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Riek NT, Susam BT, Hudac CM, Conner CM, Akcakaya M, Yun J, White SW, Mazefsky CA, Gable PA. Feedback Related Negativity Amplitude is Greatest Following Deceptive Feedback in Autistic Adolescents. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:3376-3386. [PMID: 37393370 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06038-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate if feedback related negativity (FRN) can capture instantaneous elevated emotional reactivity in autistic adolescents. A measurement of elevated reactivity could allow clinicians to better support autistic individuals without the need for self-reporting or verbal conveyance. The study investigated reactivity in 46 autistic adolescents (ages 12-21 years) completing the Affective Posner Task which utilizes deceptive feedback to elicit distress presented as frustration. The FRN event-related potential (ERP) served as an instantaneous quantitative neural measurement of emotional reactivity. We compared deceptive and distressing feedback to both truthful but distressing feedback and truthful and non-distressing feedback using the FRN, response times in the successive trial, and Emotion Dysregulation Inventory (EDI) reactivity scores. Results revealed that FRN values were most negative to deceptive feedback as compared to truthful non-distressing feedback. Furthermore, distressing feedback led to faster response times in the successive trial on average. Lastly, participants with higher EDI reactivity scores had more negative FRN values for non-distressing truthful feedback compared to participants with lower reactivity scores. The FRN amplitude showed changes based on both frustration and reactivity. The findings of this investigation support using the FRN to better understand emotion regulation processes for autistic adolescents in future work. Furthermore, the change in FRN based on reactivity suggests the possible need to subgroup autistic adolescents based on reactivity and adjust interventions accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan T Riek
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Busra T Susam
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Caitlin M Hudac
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
- Department of Psychology and Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Research Center, University of South Carolina, Colombia, SC, USA
| | - Caitlin M Conner
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Murat Akcakaya
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jane Yun
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Susan W White
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Carla A Mazefsky
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Philip A Gable
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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2
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Butera CD, Harrison L, Kilroy E, Jayashankar A, Pruyser A, Shipkova M, Aziz-Zadeh L. Relationships between alexithymia, interoception, and emotional empathy in autism spectrum disorder. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:690-703. [PMID: 35833505 PMCID: PMC9839896 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221111310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Empathy, the ability to understand and share the emotions of others, is a necessary skill for social functioning and can be categorized into cognitive and emotional empathy. There is evidence to suggest that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have difficulties with cognitive empathy, the ability to imagine how another person is thinking or feeling. However, it is unclear if individuals with autism spectrum disorder struggle with emotional empathy, the ability to share and feel emotions others are experiencing. Self-report and interview data were collected to explore the relationships between interoception (individuals' self-reported awareness of sensation from their body such as thirst, heartbeat, etc.), alexithymia (an individual's ability to describe and distinguish between their own emotions), and emotional empathy in 35 youth with autism spectrum disorder and 40 typically developing youth. Greater personal distress to others' emotions and greater difficulty describing and recognizing self-emotions were associated with reporting fewer physical sensations in the body when experiencing emotion in the autism spectrum disorder group. The results of this study suggest that while autism spectrum disorder youth with concomitant alexithymia may experience emotional empathy differently, it should not be characterized as an absence of a capacity for emotional empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana D. Butera
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laura Harrison
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Kilroy
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aditya Jayashankar
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ariel Pruyser
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Shipkova
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Li D, Zhang L, Bai T, Qiu B, Zhu C, Wang K. Oxytocin-Receptor Gene Modulates Reward-Network Connection and Relationship with Empathy Performance. