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Camero R, Gallego C, Martínez V. Gaze Following as an Early Diagnostic Marker of Autism in a New Word Learning Task in Toddlers. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:3211-3224. [PMID: 37410255 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06043-1] [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] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim was to test the use of eye-tracking methodology for the early detection of ASD in a task of association between unfamiliar objects and pseudowords. Significant differences were found between ASD (n = 57) and TD (n = 57) Spanish speaking toddlers in the number and time of fixation. The TD children showed more and longer fixations on eyes and mouth while the ASD children attended almost exclusively to objects, making it difficult to integrate lexical and phonological information. Moreover, the TD toddlers looked at the mouth when the pseudoword was produced while the ASD toddlers did not. Gaze fixation on eyes and mouth during word learning recorded by eye-tracking may be used as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Camero
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Carlos Gallego
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, University of Complutense of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - Verónica Martínez
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijóo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
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2
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Lencastre P, Lotfigolian M, Lind PG. Identifying Autism Gaze Patterns in Five-Second Data Records. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1047. [PMID: 38786345 PMCID: PMC11119316 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14101047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the most challenging problems when diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the need for long sets of data. Collecting data during such long periods is challenging, particularly when dealing with children. This challenge motivates the investigation of possible classifiers of ASD that do not need such long data sets. In this paper, we use eye-tracking data sets covering only 5 s and introduce one metric able to distinguish between ASD and typically developed (TD) gaze patterns based on such short time-series and compare it with two benchmarks, one using the traditional eye-tracking metrics and one state-of-the-art AI classifier. Although the data can only track possible disorders in visual attention and our approach is not a substitute to medical diagnosis, we find that our newly introduced metric can achieve an accuracy of 93% in classifying eye gaze trajectories from children with ASD surpassing both benchmarks while needing fewer data. The classification accuracy of our method, using a 5 s data series, performs better than the standard metrics in eye-tracking and is at the level of the best AI benchmarks, even when these are trained with longer time series. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of our method in comparison with the state of the art: besides needing a low amount of data, this method is a simple, understandable, and straightforward criterion to apply, which often contrasts with "black box" AI methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Lencastre
- Department of Computer Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, N-0130 Oslo, Norway (P.G.L.)
- OsloMet Artificial Intelligence Lab, Pilestredet 52, N-0166 Oslo, Norway
- NordSTAR—Nordic Center for Sustainable and Trustworthy AI Research, Pilestredet 52, N-0166 Oslo, Norway
| | - Maryam Lotfigolian
- Department of Computer Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, N-0130 Oslo, Norway (P.G.L.)
| | - Pedro G. Lind
- Department of Computer Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, N-0130 Oslo, Norway (P.G.L.)
- OsloMet Artificial Intelligence Lab, Pilestredet 52, N-0166 Oslo, Norway
- NordSTAR—Nordic Center for Sustainable and Trustworthy AI Research, Pilestredet 52, N-0166 Oslo, Norway
- Simula Research Laboratory, Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing, N-0164 Oslo, Norway
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Keehn B, Monahan P, Enneking B, Ryan T, Swigonski N, McNally Keehn R. Eye-Tracking Biomarkers and Autism Diagnosis in Primary Care. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2411190. [PMID: 38743420 PMCID: PMC11094561 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Finding effective and scalable solutions to address diagnostic delays and disparities in autism is a public health imperative. Approaches that integrate eye-tracking biomarkers into tiered community-based models of autism evaluation hold promise for addressing this problem. Objective To determine whether a battery of eye-tracking biomarkers can reliably differentiate young children with and without autism in a community-referred sample collected during clinical evaluation in the primary care setting and to evaluate whether combining eye-tracking biomarkers with primary care practitioner (PCP) diagnosis and diagnostic certainty is associated with diagnostic outcome. Design, Setting, and Participants Early Autism Evaluation (EAE) Hub system PCPs referred a consecutive sample of children to this prospective diagnostic study for blinded eye-tracking index test and follow-up expert evaluation from June 7, 2019, to September 23, 2022. Participants included 146 children (aged 14-48 months) consecutively referred by 7 EAE Hubs. Of 154 children enrolled, 146 provided usable data for at least 1 eye-tracking measure. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of a composite eye-tracking (ie, index) test, which was a consolidated measure based on significant eye-tracking indices, compared with reference standard expert clinical autism diagnosis. Secondary outcome measures were sensitivity and specificity of an integrated approach using an index test and PCP diagnosis and certainty. Results Among 146 children (mean [SD] age, 2.6 [0.6] years; 104 [71%] male; 21 [14%] Hispanic or Latine and 96 [66%] non-Latine White; 102 [70%] with a reference standard autism diagnosis), 113 (77%) had concordant autism outcomes between the index (composite biomarker) and reference outcomes, with 77.5% sensitivity (95% CI, 68.4%-84.5%) and 77.3% specificity (95% CI, 63.0%-87.2%). When index diagnosis was based on the combination of a composite biomarker, PCP diagnosis, and diagnostic certainty, outcomes were concordant with reference standard for 114 of 127 cases (90%) with a sensitivity of 90.7% (95% CI, 83.3%-95.0%) and a specificity of 86.7% (95% CI, 70.3%-94.7%). Conclusions and Relevance In this prospective diagnostic study, a composite eye-tracking biomarker was associated with a best-estimate clinical diagnosis of autism, and an integrated diagnostic model including PCP diagnosis and diagnostic certainty demonstrated improved sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that equipping PCPs with a multimethod diagnostic approach has the potential to substantially improve access to timely, accurate diagnosis in local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Keehn
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - Patrick Monahan
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - Brett Enneking
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - Tybytha Ryan
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - Nancy Swigonski
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
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Viktorsson C, Portugal AM, Taylor MJ, Ronald A, Falck-Ytter T. Sustained looking at faces at 5 months of age is associated with socio-communicative skills in the second year of life. INFANCY 2024; 29:459-478. [PMID: 38358338 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Efficiently processing information from faces in infancy is foundational for nonverbal communication. We studied individual differences in 5-month-old infants' (N = 517) sustained attention to faces and preference for emotional faces. We assessed the contribution of genetic and environmental influences to individual differences in these gaze behaviors, and the association between these traits and other concurrent and later phenotypes. We found an association between the mean duration of looking at a face (before looking away from it) at 5 months and socio-communicative abilities at 14 months (β = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.08; 0.26, p < 0.001). Sustained attention to faces predicted socio-communicative abilities over and above variance captured by mean fixation duration. We also found a statistically significant but weak tendency to prefer looking at smiling faces (relative to neutral faces), but no indication that variability in this behavior was explained by genetic effects. Moderate heritability was found for sustained attention to faces (A = 0.23, CI: 0.06; 0.38), while shared environmental influences were non-significant for both phenotypes. These findings suggest that sustained looking at individual faces before looking away is a developmentally significant 'social attention' phenotype in infancy, characterized by moderate heritability and a specific relation to later socio-communicative abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Viktorsson
- Development and Neurodiversity Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ana Maria Portugal
- Development and Neurodiversity Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Department of Medical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Angelica Ronald
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Terje Falck-Ytter
- Development and Neurodiversity Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Uppsala, Sweden
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5
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Fu X, Platt E, Shic F, Bradshaw J. Infant Social Attention Associated with Elevated Likelihood for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multi-Method Comparison. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06360-z. [PMID: 38678515 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06360-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The study aimed to compare eye tracking (ET) and manual coding (MC) measures of attention to social and nonsocial information in infants with elevated familial likelihood (EL) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and low likelihood of ASD (LL). ET provides a temporally and spatially sensitive tool for measuring gaze allocation. Existing evidence suggests that ET is a promising tool for detecting distinct social attention patterns that may serve as a biomarker for ASD. However, ET is prone to data loss, especially in young EL infants. METHODS To increase evidence for ET as a viable tool for capturing atypical social attention in EL infants, the current prospective, longitudinal study obtained ET and MC measures of social and nonsocial attention in 25 EL and 47 LL infants at several time points between 3 and 24 months of age. RESULTS ET data was obtained with a satisfactory success rate of 95.83%, albeit with a higher degree of data loss compared to MC. Infant age and ASD likelihood status did not impact the extent of ET or MC data loss. There was a significant positive association between the ET and MC measures of attention, and separate analyses of attention using ET and AC measures yielded comparable findings. These analyses indicated group differences (EL vs. LL) in age-related change in attention to social vs. nonsocial information. CONCLUSION Together, the findings support infant ET as a promising approach for identifying very early markers associated with ASD likelihood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Fu
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
| | - Emma Platt
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Frederick Shic
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Bradshaw
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
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Lockwood Estrin G, Mason L, Arora R, Bhavnani S, Dasgupta J, Gulati S, Gliga T, Johnson MH. Attention control in autism: Eye-tracking findings from pre-school children in a low- and middle-income country setting. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:43-57. [PMID: 36700615 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221149541] [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] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT The development of cognitive processes, such as attention control and learning, has been suggested to be altered in children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. However, nearly all of our understanding of the development of these cognitive processes comes from studies with school-aged or older children in high-income countries, and from research conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, thereby restricting the potential generalisability of results and away from the majority of the world's population. We need to expand our research to investigate abilities beyond these limited settings. We address shortcomings in the literature by (1) studying attention control and learning in an understudied population of children in a low- and middle-income country setting in India, (2) focusing research on a critical younger age group of children and (3) using portable eye-tracking technology that can be taken into communities and healthcare settings to increase the accessibility of research in hard-to-reach populations. Our results provide novel evidence on differences in attention control and learning responses in groups of children with and without a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. We show that learning responses in children that we assessed through a portable eye-tracking task, called the 'antisaccade task', may be specific to autism. This suggests that the methods we use may have the potential to identify and assess autism-specific traits across development, and be used in research in low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mark H Johnson
- Birkbeck, University of London, UK
- University of Cambridge, UK
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Maric DM, Vojvodic D, Maric DL, Velikic G, Radomir M, Sokolovac I, Stefik D, Ivkovic N, Susnjevic S, Puletic M, Dulic O, Abazovic D. Cytokine Dynamics in Autism: Analysis of BMAC Therapy Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15080. [PMID: 37894761 PMCID: PMC10606637 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015080] [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] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has recently been linked to neuroinflammation and an aberrant immune response within the central nervous system. The intricate relationship between immune response and ASD remains elusive, with a gap in understanding the connection between specific immune mechanisms and neural manifestations in autism. In this study, we employed a comprehensive statistical approach, fusing both overarching and granular methods to examine the concentration of 16 cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) across each autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) intrathecal administration in 63 male and 17 female autism patients. Following a six-month period post the third administration, patients were stratified into three categories based on clinical improvement: Group 1- no/mild (28 subjects), Group 2-moderate (16 subjects), and Group 3-major improvement (15 subjects). Our integrated analysis revealed pronounced disparities in CSF cytokine patterns and clinical outcomes in autism subjects pre- and post-BMAC transplantation. Crucially, our results suggest that these cytokine profiles hold promise as predictive markers, pinpointing ASD individuals who might not exhibit notable clinical amelioration post-BMAC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusan M. Maric
- Department for Research and Development, Clinic Orto MD-Parks Dr Dragi Hospital, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (D.M.M.); (M.R.)
