconomic status were recruited. Five EF domains were assessed and several DTI-based measurements of WMS [fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD)] were estimated for eighteen white matter tracts. The ASD group had lower scores for attention (F = 8.37, p = 0.006) and response inhibition (F = 13.09, p = 0.001). Age-dependent changes of EF performance and WMS measurements were present in TP but attenuated in the ASD group. The strongest diagnosis-by-age effect was found for forceps minor, left anterior thalamic radiation and left cingulum angular bundle (all p's ≤ 0.002). In these tracts subjects with ASD tended to have equal or increased FA and/or reduced MD and/or RD at younger ages while controls had increased FA and/or reduced MD and/or RD thereafter. Only for TP individuals, increased FA in the left anterior thalamic radiation was associated with better response inhibition, while reduced RD in forceps minor and left cingulum angular bundle was related to better problem solving and working memory performance respectively. These findings provide novel insight into the age-dependency of EF performance and WMS in ASD, which can be instructive to cognitive training programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenia Martínez
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain. .,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain. .,Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. .,Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Edificio prefabricado, entrada por Máiquez 9, 28009, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jessica Merchán-Naranjo
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Pina-Camacho
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yasser Alemán-Gómez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Leticia Boada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Fraguas
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Moreno
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Celso Arango
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joost Janssen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mara Parellada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Lalani SJ, Duffield TC, Trontel HG, Bigler ED, Abildskov TJ, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. Auditory attention in autism spectrum disorder: An exploration of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging findings. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2017; 40:502-517. [PMID: 29072106 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2017.1373746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Studies have shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to perform significantly below typically developing individuals on standardized measures of attention, even when controlling for IQ. The current study sought to examine within ASD whether anatomical correlates of attention performance differed between those with average to above-average IQ (AIQ group) and those with low-average to borderline ability (LIQ group) as well as in comparison to typically developing controls (TDC). Using automated volumetric analyses, we examined regional volume of classic attention areas including the superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus in ASD AIQ (n = 38) and LIQ (n = 18) individuals along with 30 TDC. Auditory attention performance was assessed using subtests of the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) compared among the groups and then correlated with regional brain volumes. Analyses revealed group differences in attention. The three groups did not differ significantly on any auditory attention-related brain volumes; however, trends toward significant size-attention function interactions were observed. Negative correlations were found between the volume of the precuneus and auditory attention performance for the AIQ ASD group, indicating larger volume related to poorer performance. Implications for general attention functioning and dysfunctional neural connectivity in ASD are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanam J Lalani
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Tyler C Duffield
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Haley G Trontel
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Erin D Bigler
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,b Neuroscience Center , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,c Department of Psychology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.,d Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Tracy J Abildskov
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- c Department of Psychology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Molly B D Prigge
- d Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brittany G Travers
- e Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,f Department of Kinesiology , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Jeffrey S Anderson
- g Department of Radiology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brandon A Zielinski
- d Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.,h Department of Neurology, School of Medicine , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Andrew Alexander
- e Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,i Department of Medical Physics , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,j Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Nicholas Lange
- k Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,l Neurostatistics Laboratory , McLean Hospital , Belmont , MA , USA
| | - Janet E Lainhart
- e Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.,j Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Sheppard E, van Loon E, Underwood G, Ropar D. Attentional Differences in a Driving Hazard Perception Task in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:405-414. [PMID: 27866348 PMCID: PMC5309311 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2965-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The current study explored attentional processing of social and non-social stimuli in ASD within the context of a driving hazard perception task. Participants watched videos of road scenes and detected hazards while their eye movements were recorded. Although individuals with ASD demonstrated relatively good detection of driving hazards, they were slower to orient to hazards. Greater attentional capture in the time preceding the hazards’ onset was associated with lower verbal IQ. The findings suggest that individuals with ASD may distribute and direct their attention differently when identifying driving hazards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Sheppard
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Editha van Loon
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Geoffrey Underwood
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Danielle Ropar
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Ashwin C, Wheelwright S, Baron-Cohen S. Differences in change blindness to real-life scenes in adults with autism spectrum conditions. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185120. [PMID: 29020056 PMCID: PMC5636097 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
People often fail to detect large changes to visual scenes following a brief interruption, an effect known as ‘change blindness’. People with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have superior attention to detail and better discrimination of targets, and often notice small details that are missed by others. Together these predict people with autism should show enhanced perception of changes in simple change detection paradigms, including reduced change blindness. However, change blindness studies to date have reported mixed results in ASC, which have sometimes included no differences to controls or even enhanced change blindness. Attenuated change blindness has only been reported to date in ASC in children and adolescents, with no study reporting reduced change blindness in adults with ASC. The present study used a change blindness flicker task to investigate the detection of changes in images of everyday life in adults with ASC (n = 22) and controls (n = 22) using a simple change detection task design and full range of original scenes as stimuli. Results showed the adults with ASC had reduced change blindness compared to adult controls for changes to items of marginal interest in scenes, with no group difference for changes to items of central interest. There were no group differences in overall response latencies to correctly detect changes nor in the overall number of missed detections in the experiment. However, the ASC group showed greater missed changes for marginal interest changes of location, showing some evidence of greater change blindness as well. These findings show both reduced change blindness to marginal interest changes in ASC, based on response latencies, as well as greater change blindness to changes of location of marginal interest items, based on detection rates. The findings of reduced change blindness are consistent with clinical reports that people with ASC often notice small changes to less salient items within their environment, and are in-line with theories of enhanced local processing and greater attention to detail in ASC. The findings of lower detection rates for one of the marginal interest conditions may be related to problems in shifting attention or an overly focused attention spotlight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Ashwin
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Sally Wheelwright
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, CLASS Clinic, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|