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:85-94. [PMID: 36643732 PMCID: PMC9833327 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s370834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Empathy traits are highly heritable and linked with reward processing. It is implicated that common variations of the oxytocin-receptor gene (OXTR) play a modulatory effect on empathic performance. However, it is unclear about the neural substrates underlying the modulatory effect of the OXTR genotype on empathic performance. This study aimed to characterize the modulatory effect of common OXTR variations on reward-circuitry function and its relationship with empathy. Methods Based on the seed of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc; a key hub of reward circuitry), we examined differences in spontaneous local activity and functional connectivity between OXTR rs2268493 genotype groups and their relationship with empathic performance among 402 high-homogeneity participants. Results Comparing with C carriers (CC/CT) group, the individuals with the rs2268493 TT genotype exhibited lower functional connectivity of the right NAcc with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and inferior frontal gyrus. Similarly lower functional connectivity was found between the left NAcc and mPFC. Consequently, no significant difference was found in the spontaneous local activity of NAcc. Discussion Our findings suggested that common OXTR variations have a modulatory effect on the connection of the NAcc with the hub of empathic networks (mPFC and IFG), which may provide insight on the neural substrate underlying the modulatory effect of OXTR on empathic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Research Center for Translational Medicine, Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Long Zhang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tongjian Bai
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and the Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China., Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Zhu
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Research Center for Translational Medicine, Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Chunyan Zhu; Kai Wang, Email ;
| | - Kai Wang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
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Bollen C. A reflective guide on the meaning of empathy in autism research. METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.metip.2022.100109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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5
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Kilroy E, Ring P, Hossain A, Nalbach A, Butera C, Harrison L, Jayashankar A, Vigen C, Aziz-Zadeh L, Cermak SA. Motor performance, praxis, and social skills in autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder. Autism Res 2022; 15:1649-1664. [PMID: 35785418 PMCID: PMC9543450 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD) may have overlapping social and motor skill impairments. This study compares ASD, DCD, and typically developing (TD) youth on a range of social, praxis and motor skills, and investigates the relationship between these skills in each group. Data were collected on participants aged 8–17 (n = 33 ASD, n = 28 DCD, n = 35 TD). Overall, the clinical groups showed some similar patterns of social and motor impairments but diverged in praxis impairments, cognitive empathy, and Theory of Mind ability. When controlling for both social and motor performance impairments, the ASD group showed significantly lower accuracy on imitation of meaningful gestures and gesture to command, indicating a prominent deficit in these praxis skills in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Kilroy
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Brain and Creativity Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Priscilla Ring
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anusha Hossain
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alexis Nalbach
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Christiana Butera
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Brain and Creativity Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Laura Harrison
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Brain and Creativity Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Aditya Jayashankar
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Brain and Creativity Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Cheryl Vigen
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Brain and Creativity Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sharon A Cermak
- USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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6
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Levinson AR, Szenczy A, Nelson BD, Hajcak G, Bernard K. A biomarker of maternal vicarious reward processing and its association with parenting behavior. Biol Psychol 2022; 167:108240. [PMID: 34875364 PMCID: PMC10575693 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Parenting styles play a critical role in child well-being, yet the neural bases of parenting behaviors remain nebulous. Understanding the neural processes associated with parenting styles can both clarify etiological mechanisms underlying parenting behaviors and point us toward new targets for intervention. A novel electrocortical biomarker called the observational reward positivity (oRewP) that occurs in response to observing another receive a reward has been linked to self-reported authoritarian parenting behavior. The current study sought to replicate associations between the oRewP and self-reported and observationally-coded parenting in a sample of mothers selected to be at elevated risk for problematic parenting. Self-reported authoritarian parenting was associated with observationally-coded problematic discipline, while no other self-reported parenting scales were associated with observationally-coded scores. We replicated the previously reported association between a blunted oRewP and increased self-reported authoritarian parenting. We additionally found that an attenuated oRewP was associated with greater permissive parenting, and that only the relationship with permissive parenting was conserved after adjusting for other parenting styles and other relevant covariates. We did not find significant associations between the oRewP and observationally-coded parenting. The current findings suggest that the neural process indexed by the oRewP are relevant to parenting behavior. Further research is needed to better understand the discrepancy between self-reported and observed parenting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Levinson
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
| | - Aline Szenczy
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Brady D Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Greg Hajcak
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Kristin Bernard