- Faculty of Stomatology Pancevo, University Business Academy, 26101 Pancevo, Serbia;
| | - Danilo Vojvodic
- Institute for Medical Research, Military Medical Academy, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (D.V.); (D.S.)
- Medical Faculty of Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dusica L. Maric
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Gordana Velikic
- Department for Research and Development, Clinic Orto MD-Parks Dr Dragi Hospital, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (D.M.M.); (M.R.)
- Hajim School of Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Mihajlo Radomir
- Department for Research and Development, Clinic Orto MD-Parks Dr Dragi Hospital, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (D.M.M.); (M.R.)
| | | | - Debora Stefik
- Institute for Medical Research, Military Medical Academy, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (D.V.); (D.S.)
| | - Nemanja Ivkovic
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Sonja Susnjevic
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Statistics with Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Miljan Puletic
- Faculty of Stomatology Pancevo, University Business Academy, 26101 Pancevo, Serbia;
| | - Oliver Dulic
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
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Fakheir Y, Khalil R. The effects of abnormal visual experience on neurodevelopmental disorders. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22408. [PMID: 37607893 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22408] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Normal visual development is supported by intrinsic neurobiological mechanisms and by appropriate stimulation from the environment, both of which facilitate the maturation of visual functions. However, an offset of this balance can give rise to visual disorders. Therefore, understanding the factors that support normal vision during development and in the mature brain is important, as vision guides movement, enables social interaction, and allows children to recognize and understand their environment. In this paper, we review fundamental mechanisms that support the maturation of visual functions and discuss and draw links between the perceptual and neurobiological impairments in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. We aim to explore how this is evident in the case of ASD, and how perceptual and neurobiological deficits further degrade social ability. Furthermore, we describe the altered perceptual experience of those with schizophrenia and evaluate theories of the underlying neural deficits that alter perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Fakheir
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Reem Khalil
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
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Chawner SJRA, Paine AL, Dunn MJ, Walsh A, Sloane P, Thomas M, Evans A, Hopkins‐Jones L, Struik S, Hall J, Erichsen JT, Leekam SR, Owen MJ, Hay D, van den Bree MBM. Neurodevelopmental dimensional assessment of young children at high genomic risk of neuropsychiatric conditions. JCPP ADVANCES 2023; 3:e12162. [PMID: 37753151 PMCID: PMC10519742 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals with 22q11.2 deletion are at considerably increased risk of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. There have been very few studies investigating how this risk manifests in early childhood and what factors may underlie developmental variability. Insights into this can elucidate transdiagnostic markers of risk that may underlie later development of neuropsychiatric outcomes. Methods Thirty two children with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) (mean age = 4.1 [SD = 1.2] years) and 12 sibling controls (mean age = 4.1 [SD = 1.5] years) underwent in-depth dimensional phenotyping across several developmental domains selected as being potential early indicators of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric liability. Comparisons were conducted of the dimensional developmental phenotype of 22q11.2DS and sibling controls. For autistic traits, both parents and children were phenotyped using the Social Responsiveness Scale. Results Young children with 22q11.2DS exhibited large impairments (Hedge's g ≥ 0.8) across a range of developmental domains relative to sibling controls, as well as high rates of transdiagnostic neurodevelopmental and psychiatric traits. Cluster analysis revealed a subgroup of children with 22q11.2DS (n = 16; 53%) in whom neurodevelopmental and psychiatric liability was particularly increased and who differed from other children with 22q11.2DS and non-carrier siblings. Exploratory analyses revealed that early motor and sleep impairments indexed liability for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes. Maternal autism trait scores were predictive of autism traits in children with 22q11.2DS (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.47, p = 0.046, n = 31). Conclusions Although psychiatric conditions typically emerge later in adolescence and adulthood in 22q11.2DS, our exploratory study was able to identify a range of early risk indicators. Furthermore, findings indicate the presence of a subgroup who appeared to have increased neurodevelopmental and psychiatric liability. Our findings highlight the scope for future studies of early risk mechanisms and early intervention within this high genetic risk patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J. R. A. Chawner
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental ScienceSchool of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Amy L. Paine
- Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental ScienceSchool of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Matt J. Dunn
- School of Optometry and Vision SciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Alice Walsh
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Poppy Sloane
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Megan Thomas
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Alexandra Evans
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Lucinda Hopkins‐Jones
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Siske Struik
- Immunodeficiency Centre for WalesUniversity Hospital of WalesCardiffUK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | - Susan R. Leekam
- Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental ScienceSchool of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Michael J. Owen
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Dale Hay
- Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental ScienceSchool of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Marianne B. M. van den Bree
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and GenomicsDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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10
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Rolland M, Lyon-Caen S, Thomsen C, Sakhi AK, Sabaredzovic A, Bayat S, Slama R, Méary D, Philippat C. Effects of early exposure to phthalates on cognitive development and visual behavior at 24 months. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115068. [PMID: 36528043 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Studies focusing on the neurodevelopmental effects of phthalates seldom consider exposure during infancy, a critical period for brain development. Most rely on parent-completed questionnaires to assess child neurodevelopment, which may be subject to reporting error. We studied the associations between prenatal and infancy exposure to phthalates and objective measures of neurodevelopment at the age of two. METHODS We relied on 151 mother-child pairs from the SEPAGES mother-child cohort. Women were asked to collect three spot urine samples per day over seven consecutive days during the second (median: 18.0 gestational weeks) and third (median: 34.2 gestational weeks) trimesters of pregnancy. They then collected one urine sample per day over seven consecutive days from their infants around the age of 12 months. Metabolites of phthalates and non-phthalate plasticizers were measured in within-subject and within-period pools of repeated urine samples. Eye tracking tasks were performed at two years allowing to compute four indicators linked with cognitive development and visual behavior: mean fixation duration, novelty preference, percent time spent looking at the eyes and mean reaction time. RESULTS Pre-natal exposure to monobenzyl phthalate at the second and third trimesters was associated with shorter fixation durations. In models allowing for interaction with child sex, these associations were only observed among girls. Exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate at the third but not the second trimester was associated with increased time spent looking at a novel face and eyes. We observed faster reaction times and decreased time spent looking at the eyes in a face recognition task, with increased post-natal exposure to monoethyl, mono-iso-butyl and mono-n-butyl phthalates. DISCUSSION Relying on improved exposure assessment, we highlighted associations of pre- and post-natal exposure to phthalates with indicators derived from eye tracking tasks, mainly in girls. Some of these indicators have been affected in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Rolland
- Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Grenoble Alpes University, Inserm, CNRS, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - Sarah Lyon-Caen
- Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Grenoble Alpes University, Inserm, CNRS, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | | | | | | | - Sam Bayat
- Department of Pulmonology and Physiology, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Rémy Slama
- Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Grenoble Alpes University, Inserm, CNRS, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - David Méary
- Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neurocognition, LPNC, UMR 5105, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Claire Philippat
- Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Grenoble Alpes University, Inserm, CNRS, 38700 La Tronche, France.