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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7
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Bellato A, Norman L, Idrees I, Ogawa CY, Waitt A, Zuccolo PF, Tye C, Radua J, Groom MJ, Shephard E. A systematic review and meta-analysis of altered electrophysiological markers of performance monitoring in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:964-987. [PMID: 34687698 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Altered performance monitoring is implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of electrophysiological correlates of performance monitoring (error-related negativity, ERN; error positivity, Pe; feedback-related negativity, FRN; feedback-P3) in individuals with OCD, GTS, ADHD or autism compared to control participants, or associations between correlates and symptoms/traits of these conditions. Meta-analyses on 97 studies (5890 participants) showed increased ERN in OCD (Hedge's g = 0.54[CIs:0.44,0.65]) and GTS (g = 0.99[CIs:0.05,1.93]). OCD also showed increased Pe (g = 0.51[CIs:0.21,0.81]) and FRN (g = 0.50[CIs:0.26,0.73]). ADHD and autism showed reduced ERN (ADHD: g=-0.47[CIs:-0.67,-0.26]; autism: g=-0.61[CIs:-1.10,-0.13]). ADHD also showed reduced Pe (g=-0.50[CIs:-0.69,-0.32]). These findings suggest overlap in electrophysiological markers of performance monitoring alterations in four common neurodevelopmental conditions, with increased amplitudes of the markers in OCD and GTS and decreased amplitudes in ADHD and autism. Implications of these findings in terms of shared and distinct performance monitoring alterations across these neurodevelopmental conditions are discussed. PROSPERO pre-registration code: CRD42019134612.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Bellato
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK; Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Luke Norman
- Section on Neurobehavioral and Clinical Research, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Iman Idrees
- Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Carolina Y Ogawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alice Waitt
- Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Pedro F Zuccolo
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Charlotte Tye
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK; Imaging of Mood- and Anxiety-Related Disorders (IMARD) Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatric Research and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Madeleine J Groom
- Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Elizabeth Shephard
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Corbera S, Wexler BE, Bell MD, Pearlson G, Mayer S, Pittman B, Belamkar V, Assaf M. Predictors of social functioning and quality of life in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatry Res 2021; 303:114087. [PMID: 34246005 PMCID: PMC8373814 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show overlap in social cognitive and functioning impairments. Proposed predictors of social functioning (SF) and quality of life (QL) have been symptom severity, IQ and social cognition. Empathy has rarely been compared between ASD and SZ and its predictive power on functional outcomes is unclear. We investigated general, affective, and cognitive empathy in 46 SZ, 30 ASD and 51 healthy controls (HC) and examined their relationship to SF and QL in addition to IQ and symptoms. SZ and ASD shared deficits in general and cognitive empathy, and personal distress, but only SZ showed deficits in affective empathy. Both groups showed lower performance-based empathy scores and only ASD showed slower responses compared to HC. Negative symptoms predicted QL in both groups, the more negative symptoms the worse QL (ASD t=-3.22; SZ t= -3.43; p<0.01), and only in ASD, IQ predicted QL, the higher the IQ the higher QL (t = 2.1; p<0.05). In ASD only, negative symptoms predicted SF, the greater negative symptoms the worse SF (t=-3.45; p<0.01), and communication deficits predicted SF, the higher deficits, the higher SF (t = 2.9; p<0.01). Negative symptoms but not empathy were the shared predictors of functioning across ASD and SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Corbera
- Department of Psychological Science, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, United States; Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, United States.
| | - Bruce E. Wexler
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT,
USA
| | - Morris D. Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT,
USA,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Godfrey Pearlson
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT,
USA,Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living,
Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Sophy Mayer
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living,
Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Brian Pittman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT,
USA
| | - Vaishali Belamkar
- Department of Psychological Science, Central Connecticut
State University, New Britain, CT, USA
| | - Michal Assaf
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT,
USA,Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living,
Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
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9