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11
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Jónsdóttir LK, Neufeld J, Falck-Ytter T, Kleberg JL. Autistic Children Quickly Orient Away from Both Eyes and Mouths During Face Observation. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:495-502. [PMID: 35138557 PMCID: PMC9889486 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Studies have supported two different hypotheses of reduced eye gaze in people with ASD; gaze avoidance and gaze indifference, while less is known about the role of anxiety. We tested these hypotheses using an eye-tracking paradigm that cued the eyes or mouth of emotional faces. Autistic children (n = 12, mean age 7 years) looked faster away from both eyes and mouths than controls (n = 22). This effect was not explained by anxiety symptoms. No difference was found in latency towards either area. These results indicate that attentional avoidance of autistic children is not specific to eyes, and that they do not show attentional indifference to eyes compared to controls. Atypicalities in visual scanning in ASD are possibly unrelated to specific facial areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilja Kristín Jónsdóttir
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Uppsala Child and Baby Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Janina Neufeld
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet & Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Terje Falck-Ytter
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet & Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden ,grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Development and Neurodiversity Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden ,grid.462826.c0000 0004 5373 8869Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundin Kleberg
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Center for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden ,grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Canu D, Ioannou C, Müller K, Martin B, Fleischhaker C, Biscaldi M, Beauducel A, Smyrnis N, van Elst LT, Klein C. Visual search in neurodevelopmental disorders: evidence towards a continuum of impairment. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022; 31:1-18. [PMID: 33751240 PMCID: PMC9343296 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-021-01756-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Disorders with neurodevelopmental aetiology such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Schizophrenia share commonalities at many levels of investigation despite phenotypic differences. Evidence of genetic overlap has led to the concept of a continuum of neurodevelopmental impairment along which these disorders can be positioned in aetiological, pathophysiological and developmental features. This concept requires their simultaneous comparison at different levels, which has not been accomplished so far. Given that cognitive impairments are core to the pathophysiology of these disorders, we provide for the first time differentiated head-to-head comparisons in a complex cognitive function, visual search, decomposing the task with eye movement-based process analyses. N = 103 late-adolescents with schizophrenia, ADHD, ASD and healthy controls took a serial visual search task, while their eye movements were recorded. Patients with schizophrenia presented the greatest level of impairment across different phases of search, followed by patients with ADHD, who shared with patients with schizophrenia elevated intra-subject variability in the pre-search stage. ASD was the least impaired group, but similar to schizophrenia in post-search processes and to schizophrenia and ADHD in pre-search processes and fixation duration while scanning the items. Importantly, the profiles of deviancy from controls were highly correlated between all three clinical groups, in line with the continuum idea. Findings suggest the existence of one common neurodevelopmental continuum of performance for the three disorders, while quantitative differences appear in the level of impairment. Given the relevance of cognitive impairments in these three disorders, we argue in favour of overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Canu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Chara Ioannou
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katarina Müller
- Psychotherapeutisches Wohnheim für junge Menschen Leppermühle, Buseck, Germany
| | - Berthold Martin
- Psychotherapeutisches Wohnheim für junge Menschen Leppermühle, Buseck, Germany
| | - Christian Fleischhaker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Monica Biscaldi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Nikolaos Smyrnis
- 2nd Psychiatry Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", Athens, Greece
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Klein
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- 2nd Psychiatry Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, University General Hospital "ATTIKON", Athens, Greece.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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13
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Burstein O, Geva R. The Brainstem-Informed Autism Framework: Early Life Neurobehavioral Markers. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:759614. [PMID: 34858145 PMCID: PMC8631363 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.759614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have long-term implications on functioning at multiple levels. In this perspective, we offer a brainstem-informed autism framework (BIAF) that traces the protracted neurobehavioral manifestations of ASD to early life brainstem dysfunctions. Early life brainstem-mediated markers involving functions of autonomic/arousal regulation, sleep-wake homeostasis, and sensorimotor integration are delineated. Their possible contributions to the early identification of susceptible infants are discussed. We suggest that the BIAF expands our multidimensional understanding of ASD by focusing on the early involvement of brainstem systems. Importantly, we propose an integrated BIAF screener that brings about the prospect of a sensitive and reliable early life diagnostic scheme for weighing the risk for ASD. The BIAF screener could provide clinicians substantial gains in the future and may carve customized interventions long before the current DSM ASD phenotype is manifested using dyadic co-regulation of brainstem-informed autism markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Burstein
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ronny Geva
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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14
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Zhao Z, Xing J, Zhang X, Qu X, Hu X, Lu J. Random and Short-Term Excessive Eye Movement in Children with Autism During Face-to-Face Conversation. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:3699-3710. [PMID: 34455513 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05255-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the oculomotor performance in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during a face-to-face conversation. A head mounted eye tracker recorded the eye movements in 20 children with ASD and 23 children with typical development (TD). Group comparisons were conducted on the randomness and the quantity of eye movement. The amount of time needed to reveal group difference was also examined. Results showed that the randomness of eye movement was significantly higher at all examined time durations, and the amount of eye movement was significantly greater within 3 s in the ASD group. These findings demonstrated an atypical pattern of oculomotor dynamics in children ASD, which might facilitate the objective identification of ASD during daily social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Zhao
- Institute of Human Factors and Ergonomics, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiayi Xing
- Institute of Human Factors and Ergonomics, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaobin Zhang
- Shenzhen Guangming District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xingda Qu
- Institute of Human Factors and Ergonomics, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xinyao Hu
- Institute of Human Factors and Ergonomics, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Child Psychiatry of Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, China.
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15
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Johnson MH, Charman T, Pickles A, Jones EJH. Annual Research Review: Anterior Modifiers in the Emergence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (AMEND)-a systems neuroscience approach to common developmental disorders. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2021; 62:610-630. [PMID: 33432656 PMCID: PMC8609429 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We present the Anterior Modifiers in the Emergence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (AMEND) framework, designed to reframe the field of prospective studies of neurodevelopmental disorders. In AMEND we propose conceptual, statistical and methodological approaches to separating markers of early-stage perturbations from later developmental modifiers. We describe the evidence for, and features of, these interacting components before outlining analytical approaches to studying how different profiles of early perturbations and later modifiers interact to produce phenotypic outcomes. We suggest this approach could both advance our theoretical understanding and clinical approach to the emergence of developmental psychopathology in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark H. Johnson
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive DevelopmentDepartment of Psychological SciencesBirkbeck, University of LondonLondonUK
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of PsychologyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing’s College LondonLondonUK
| | - Andrew Pickles
- Department of Biostatistics and Health InformaticsInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing’s College LondonLondonUK
| | - Emily J. H. Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive DevelopmentDepartment of Psychological SciencesBirkbeck, University of LondonLondonUK
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16
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Behavioural Measures of Infant Activity but Not Attention Associate with Later Preschool ADHD Traits. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11050524. [PMID: 33919004 PMCID: PMC8143002 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mapping infant neurocognitive differences that precede later ADHD-related behaviours is critical for designing early interventions. In this study, we investigated (1) group differences in a battery of measures assessing aspects of attention and activity level in infants with and without a family history of ADHD or related conditions (ASD), and (2) longitudinal associations between the infant measures and preschool ADHD traits at 3 years. Participants (N = 151) were infants with or without an elevated likelihood for ADHD (due to a family history of ADHD and/or ASD). A multi-method assessment protocol was used to assess infant attention and activity level at 10 months of age that included behavioural, cognitive, physiological and neural measures. Preschool ADHD traits were measured at 3 years of age using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and the Child Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ). Across a broad range of measures, we found no significant group differences in attention or activity level at 10 months between infants with and without a family history of ADHD or ASD. However, parent and observer ratings of infant activity level at 10 months were positively associated with later preschool ADHD traits at 3 years. Observable behavioural differences in activity level (but not attention) may be apparent from infancy in children who later develop elevated preschool ADHD traits.
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17
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Canu D, Van der Paelt S, Canal-Bedia R, Posada M, Vanvuchelen M, Roeyers H. Early non-social behavioural indicators of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in siblings at elevated likelihood for ASD: a systematic review. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 30:497-538. [PMID: 32088859 PMCID: PMC8041710 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-020-01487-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We aimed at identifying early non-social behavioural indicators that predict later ASD. Likewise, we were interested in the moment in which non-social signs discriminate between children at elevated likelihood for ASD with a later diagnosis of ASD, and children at elevated likelihood for ASD with a typical developmental outcome. In addition, we intended to explore the developmental evolution of children's symptomatology over time. A systematic literature search was conducted for longitudinal studies on early non-social behavioural indicators among siblings at elevated likelihood for ASD. The following databases were searched: PUBMED, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE. The study identification process was conducted by two reviewers independently. Compared to siblings at elevated likelihood for ASD with a typical developmental outcome, siblings at elevated likelihood for ASD with later ASD show impairments in attention disengagement, in gross and fine motor development and characteristic restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours, starting at 12 months of age. Moreover, early attention disengagement exerts a predictive role towards a later ASD diagnosis, given that from 12 months siblings at elevated likelihood for ASD who will receive an independent ASD diagnosis towards 24-36 months present marked difficulties in disengaging in comparison with siblings at elevated likelihood for ASD that will not satisfy the criteria for an ASD diagnosis. The findings call for a more comprehensive vision on early indicators of ASD. Further research is needed to extend results to other behavioural domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Canu
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rehabilitation Research Center (REVAL), Hasselt Unversity, Agoralaan, Building A, 3590 Diepenbeek, Hasselt, Belgium.
- Research in Developmental Disorders Lab, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Sara Van der Paelt
- Research in Developmental Disorders Lab, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ricardo Canal-Bedia
- Instituto Universitario de Integración en la Comunidad (INICO), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Manuel Posada
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research & CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marleen Vanvuchelen
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rehabilitation Research Center (REVAL), Hasselt Unversity, Agoralaan, Building A, 3590 Diepenbeek, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Herbert Roeyers
- Research in Developmental Disorders Lab, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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18
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Robain F, Kojovic N, Solazzo S, Glaser B, Franchini M, Schaer M. The impact of social complexity on the visual exploration of others' actions in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder. BMC Psychol 2021; 9:50. [PMID: 33789770 PMCID: PMC8011208 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-021-00553-2] [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] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Typical development of socio-communicative skills relies on keen observation of others. It thus follows that decreased social attention negatively impacts the subsequent development of socio-communicative abilities in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, studies indicate that social attention is modulated by context and that greater social difficulties are observed in more socially demanding situations. Our study aims to investigate the effect of social complexity on visual exploration of others' actions in preschoolers. METHODS To investigate the impact of social complexity, we used an eye-tracking paradigm with 26 typically developing preschoolers (TD, age = 3.60 ± 1.55) and 37 preschoolers with ASD (age = 3.55 ± 1.21). Participants were shown videos of two children engaging in socially simple play (parallel) versus socially complex play (interactive). We subsequently quantified the time spent and fixation duration on faces, objects, bodies, as well as the background and the number of spontaneous gaze shifts between socially relevant areas of interest. RESULTS In the ASD group, we observed decreased time spent on faces. Social complexity (interactive play) elicited changes in visual exploration patterns in both groups. From the parallel to the interactive condition, we observed a shift towards socially relevant parts of the scene, a decrease in fixation duration, as well as an increase in spontaneous gaze shifts between faces and objects though there were fewer in the ASD group. LIMITATIONS Our results need to be interpreted cautiously due to relatively small sample sizes and may be relevant to male preschoolers, given our male-only sample and reported phenotypic differences between males and females. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that similar to TD children, though to a lesser extent, visual exploration patterns in ASD are modulated by context. Children with ASD that were less sensitive to context modulation showed decreased socio-communicative skills or higher levels of symptoms. Our findings support using naturalistic designs to capture socio-communicative deficits in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Robain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. .,Fondation Pôle Autisme, Unité de Recherche, 4 place du Cirque, 1204, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - N Kojovic
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - S Solazzo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - B Glaser
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - M Franchini
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Fondation Pôle Autisme, Unité de Recherche, 4 place du Cirque, 1204, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - M Schaer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.,Fondation Pôle Autisme, Unité de Recherche, 4 place du Cirque, 1204, Geneva, Switzerland
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19
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Gui A, Bussu G, Tye C, Elsabbagh M, Pasco G, Charman T, Johnson MH, Jones EJH. Attentive brain states in infants with and without later autism. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:196. [PMID: 33785730 PMCID: PMC8009890 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01315-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Early difficulties in engaging attentive brain states in social settings could affect learning and have cascading effects on social development. We investigated this possibility using multichannel electroencephalography during a face/non-face paradigm in 8-month-old infants with (FH, n = 91) and without (noFH, n = 40) a family history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An event-related potential component reflecting attention engagement, the Nc, was compared between FH infants who received a diagnosis of ASD at 3 years of age (FH-ASD; n = 19), FH infants who did not (FH-noASD; n = 72) and noFH infants (who also did not, hereafter noFH-noASD; n = 40). 'Prototypical' microstates during social attention were extracted from the noFH-noASD group and examined in relation to later categorical and dimensional outcome. Machine-learning was used to identify the microstate features that best predicted ASD and social adaptive skills at three years. Results suggested that whilst measures of brain state timing were related to categorical ASD outcome, brain state strength was related to dimensional measures of social functioning. Specifically, the FH-ASD group showed shorter Nc latency relative to other groups, and duration of the attentive microstate responses to faces was informative for categorical outcome prediction. Reduced Nc amplitude difference between faces with direct gaze and a non-social control stimulus and strength of the attentive microstate to faces contributed to the prediction of dimensional variation in social skills. Taken together, this provides consistent evidence that atypical attention engagement precedes the emergence of difficulties in socialization and indicates that using the spatio-temporal characteristics of whole-brain activation to define brain states in infancy provides an important new approach to understanding of the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that lead to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gui
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.
| | - Giorgia Bussu
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Tye
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry & Department of Psychology, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 Rue University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Greg Pasco
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Department of Psychology, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.
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20
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Camero R, Martínez V, Gallego C. Gaze Following and Pupil Dilation as Early Diagnostic Markers of Autism in Toddlers. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8020113. [PMID: 33562656 PMCID: PMC7914719 DOI: 10.3390/children8020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show certain characteristics in visual attention. These may generate differences with non-autistic children in the integration of relevant social information to set the basis of communication. Reliable and objective measurement of these characteristics in a language learning context could contribute to a more accurate early diagnosis of ASD. Gaze following and pupil dilation are being studied as possible reliable measures of visual attention for the early detection of ASD. The eye-tracking methodology allows objective measurement of these biomarkers. The aim of this study is to determine whether measurements of gaze following and pupillary dilation in a linguistic interaction task are potential objective biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ASD. Method: A group of 20 children between 17 and 24 months of age, made up of 10 neurotypical children (NT) and 10 children with an increased likelihood of developing ASD were paired together according to chronological age. A human face on a monitor pronounced pseudowords associated with pseudo-objects. Gaze following and pupil dilation were registered during the task These measurements were captured using eye-tracking methodology. Results: Significant statistical differences were found in the time of gaze fixation on the human face and on the object, as well as in the number of gazes. Children with an increased possibility of developing ASD showed a slightly higher pupil dilation than NT children. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, their pupil dilation was uniform throughout the different periods of the task while NT participants showed greater dilation on hearing the pseudoword. Conclusions: The fixing and the duration of gaze, objectively measured by a Tobii eye-tracking system, could be considered as potential biomarkers for early detection of ASD. Additionally, pupil dilation measurement could reflect differential activation patterns during word processing in possible ASD toddlers and NT toddlers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Camero
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - Verónica Martínez
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Carlos Gallego
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain;
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21
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Bast N, Mason L, Freitag CM, Smith T, Portugal AM, Poustka L, Banaschewski T, Johnson M. Saccade dysmetria indicates attenuated visual exploration in autism spectrum disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2021; 62:149-159. [PMID: 32449956 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual exploration in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by attenuated social attention. The underlying oculomotor function during visual exploration is understudied, whereas oculomotor function during restricted viewing suggested saccade dysmetria in ASD by altered pontocerebellar motor modulation. METHODS Oculomotor function was recorded using remote eye tracking in 142 ASD participants and 142 matched neurotypical controls during free viewing of naturalistic videos with and without human content. The sample was heterogenous concerning age (6-30 years), cognitive ability (60-140 IQ), and male/female ratio (3:1). Oculomotor function was defined as saccade, fixation, and pupil-dilation features that were compared between groups in linear mixed models. Oculomotor function was investigated as ASD classifier and features were correlated with clinical measures. RESULTS We observed decreased saccade duration (∆M = -0.50, CI [-0.21, -0.78]) and amplitude (∆M = -0.42, CI [-0.12, -0.72]), which was independent of human video content. We observed null findings concerning fixation and pupil-dilation features (POWER = .81). Oculomotor function is a valid ASD classifier comparable to social attention concerning discriminative power. Within ASD, saccade features correlated with measures of restricted and repetitive behavior. CONCLUSIONS We conclude saccade dysmetria as ASD oculomotor phenotype relevant to visual exploration. Decreased saccade amplitude and duration indicate spatially clustered fixations that attenuate visual exploration and emphasize endogenous over exogenous attention. We propose altered pontocerebellar motor modulation as underlying mechanism that contributes to atypical (oculo-)motor coordination and attention function in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Bast
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Luke Mason
- Center for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Christine M Freitag
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tim Smith
- Center for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Ana Maria Portugal
- Center for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Medical University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark Johnson
- Center for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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22