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Arbel Y, Fitzpatrick I, He X. Learning With and Without Feedback in Children With Developmental Language Disorder. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2021; 64:1696-1711. [PMID: 33877883 PMCID: PMC8608225 DOI: 10.1044/2021_jslhr-20-00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Intervention provided to school-age children with developmental language disorder often relies on the provision of performance feedback, yet it is unclear whether children with this disorder benefit from feedback-based learning. The study evaluates the effect of performance feedback on learning in children with developmental language disorder. Method Thirteen 8- to 12-year-old children with developmental language disorder and 14 age- and gender-matched children with typical language development completed two learning tasks whose objective was to pair nonword novel names with novel objects. The two tasks differed in the presence of performance feedback to guide learning. Learning outcomes on immediate and follow-up tests were compared between the feedback-based and feedback-free tasks. Additionally, an electrophysiological marker of feedback processing was compared between children with and without developmental language disorder. Results Children with developmental language disorder demonstrated poorer learning outcomes on both tasks when compared with their peers, but both groups achieved better accuracy on the feedback-free task when compared with the feedback-based task. Within the feedback-based task, children were more likely to repeat a correct response than to change it after positive feedback but were as likely to repeat an error as they were to correct it after receiving negative feedback. While children with typical language elicited a feedback-related negativity with greater amplitude to negative feedback, this event-related potential had no amplitude differences between positive and negative feedback in children with developmental language disorder. Conclusions Findings indicate that 8- to 12-year-old children benefit more from a feedback-free learning environment and that negative feedback is not as effective as positive feedback in facilitating learning in children. The behavioral and electrophysiological data provide evidence that feedback processing is impaired in children with developmental language disorders. Future research should evaluate feedback-based learning in children with this disorder using other learning paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Arbel
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
| | - Isabel Fitzpatrick
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
| | - Xinyi He
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
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10
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Abnormal negative feedback processing in individuals with autistic traits in the Iowa gambling task: Evidence from behavior and event-related potentials. Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 165:36-46. [PMID: 33647381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Value-based decision making plays an important role in social interaction. Previous studies have reported that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit deficits in terms of decision making. However, it is still unknown clearly whether individuals with high autistic traits within nonclinical populations employ abnormal neural substrates in value-based decision-making. To explore this issue, we investigated value-based decision making and its neural substrates in individuals with high and low autistic traits within a typically developing population who completed the revised Iowa gambling task (IGT) based on measurements of event-related potentials (ERPs). The IGT net scores were significantly lower in the group with high autistic traits than the group with low autistic traits in the fifth and sixth blocks. The ERP results showed that the feedback-related negativity (FRN) amplitude in individuals with high autistic traits allowed slight discrimination between positive and negative feedback in the low-risk option. The event-related spectral perturbations (ERSPs) and inter-trial coherence (ITC) of the theta-band frequency were also lower in the group with high autistic traits than the group with low autistic traits in the loss low-risk option. The results obtained in this study indicate that individuals with high autistic traits exhibit an unusual negative feedback process and relevant neural substrate. The FRN amplitude and theta-band oscillation may comprise a neural index of abnormal decision-making processes in individuals with high autistic traits. This study of a small sample may be considered an important step toward a more comprehensive understanding of the autism "spectrum" within a nonclinical population based on cognitive neuroscience.
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Tschida JE, Yerys BE. A Systematic Review of the Positive Valence System in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuropsychol Rev 2020; 31:58-88. [PMID: 33174110 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09459-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This review synthesized current literature of behavioral and cognitive studies targeting reward processing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Positive Valence System (PVS) domain was used as an overarching framework. The objectives were to determine which component operations of reward processing may be atypical in ASD and consequently postulate a heuristic model of reward processing in ASD that could be evaluated with future research. 34 studies were identified from the Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases and included in the review using guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (also known as PRISMA guidelines). The extant literature suggested potential relationships between social symptoms of ASD and PVS sub-constructs of reward anticipation, probabilistic and reinforcement learning, reward prediction error, reward (probability), delay, and effort as well as between restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) and PVS-sub constructs of initial response to reward, reward anticipation, reward (probability), delay, and effort. However, these findings are limited by a sparse and mixed literature for some sub-constructs. We put forward a developmentally informed heuristic model that posits how these component reward processes may be implicated in early ASD behaviors as well as later emerging and more intransigent symptoms. Future research is needed to comprehensively evaluate the proposed model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Tschida
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research Building, Center for Autism Research, 2716 South Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, USA.
| | - Benjamin E Yerys
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research Building, Center for Autism Research, 2716 South Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Shi LJ, Zhou HY, Wang Y, Shen YM, Fang YM, He YQ, Ou JJ, Li HB, Luo XR, Cheung EFC, Pantelis C, Chan RCK. Altered empathy-related resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Asian J Psychiatr 2020; 53:102167. [PMID: 32474345 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Empathy refers to the ability to understand other people's feelings and reacting emotionally to others. Impaired empathy has been reported in both individuals with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Despite overlaps, few studies have directly examined the neural mechanisms of impaired empathy in these two clinical groups. We used resting-state fMRI to investigate the neural correlates of empathic functioning in adolescents with ASD (N = 11), early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) (N = 20), and typically developing (TD) controls (N = 26). Their parents completed the Griffith Empathy Measure (GEM) to assess the adolescents' empathic capacity. We found that EOS and ASD participants both exhibited impaired empathy as measured by the GEM, especially in cognitive empathy (post-hoc ps < 0.05). Regions-of-interest-based functional connectivity revealed decreased connectivity between the salience network (SN) (i.e., the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex) and core regions of the mentalizing network (e.g., the temporal-parietal junction and the precuneus), and among the SN and the bilateral superior temporal gyri (STG) and the left cerebellum in EOS participants. Subsequent comparisons revealed reduced grey matter volume in the STG bilaterally in both clinical groups. Increased resting-state functional connectivity within the social brain network was correlated with higher parent-reported scores of empathic capacity in TD adolescents, but such a brain-phenotype relationship was absent in the two clinical groups. These findings indicate that structural alterations and disturbed resting-state functional connectivity in the core empathy network may be the neural correlates of social cognitive deficits in individuals with EOS and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Juan Shi
- School of Education, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, China; Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Han-Yu Zhou
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Mei Shen
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yu-Min Fang
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yu-Qiong He
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jian-Jun Ou
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hua-Bing Li
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xue-Rong Luo
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Eric F C Cheung
- Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Christos Pantelis
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia; Florey Institute for Neurosciences and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Song Y, Nie T, Shi W, Zhao X, Yang Y. Empathy Impairment in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Conditions From a Multidimensional Perspective: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1902. [PMID: 31649570 PMCID: PMC6794557 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although empathy has always been considered to be impaired in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs), the relevant findings have been inconsistent. The present meta-analysis aims to determine which empathy components are impaired and how culture, gender, and age moderate such empathy impairment. Methods: By using “Autism,” “Asperger Syndrome,” “Empathy,” and related Chinese synonyms as keywords, we searched the databases of Weipu, Wanfang, CNKI, Web of Science, Science Direct, SpringerLink, and Elsevier through “subject” and “keyword” searches. We also conducted a manual search according to the references. In total, 51 studies from Eastern and Western countries were included in this meta-analysis, which comprised 144 independent effects, 2,095 individuals with ASCs and 2,869 controls without ASCs. For the retrieved data, Hedge's g was taken as the quantitative measure of effect, and CMA V2.0 software was used for publication bias tests (by using Rosenthal's Classic Failsafe-N and Egger's methods), heterogeneity tests (by using a Q-test, I2-test, and H-test) and a moderating effect test (by using a univariate regression model). Results: The results showed that the empathy impairment evident in individuals with ASCs is component specific; that is, trait-cognitive empathy, trait-empathic concern, state-cognitive empathy, and state-empathic concern are impaired, whereas state-empathic accuracy remains intact, and trait-empathic accuracy is superior to the trait-empathic accuracy in neurotypical individuals. The univariate regression model showed that gender moderates the impairment of the trait-empathic concern, trait-empathic accuracy, and state-cognitive empathy in autistic individuals and that age moderates the impairment of the trait-cognitive empathy, trait-empathic accuracy, state-empathic concern, and state-empathic accuracy in autistic individuals. However, culture does not moderate any empathy components (trait-cognitive empathy, trait-empathic concern, or state-cognitive empathy) involved in the present meta-analysis. Conclusions: These findings contribute to ending the controversy over the empathic integrity of individuals with ASCs and shed some light on future research about the empathy impairment of autistic individuals. More specifically, subsequent studies should distinguish specific empathy components and consider the role of gender and age when demonstrating empathy impairment in individuals with ASCs. Moreover, related studies based on Asian collectivist cultural samples and female samples should be further enriched.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youming Song
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Nie
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wendian Shi
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongyong Yang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
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Schuetze M, Cho IYK, Vinette S, Rivard KB, Rohr CS, Ten Eycke K, Cozma A, McMorris C, McCrimmon A, Dewey D, Bray SL. Learning with individual-interest outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2019; 38:100668. [PMID: 31174061 PMCID: PMC6969337 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent work has suggested atypical neural reward responses in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly for social reinforcers. Less is known about neural responses to restricted interests and few studies have investigated response to rewards in a learning context. We investigated neurophysiological differences in reinforcement learning between adolescents with ASD and typically developing (TD) adolescents (27 ASD, 31 TD). FMRI was acquired during a learning task in which participants chose one of two doors to reveal an image outcome. Doors differed in their probability of showing liked and not-liked images, which were individualized for each participant. Participants chose the door paired with liked images, but not the door paired with not-liked images, significantly above chance and choice allocation did not differ between groups. Interestingly, participants with ASD made choices less consistent with their initial door preferences. We found a neural prediction-error response at the time of outcome in the ventromedial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices that did not differ between groups. Together, behavioural and neural findings suggest that learning with individual interest outcomes is not different between individuals with and without ASD, adding to our understanding of motivational aspects of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Schuetze
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Canada.