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Onland-Moret NC, Buizer-Voskamp JE, Albers MEWA, Brouwer RM, Buimer EEL, Hessels RS, de Heus R, Huijding J, Junge CMM, Mandl RCW, Pas P, Vink M, van der Wal JJM, Hulshoff Pol HE, Kemner C. The YOUth study: Rationale, design, and study procedures. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2020; 46:100868. [PMID: 33075722 PMCID: PMC7575850 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2020.100868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral development in children shows large inter-individual variation, and is driven by the interplay between biological, psychological, and environmental processes. However, there is still little insight into how these processes interact. The YOUth cohort specifically focuses on two core characteristics of behavioral development: social competence and self-regulation. Social competence refers to the ability to engage in meaningful interactions with others, whereas self-regulation is the ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and impulses, to balance between reactivity and control of the reaction, and to adjust to the prevailing environment. YOUth is an accelerated population-based longitudinal cohort study with repeated measurements, centering on two groups: YOUth Baby & Child and YOUth Child & Adolescent. YOUth Baby & Child aims to include 3,000 pregnant women, their partners and children, wheras YOUth Child & Adolescent aims to include 2,000 children aged between 8 and 10 years old and their parents. All participants will be followed for at least 6 years, and potentially longer. In this paper we describe in detail the design of this study, the population included, the determinants, intermediate neurocognitive measures and outcomes included in the study. Furthermore, we describe in detail the procedures of inclusion, informed consent, and study participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Charlotte Onland-Moret
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Maria E W A Albers
- Division of Woman and Baby, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Division of Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Rachel M Brouwer
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth E L Buimer
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Roy S Hessels
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Roel de Heus
- Division of Woman and Baby, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Jorg Huijding
- Dept. Clinical Child and Family Studies, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht Univerity, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Caroline M M Junge
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - René C W Mandl
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Pascal Pas
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthijs Vink
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Chantal Kemner
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Vettori S, Van der Donck S, Nys J, Moors P, Van Wesemael T, Steyaert J, Rossion B, Dzhelyova M, Boets B. Combined frequency-tagging EEG and eye-tracking measures provide no support for the "excess mouth/diminished eye attention" hypothesis in autism. Mol Autism 2020; 11:94. [PMID: 33228763 PMCID: PMC7686749 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scanning faces is important for social interactions. Difficulty with the social use of eye contact constitutes one of the clinical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It has been suggested that individuals with ASD look less at the eyes and more at the mouth than typically developing (TD) individuals, possibly due to gaze aversion or gaze indifference. However, eye-tracking evidence for this hypothesis is mixed. While gaze patterns convey information about overt orienting processes, it is unclear how this is manifested at the neural level and how relative covert attention to the eyes and mouth of faces might be affected in ASD. METHODS We used frequency-tagging EEG in combination with eye tracking, while participants watched fast flickering faces for 1-min stimulation sequences. The upper and lower halves of the faces were presented at 6 Hz and 7.5 Hz or vice versa in different stimulation sequences, allowing to objectively disentangle the neural saliency of the eyes versus mouth region of a perceived face. We tested 21 boys with ASD (8-12 years old) and 21 TD control boys, matched for age and IQ. RESULTS Both groups looked longer at the eyes than the mouth, without any group difference in relative fixation duration to these features. TD boys looked significantly more to the nose, while the ASD boys looked more outside the face. EEG neural saliency data partly followed this pattern: neural responses to the upper or lower face half were not different between groups, but in the TD group, neural responses to the lower face halves were larger than responses to the upper part. Face exploration dynamics showed that TD individuals mostly maintained fixations within the same facial region, whereas individuals with ASD switched more often between the face parts. LIMITATIONS Replication in large and independent samples may be needed to validate exploratory results. CONCLUSIONS Combined eye-tracking and frequency-tagged neural responses show no support for the excess mouth/diminished eye gaze hypothesis in ASD. The more exploratory face scanning style observed in ASD might be related to their increased feature-based face processing style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Vettori
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Stephanie Van der Donck
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jannes Nys
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- IDLab - Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp - IMEC, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Moors
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim Van Wesemael
- Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), Stadius Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno Rossion
- Institute of Research in Psychological Science, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
- CNRS, CRAN - UMR 7039, Université de Lorraine, 54000, Nancy, France
- CHRU-Nancy, Service de Neurologie, Université de Lorraine, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Milena Dzhelyova
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Research in Psychological Science, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
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24
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Vision Screening among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Optom Vis Sci 2020; 97:917-928. [PMID: 33136709 DOI: 10.1097/opx.0000000000001593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Vision problems occur at higher rates in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in the general population. Some professional organizations recommend that children with neurodevelopmental disorders need comprehensive assessment by eye care professionals rather than vision screening. METHODS Data from the 2011 to 2012 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) were accessed. Logistic regression was used to evaluate differences between vision screening rates in eye care professionals' offices and other screening locations among children with and without ASD. RESULTS Overall, 82.21% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.35 to 86.06%) of children with ASD were reported to have had a vision screening as defined by the NSCH criteria. Among children younger than 5 years with ASD, 8.87% (95% CI, 1.27 to 16.5%) had a vision screening at a pediatrician's office, 41.1% (95% CI, 20.54 to 61.70%) were screened at school, and 37.62% (95% CI, 9.80 to 55.45%) were examined by an eye care professionals. Among children with ASD older than 5 years, 24.84% (95% CI, 18.42 to 31.26%) were screened at school, 22.24% (95% CI, 17.26 to 27.21%) were screened at the pediatricians' office, and 50.15% (95% CI, 44.22 to 56.08%) were examined by eye care professionals. Based on estimates from NSCH, no children in the U.S. population younger than 5 years with ASD screened in a pediatrician's office were also seen by an eye care provider. CONCLUSIONS If the public health goal is to have all children with ASD assessed in an eye care professional's office, data from the NSCH indicate that we as a nation are falling far short of that target.
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Look duration at the face as a developmental endophenotype: elucidating pathways to autism and ADHD. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:1303-1322. [DOI: 10.1017/s0954579420000930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIdentifying developmental endophenotypes on the pathway between genetics and behavior is critical to uncovering the mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental conditions. In this proof-of-principle study, we explored whether early disruptions in visual attention are a unique or shared candidate endophenotype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We calculated the duration of the longest look (i.e., peak look) to faces in an array-based eye-tracking task for 335 14-month-old infants with and without first-degree relatives with ASD and/or ADHD. We leveraged parent-report and genotype data available for a proportion of these infants to evaluate the relation of looking behavior to familial (n = 285) and genetic liability (using polygenic scores, n = 185) as well as ASD and ADHD-relevant temperament traits at 2 years of age (shyness and inhibitory control, respectively, n = 272) and ASD and ADHD clinical traits at 6 years of age (n = 94).Results showed that longer peak looks at the face were associated with elevated polygenic scores for ADHD (β = 0.078, p = .023), but not ASD (β = 0.002, p = .944), and with elevated ADHD traits in mid-childhood (F(1,88) = 6.401, p = .013, $\eta _p^2$=0.068; ASD: F (1,88) = 3.218, p = .076), but not in toddlerhood (ps > 0.2). This pattern of results did not emerge when considering mean peak look duration across face and nonface stimuli. Thus, alterations in attention to faces during spontaneous visual exploration may be more consistent with a developmental endophenotype of ADHD than ASD. Our work shows that dissecting paths to neurodevelopmental conditions requires longitudinal data incorporating polygenic contribution, early neurocognitive function, and clinical phenotypic variation.
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Eye-Tracking in Infants and Young Children at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Visual Stimuli in Experimental Paradigms. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:2578-2599. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04731-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Social origins of self-regulated attention during infancy and their disruption in autism spectrum disorder: Implications for early intervention. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:1362-1374. [PMID: 32693862 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579420000796] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
To understand the complex relationships between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other frequently comorbid conditions, a growing number of studies have investigated the emergence of ASD during infancy. This research has suggested that symptoms of ASD and highly related comorbid conditions emerge from complex interactions between neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities and early environments, indicating that developing treatments to prevent ASD is highly challenging. However, it also suggests that attenuating the negative effects of ASD on future development once identified is possible. The present paper builds on this by conceptualizing developmental delays in nonsocial skills as the potential product of altered caregiver-infant interactions following the emergence of ASD during infancy. And, following emerging findings from caregiver-infant dyadic head-mounted eye-tracking (D-ET) research, it also suggests that a multiple pathway model of joint attention can provide mechanistic insights into how ASD alters the ability of caregiver and infant to create a context for infant learning. The potential for this view to inform early intervention is further discussed and illustrated through D-ET data collected prior to and following a brief, parent-mediated intervention for infant ASD. While promising, further research informing how a multiple pathway model of joint attention can inform ASD early intervention is needed.
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Braithwaite EK, Gui A, Jones EJH. Social attention: What is it, how can we measure it, and what can it tell us about autism and ADHD? PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 254:271-303. [PMID: 32859292 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affect 2-10% of children worldwide but are still poorly understood. Prospective studies of infants with an elevated familial likelihood of ASD or ADHD can provide insight into early mechanisms that canalize development down a typical or atypical course. Such work holds potential for earlier identification and intervention to support optimal outcomes in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Disrupted attention may be involved in developmental trajectories to ASD and ADHD. Specifically, altered attention to social stimuli has been suggested as a possible endophenotype of ASD, lying between genetic factors impacting brain development and later symptoms. Similarly, changes in domain-general aspects of attention are commonly seen in ADHD and emerging evidence suggests these may begin in infancy. Could these patterns point to a common risk factor for both disorders? Or does social attention reflect the activity of a particular network of brain systems that is distinct to those underpinning general attention skills? One challenge to addressing such questions is our lack of understanding of the relation between social and general attention. In this chapter we review evidence from infants with later ASD and ADHD that illuminates this question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor K Braithwaite
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Gui
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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The possible use of precision tinted lenses to improve social cognition in children with autism spectrum disorders. Vision Res 2020; 170:53-59. [PMID: 32259647 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A masked randomised control design compared the effectiveness of precision ophthalmic tints in improving the recognition of emotion in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Fourteen children aged 10-14 with ASD and 14 control children matched on verbal and non-verbal IQ, wore spectacles with coloured lenses to complete two tasks that involved the observation of coloured video sequences in which social interactions were depicted. On one occasion (randomly first or second) the coloured lenses provided light of a colour that the child had one month previously selected as optimal for the clarity of text. On the other occasion the lenses differed in CIE UCS chromaticity by 0.077. Performance in the ASD group was superior in both social interaction tasks with the lenses that provided the optimal colour of light.
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30
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Schauder KB, Park WJ, Tsank Y, Eckstein MP, Tadin D, Bennetto L. Initial eye gaze to faces and its functional consequence on face identification abilities in autism spectrum disorder. J Neurodev Disord 2019; 11:42. [PMID: 31883518 PMCID: PMC6935487 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9303-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined and diagnosed by core deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. Research on face processing suggests deficits in this domain in ASD but includes many mixed findings regarding the nature and extent of these differences. The first eye movement to a face has been shown to be highly informative and sufficient to achieve high performance in face identification in neurotypical adults. The current study focused on this critical moment shown to be essential in the process of face identification. METHODS We applied an established eye-tracking and face identification paradigm to comprehensively characterize the initial eye movement to a face and test its functional consequence on face identification performance in adolescents with and without ASD (n = 21 per group), and in neurotypical adults. Specifically, we presented a series of faces and measured the landing location of the first saccade to each face, while simultaneously measuring their face identification abilities. Then, individuals were guided to look at specific locations on the face, and we measured how face identification performance varied as a function of that location. Adolescent participants also completed a more traditional measure of face identification which allowed us to more fully characterize face identification abilities in ASD. RESULTS Our results indicate that the location of the initial look to faces and face identification performance for briefly presented faces are intact in ASD, ruling out the possibility that deficits in face perception, at least in adolescents with ASD, begin with the initial eye movement to the face. However, individuals with ASD showed impairments on the more traditional measure of face identification. CONCLUSION Together, the observed dissociation between initial, rapid face perception processes, and other measures of face perception offers new insights and hypotheses related to the timing and perceptual complexity of face processing and how these specific aspects of face identification may be disrupted in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly B. Schauder
- Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270266, Rochester, NY 14627 USA
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, USA
- Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, 15245 Shady Grove Road Suite 350, Rockville, MD 20850 USA
| | - Woon Ju Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Guthrie Hall Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Yuliy Tsank
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660 USA
| | - Miguel P. Eckstein
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660 USA
| | - Duje Tadin
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, 310 Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270268, Rochester, NY 14627-0268 USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, USA
| | - Loisa Bennetto
- Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270266, Rochester, NY 14627 USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, 310 Meliora Hall, P.O Box 270268, Rochester, NY 14627-0268 USA
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31
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视觉正常的自闭症儿童双眼注视点间距的特点及其意义. ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA SINICA 2019. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1041.2019.01018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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32
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Renswoude DR, Visser I, Raijmakers MEJ, Tsang T, Johnson SP. Real‐world scene perception in infants: What factors guide attention allocation? INFANCY 2019; 24:693-717. [DOI: 10.1111/infa.12308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daan R. Renswoude
- Department of Psychology University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Research Priority Area YIELD Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Ingmar Visser
- Department of Psychology University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Research Priority Area YIELD Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brian and Cognition Center Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Maartje E. J. Raijmakers
- Department of Psychology University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Research Priority Area YIELD Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brian and Cognition Center Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Educational Studies & Learn! Free University Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Tawny Tsang
- Department of Psychology University of California Los Angeles California
| | - Scott P. Johnson
- Department of Psychology University of California Los Angeles California
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Zhou Y, Sharma J, Ke Q, Landman R, Yuan J, Chen H, Hayden DS, Fisher JW, Jiang M, Menegas W, Aida T, Yan T, Zou Y, Xu D, Parmar S, Hyman JB, Fanucci-Kiss A, Meisner O, Wang D, Huang Y, Li Y, Bai Y, Ji W, Lai X, Li W, Huang L, Lu Z, Wang L, Anteraper SA, Sur M, Zhou H, Xiang AP, Desimone R, Feng G, Yang S. Atypical behaviour and connectivity in SHANK3-mutant macaques. Nature 2019; 570:326-331. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1278-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Abstract
Eye-trackers are a popular tool for studying cognitive, emotional, and attentional processes in different populations (e.g., clinical and typically developing) and participants of all ages, ranging from infants to the elderly. This broad range of processes and populations implies that there are many inter- and intra-individual differences that need to be taken into account when analyzing eye-tracking data. Standard parsing algorithms supplied by the eye-tracker manufacturers are typically optimized for adults and do not account for these individual differences. This paper presents gazepath, an easy-to-use R-package that comes with a graphical user interface (GUI) implemented in Shiny (RStudio Inc 2015). The gazepath R-package combines solutions from the adult and infant literature to provide an eye-tracking parsing method that accounts for individual differences and differences in data quality. We illustrate the usefulness of gazepath with three examples of different data sets. The first example shows how gazepath performs on free-viewing data of infants and adults, compared to standard EyeLink parsing. We show that gazepath controls for spurious correlations between fixation durations and data quality in infant data. The second example shows that gazepath performs well in high-quality reading data of adults. The third and last example shows that gazepath can also be used on noisy infant data collected with a Tobii eye-tracker and low (60 Hz) sampling rate.
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35
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McKinnon CJ, Eggebrecht AT, Todorov A, Wolff JJ, Elison JT, Adams CM, Snyder AZ, Estes AM, Zwaigenbaum L, Botteron KN, McKinstry RC, Marrus N, Evans A, Hazlett HC, Dager SR, Paterson SJ, Pandey J, Schultz RT, Styner MA, Gerig G, Schlaggar BL, Petersen SE, Piven J, Pruett JR. Restricted and Repetitive Behavior and Brain Functional Connectivity in Infants at Risk for Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2019; 4:50-61. [PMID: 30446435 PMCID: PMC6557405 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs), detectable by 12 months in many infants in whom autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is later diagnosed, may represent some of the earliest behavioral markers of ASD. However, brain function underlying the emergence of these key behaviors remains unknown. METHODS Behavioral and resting-state functional connectivity (fc) magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 167 children at high and low familial risk for ASD at 12 and 24 months (n = 38 at both time points). Twenty infants met criteria for ASD at 24 months. We divided RRBs into four subcategories (restricted, stereotyped, ritualistic/sameness, self-injurious) and used a data-driven approach to identify functional brain networks associated with the development of each RRB subcategory. RESULTS Higher scores for ritualistic/sameness behavior were associated with less positive fc between visual and control networks at 12 and 24 months. Ritualistic/sameness and stereotyped behaviors were associated with less positive fc between visual and default mode networks at 12 months. At 24 months, stereotyped and restricted behaviors were associated with more positive fc between default mode and control networks. Additionally, at 24 months, stereotyped behavior was associated with more positive fc between dorsal attention and subcortical networks, whereas restricted behavior was associated with more positive fc between default mode and dorsal attention networks. No significant network-level associations were observed for self-injurious behavior. CONCLUSIONS These observations mark the earliest known description of functional brain systems underlying RRBs, reinforce the construct validity of RRB subcategories in infants, and implicate specific neural substrates for future interventions targeting RRBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J McKinnon
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Adam T Eggebrecht
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Alexandre Todorov
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jason J Wolff
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jed T Elison
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Chloe M Adams
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Abraham Z Snyder
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Annette M Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Kelly N Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Robert C McKinstry
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Natasha Marrus
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Alan Evans
- McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Heather C Hazlett
- The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carborro, North Carolina
| | - Stephen R Dager
- Department of Radiology and Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sarah J Paterson
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Juhi Pandey
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert T Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Martin A Styner
- The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carborro, North Carolina
| | - Guido Gerig
- Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Bradley L Schlaggar
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Steven E Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Joseph Piven
- The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carborro, North Carolina
| | - John R Pruett
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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Pérez DL, Radkowska A, Raczaszek-Leonardi J, Tomalski P, The Talby Study Team. Beyond fixation durations: Recurrence quantification analysis reveals spatiotemporal dynamics of infant visual scanning. J Vis 2018; 18:5. [PMID: 30535254 DOI: 10.1167/18.13.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Standard looking-duration measures in eye-tracking data provide only general quantitative indices, while details of the spatiotemporal structuring of fixation sequences are lost. To overcome this, various tools have been developed to measure the dynamics of fixations. However, these analyses are only useful when stimuli have high perceptual similarity and they require the previous definition of areas of interest (AOIs). Although these methods have been widely applied in adult studies, relatively little is known about the temporal structuring of infant gaze-foraging behaviors such as variability of scanning over time or individual scanning patterns. Thus, to shed more light on the spatiotemporal characteristics of infant fixation sequences we apply for the first time a new methodology for nonlinear time-series analysis-the recurrence quantification analysis (RQA). We present how the dynamics of infant scanning varies depending on the scene content during a "pop-out" search task. Moreover, we show how the normalization of RQA measures with average fixation durations provides a more detailed account of the dynamics of fixation sequences. Finally, we link the RQA measures of temporal dynamics of scanning with the spatial information about the stimuli using heat maps of recurrences without the need for defining a priori AOIs and present how infants' foraging strategies are driven by the image content. We conclude from our findings that the RQA methodology has potential applications in the analysis of the temporal dynamics of infant visual foraging offering advantages over existing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David López Pérez
- Neurocognitive Development Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Radkowska
- Neurocognitive Development Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Przemyslaw Tomalski
- Neurocognitive Development Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - The Talby Study Team
- TALBY Study Team: Haiko Ballieux, Elena Kushnerenko, Mark. H. Johnson, Annette Karmiloff-Smith, Deirdre Birtles & Derek G. Moore
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Mason GM, Kirkpatrick F, Schwade JA, Goldstein MH. The Role of Dyadic Coordination in Organizing Visual Attention in 5‐Month‐Old Infants. INFANCY 2018; 24:162-186. [PMID: 32677200 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Liang J, Wilkinson K. Gaze Toward Naturalistic Social Scenes by Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Implications for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Designs. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2018; 61:1157-1170. [PMID: 29710313 DOI: 10.1044/2018_jslhr-l-17-0331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A striking characteristic of the social communication deficits in individuals with autism is atypical patterns of eye contact during social interactions. We used eye-tracking technology to evaluate how the number of human figures depicted and the presence of sharing activity between the human figures in still photographs influenced visual attention by individuals with autism, typical development, or Down syndrome. We sought to examine visual attention to the contents of visual scene displays, a growing form of augmentative and alternative communication support. METHOD Eye-tracking technology recorded point-of-gaze while participants viewed 32 photographs in which either 2 or 3 human figures were depicted. Sharing activities between these human figures are either present or absent. The sampling rate was 60 Hz; that is, the technology gathered 60 samples of gaze behavior per second, per participant. Gaze behaviors, including latency to fixate and time spent fixating, were quantified. RESULTS The overall gaze behaviors were quite similar across groups, regardless of the social content depicted. However, individuals with autism were significantly slower than the other groups in latency to first view the human figures, especially when there were 3 people depicted in the photographs (as compared with 2 people). When participants' own viewing pace was considered, individuals with autism resembled those with Down syndrome. CONCLUSION The current study supports the inclusion of social content with various numbers of human figures and sharing activities between human figures into visual scene displays, regardless of the population served. Study design and reporting practices in eye-tracking literature as it relates to autism and Down syndrome are discussed. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6066545.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Liang
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
| | - Krista Wilkinson
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
- E. K. Shriver Center of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester
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Moore A, Wozniak M, Yousef A, Barnes CC, Cha D, Courchesne E, Pierce K. The geometric preference subtype in ASD: identifying a consistent, early-emerging phenomenon through eye tracking. Mol Autism 2018; 9:19. [PMID: 29581878 PMCID: PMC5861622 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0202-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The wide range of ability and disability in ASD creates a need for tools that parse the phenotypic heterogeneity into meaningful subtypes. Using eye tracking, our past studies revealed that when presented with social and geometric images, a subset of ASD toddlers preferred viewing geometric images, and these toddlers also had greater symptom severity than ASD toddlers with greater social attention. This study tests whether this "GeoPref test" effect would generalize across different social stimuli. Methods Two hundred and twenty-seven toddlers (76 ASD) watched a 90-s video, the Complex Social GeoPref test, of dynamic geometric images paired with social images of children interacting and moving. Proportion of visual fixation time and number of saccades per second to both images were calculated. To allow for cross-paradigm comparisons, a subset of 126 toddlers also participated in the original GeoPref test. Measures of cognitive and social functioning (MSEL, ADOS, VABS) were collected and related to eye tracking data. To examine utility as a diagnostic indicator to detect ASD toddlers, validation statistics (e.g., sensitivity, specificity, ROC, AUC) were calculated for the Complex Social GeoPref test alone and when combined with the original GeoPref test. Results ASD toddlers spent a significantly greater amount of time viewing geometric images than any other diagnostic group. Fixation patterns from ASD toddlers who participated in both tests revealed a significant correlation, supporting the idea that these tests identify a phenotypically meaningful ASD subgroup. Combined use of both original and Complex Social GeoPref tests identified a subgroup of about 1 in 3 ASD toddlers from the "GeoPref" subtype (sensitivity 35%, specificity 94%, AUC 0.75.) Replicating our previous studies, more time looking at geometric images was associated with significantly greater ADOS symptom severity. Conclusions Regardless of the complexity of the social images used (low in the original GeoPref test vs high in the new Complex Social GeoPref test), eye tracking of toddlers can accurately identify a specific ASD "GeoPref" subtype with elevated symptom severity. The GeoPref tests are predictive of ASD at the individual subject level and thus potentially useful for various clinical applications (e.g., early identification, prognosis, or development of subtype-specific treatments).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne Moore
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Madeline Wozniak
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Andrew Yousef
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Cindy Carter Barnes
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Debra Cha
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Eric Courchesne
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Karen Pierce
- Autism Center of Excellence, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
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Hendry A, Jones EJH, Bedford R, Gliga T, Charman T, Johnson MH. Developmental change in look durations predicts later effortful control in toddlers at familial risk for ASD. J Neurodev Disord 2018; 10:3. [PMID: 29378525 PMCID: PMC5789678 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-017-9219-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Difficulties with executive functioning (EF) are common in individuals with a range of developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Interventions that target underlying mechanisms of EF early in development could be broadly beneficial, but require infant markers of such mechanisms in order to be feasible. Prospective studies of infants at high familial risk (HR) for ASD have revealed a surprising tendency for HR toddlers to show longer epochs of attention to faces than low-risk (LR) controls. In typical development, decreases in look durations towards the end of the first year of life are driven by the development of executive attention-a foundational component of EF. Here, we test the hypothesis that prolonged attention to visual stimuli (including faces) in HR toddlers reflects early differences in the development of executive attention. METHODS In a longitudinal prospective study, we used eye-tracking to record HR and LR infants' looking behaviour to social and non-social visual stimuli at ages 9 and 15 months. At age 3 years, we assessed children with a battery of clinical research measures and collected parental report of effortful control (EC)-a temperament trait closely associated with EF and similarly contingent on executive attention. RESULTS Consistent with previous studies, we found an attenuated reduction in peak look durations to faces between 9 and 15 months for the HR group compared with the LR group, and lower EC amongst the HR-ASD group. In line with our hypothesis, change in peak look duration to faces between 9 and 15 months was negatively associated with EC at age 3. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that for HR toddlers, disruption to the early development of executive attention results in an attenuated reduction in looking time to faces. Effects may be more apparent for faces due to early biases to orient towards them; further, attention difficulties may interact with earlier emerging differences in social information processing. Our finding that prolonged attention to faces may be an early indicator of disruption to the executive attention system is of potential value in screening for infants at risk for later EF difficulties and for evaluation of intervention outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Hendry
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Emily J. H. Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, UK
| | - Rachael Bedford
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Teodora Gliga
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Mark H. Johnson
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, UK
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41
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Social Attention, Joint Attention and Sustained Attention in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Williams Syndrome: Convergences and Divergences. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 47:1866-1877. [PMID: 28349363 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3106-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
There is limited knowledge on shared and syndrome-specific attentional profiles in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Williams syndrome (WS). Using eye-tracking, we examined attentional profiles of 35 preschoolers with ASD, 22 preschoolers with WS and 20 typically developing children across social and non-social dimensions of attention. Children with ASD and those with WS presented with overlapping deficits in spontaneous visual engagement with the target of others' attention and in sustained attention. Children with ASD showed syndrome-specific abnormalities in monitoring and following a person's referential gaze, as well as a lack of preferential attention to social stimuli. Children with ASD and WS present with shared as well as syndrome-specific abnormalities across social and non-social dimensions of attention.
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42
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Lortie M, Proulx-Bégin L, Saint-Amour D, Cousineau D, Théoret H, Lepage JF. Brief Report: Biological Sound Processing in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 47:1904-1909. [PMID: 28283845 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3093-5] [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: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
There is debate whether social impairments in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are truly domain-specific, or if they reflect generalized deficits in lower-level cognitive processes. To solve this issue, we used auditory-evoked EEG responses to assess novelty detection (MMN component) and involuntary attentional orientation (P3 component) induced by socially-relevant, human-produced, biological sounds and acoustically-matched control stimuli in children with ASD and controls. Results show that early sensory and novelty processing of biological stimuli are preserved in ASD, but that automatic attentional orientation for biological sounds is markedly altered. These results support the notion that at least some cognitive processes of ASD are specifically altered when it comes to processing social stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Lortie
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Léa Proulx-Bégin
- Department of Pediatrics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.,Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center and Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Dominique Cousineau
- Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada
| | - Hugo Théoret
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center and Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jean-François Lepage
- Department of Pediatrics, Sherbrooke University, CHU Sherbrooke Research Center, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada.
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43
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Little JA. Vision in children with autism spectrum disorder: a critical review. Clin Exp Optom 2018; 101:504-513. [PMID: 29323426 DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition with approximately 1-2 per cent prevalence in the population. The condition has lifelong effects for the individual and family, and early intervention and management helps maximise quality of life and outcomes. Many studies of vision in ASD have attempted to link the behavioural and sensory deficits in ASD with underlying visual processing. From this work, it is clear that individuals with ASD 'see' and process the world differently, but there remain gaps in our understanding. This review will summarise our current knowledge of key aspects of visual functions and the optometric profile of ASD. This includes findings regarding visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, refractive error, eye movements, binocular vision, near visual functions and retinal structure in ASD. From this, a pattern of knowledge emerges for children with ASD: we should expect normal visual acuity; there will likely be atypical eye movements and susceptibility for subtle visuo-motor deficits, there is an increased prevalence of strabismus; an increased likelihood of astigmatism and possibly other refractive errors; attention, crowding and task complexity will likely be problematic; and retinal structure and function may be compromised. Bringing this together, these findings highlight that further work is necessary, not only to understand how higher-level functions link to behaviours, but also to ensure there is a sound understanding of the building-blocks of vision to fully grasp the profile of visual processing as a whole in ASD. This review will give a translational viewpoint for clinicians, and underline the benefits of comprehensive vision care in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie-Anne Little
- Optometry & Vision Science Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
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44
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Thye MD, Bednarz HM, Herringshaw AJ, Sartin EB, Kana RK. The impact of atypical sensory processing on social impairments in autism spectrum disorder. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2018; 29:151-167. [PMID: 28545994 PMCID: PMC6987885 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2017.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered sensory processing has been an important feature of the clinical descriptions of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is evidence that sensory dysregulation arises early in the progression of ASD and impacts social functioning. This paper reviews behavioral and neurobiological evidence that describes how sensory deficits across multiple modalities (vision, hearing, touch, olfaction, gustation, and multisensory integration) could impact social functions in ASD. Theoretical models of ASD and their implications for the relationship between sensory and social functioning are discussed. Furthermore, neural differences in anatomy, function, and connectivity of different regions underlying sensory and social processing are also discussed. We conclude that there are multiple mechanisms through which early sensory dysregulation in ASD could cascade into social deficits across development. Future research is needed to clarify these mechanisms, and specific focus should be given to distinguish between deficits in primary sensory processing and altered top-down attentional and cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa D Thye
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
| | - Haley M Bednarz
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
| | - Abbey J Herringshaw
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
| | - Emma B Sartin
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
| | - Rajesh K Kana
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States.
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45
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An Ecological Visual Exploration Tool to Support the Analysis of Visual Processing Pathways in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Imaging 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/jimaging4010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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46
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Nyström P, Bölte S, Falck-Ytter T. Responding to Other People's Direct Gaze: Alterations in Gaze Behavior in Infants at Risk for Autism Occur on Very Short Timescales. J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:3498-3509. [PMID: 28871495 PMCID: PMC5633639 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3253-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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
Atypical gaze processing has been reported in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Here we explored how infants at risk for ASD respond behaviorally to others' direct gaze. We assessed 10-month-olds with a sibling with ASD (high risk group; n = 61) and a control group (n = 18) during interaction with an adult. Eye-tracking revealed less looking at the adult in the high risk group during 300-1000 ms after the adult initiated direct gaze: a short alteration that is likely to go unnoticed by the naked eye. Data aggregated over longer segments (the traditional eye-tracking approach) showed no group differences. Although findings are limited by lack of outcome data, they are in line with theories linking atypical eye processing to the emergence of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pär Nyström
- Uppsala Child & Babylab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 75142 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sven Bölte
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Terje Falck-Ytter
- Uppsala Child & Babylab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 75142 Uppsala, Sweden
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women’s & Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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47
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Piven J, Elison JT, Zylka MJ. Toward a conceptual framework for early brain and behavior development in autism. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1385-1394. [PMID: 28937691 PMCID: PMC5621737 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Studies of infant siblings of older autistic probands, who are at elevated risk for autism, have demonstrated that the defining features of autism are not present in the first year of life but emerge late in the first and into the second year. A recent longitudinal neuroimaging study of high-risk siblings revealed a specific pattern of brain development in infants later diagnosed with autism, characterized by cortical surface area hyper-expansion in the first year followed by brain volume overgrowth in the second year that is associated with the emergence of autistic social deficits. Together with new observations from genetically defined autism risk alleles and rodent model, these findings suggest a conceptual framework for the early, post-natal development of autism. This framework postulates that an increase in the proliferation of neural progenitor cells and hyper-expansion of cortical surface area in the first year, occurring during a pre-symptomatic period characterized by disrupted sensorimotor and attentional experience, leads to altered experience-dependent neuronal development and decreased elimination of neuronal processes. This process is linked to brain volume overgrowth and disruption of the refinement of neural circuit connections and is associated with the emergence of autistic social deficits in the second year of life. A better understanding of the timing of developmental brain and behavior mechanisms in autism during infancy, a period which precedes the emergence of the defining features of this disorder, will likely have important implications for designing rational approaches to early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Campus Box 7255, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7255, USA. E-mail:
| | - J T Elison
- Institute of Child Development and Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - M J Zylka
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, and UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders whose core features of impaired social communication and atypical repetitive behaviors and/or restrictions in range of interests emerge in toddlerhood and carry significant implications at successive stages of development. The ability to reliably identify most cases of the condition far earlier than the average age of diagnosis presents a novel opportunity for early intervention, but the availability of such an intervention is disparate across US communities, and its impact is imperfectly understood. New research may transform the clinical approach to these conditions in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Constantino
- Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8504, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Natasha Marrus
- Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8504, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
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49
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The emergence of autism spectrum disorder: insights gained from studies of brain and behaviour in high-risk infants. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2017; 30:85-91. [PMID: 28009726 PMCID: PMC5915621 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We review studies of infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), proposing that the earliest manifestations of disrupted brain development can shed light on prebehavioural markers of risk and mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of ASD. RECENT FINDINGS Prospective, longitudinal studies of infants at risk for ASD have revealed that behavioural signs of ASD are generally not observed until the second year of life. The developmental signs within the first year are often subtle and rooted in processes outside the core diagnostic domains of ASD, such as motor and visual perceptual function. However, studies examining early brain development and function have identified a myriad of atypicalities within the first year that are associated with risk for ASD. SUMMARY Longitudinal studies of high-risk infants provide a unique opportunity to identify and quantify the sources of the atypical development and developmental heterogeneity of ASD. Integration of assays of behaviour and brain in the first year of life, expansion of the definition of high risk, and coordinated efforts in multisite investigations to adequately power integrative studies will lead to new insights into mechanisms of atypical development and, ultimately, the ideal timing and target for interventions that aim to attenuate delays or impairments.
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50
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Thorup E, Kleberg JL, Falck-Ytter T. Gaze Following in Children with Autism: Do High Interest Objects Boost Performance? J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:626-635. [PMID: 27987062 PMCID: PMC5352793 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2955-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
This study tested whether including objects perceived as highly interesting by children with autism during a gaze following task would result in increased first fixation durations on the target objects. It has previously been found that autistic children differentiate less between an object another person attends to and unattended objects in terms of this measure. Less differentiation between attended and unattended objects in ASD as compared to control children was found in a baseline condition, but not in the high interest condition. However, typically developing children differentiated less between attended and unattended objects in the high interest condition than in the baseline condition, possibly reflecting reduced influence of gaze cues on object processing when objects themselves are highly interesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Thorup
- Uppsala Child and Baby Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Johan Lundin Kleberg
- Uppsala Child and Baby Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Terje Falck-Ytter
- Uppsala Child and Baby Lab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden
- Karolinska Institute Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Gävlegatan 22, 11330, Stockholm, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
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