| | - Ivy Y K Cho
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Foothills Campus, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sarah Vinette
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada
| | - Keelin B Rivard
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Christiane S Rohr
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Foothills Campus, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Kayla Ten Eycke
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Adelina Cozma
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada
| | - Carly McMorris
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Adam McCrimmon
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3D10, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Signe L Bray
- Child and Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada; Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Foothills Campus, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Canada
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Velikonja T, Fett AK, Velthorst E. Patterns of Nonsocial and Social Cognitive Functioning in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2019; 76:135-151. [PMID: 30601878 PMCID: PMC6439743 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Many studies have investigated impairments in cognitive domains in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, to date, a comprehensive overview on the patterns of cognitive functioning is lacking. OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of nonsocial and social cognitive functioning in various domains in adults with ASD, allowing for comparison of the severity of deficits between different domains. DATA SOURCES A literature search performed in an academic medical setting was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Medline databases with the combination of the following free-text and Medical Subject Headings where applicable: [cogniti* OR neurocogniti* OR neuropsycholog* OR executive function* OR IQ OR intelligence quotient OR social cognition OR emotion perception OR affect perception OR emotion recognition OR attribution OR ToM OR mentalising OR mentalizing OR prosody OR social knowledge OR mind reading OR social cue OR social judgment] AND [autis* OR ASD OR Asperger OR Asperger's OR PDD OR pervasive developmental disorder]. The search was further limited to studies published between 1980 (first inclusion of autism diagnosis in the DSM-III) and July 2018. STUDY SELECTION Studies included were published as a primary peer-reviewed research article in English, included individuals with ASD 16 years or older, and assessed at least 1 domain of neurocognitive functioning or social cognition using standard measures. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Of 9892 articles identified and screened, 75 met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and meta-analysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Hedges g effect sizes were computed, and random-effects models were used for all analyses. Moderators of between-study variability in effect sizes were assessed using meta-regressions. RESULTS The systematic review and meta-analysis included 75 studies, with a combined sample of 3361 individuals with ASD (mean [SD] age, 32.0 [9.3] years; 75.9% male) and 5344 neurotypical adults (mean [SD] age, 32.3 [9.1] years; 70.1% male). Adults with ASD showed large impairments in theory of mind (g = -1.09; 95% CI, -1.25 to -0.92; number of studies = 39) and emotion perception and processing (g = -0.80; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.55; n = 18), followed by medium impairments in processing speed (g = -0.61; 95% CI, -0.83 to -0.38; n = 21) and verbal learning and memory (g = -0.55; 95% CI, -0.86 to -0.25; n = 12). The least altered cognitive domains were attention and vigilance (g = -0.30; 95% CI, -0.81 to 0.21; n = 5) and working memory (g = -0.23; 95% CI, -0.47 to 0.01; n = 19). Meta-regressions confirmed robustness of the results. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that adults with ASD show impairments in social cognitive domains and in specific nonsocial cognitive domains. These findings contribute to the understanding of the patterns of cognitive functioning in adults with ASD and may assist in the identification of targets for cognitive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjasa Velikonja
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York,The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Anne-Kathrin Fett
- Department of Psychology, City University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Velthorst
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York,The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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Ziermans T, de Bruijn Y, Dijkhuis R, Staal W, Swaab H. Impairments in cognitive empathy and alexithymia occur independently of executive functioning in college students with autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2018; 23:1519-1530. [PMID: 30547668 PMCID: PMC6625032 DOI: 10.1177/1362361318817716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Reduced empathy and alexithymic traits are common across the autism spectrum, but
it is unknown whether this is also true for intellectually advanced adults with
autism spectrum disorder. The aim of this study was to examine whether college
students with autism spectrum disorder experience difficulties with empathy and
alexithymia, and whether this is associated with their cognitive levels of
executive functioning. In total, 53 college students with autism spectrum
disorder were compared to a gender-matched group of 29 neurotypical students on
cognitive and affective dimensions of empathy and alexithymia. In addition,
cognitive performance on executive functioning was measured with computerized
and paper-and-pencil tasks. The autism spectrum disorder group scored
significantly lower on cognitive empathy and higher on cognitive alexithymia
(both d = 0.65). The difference on cognitive empathy also
remained significant after controlling for levels of cognitive alexithymia.
There were no group differences on affective empathy and alexithymia. No
significant relations between executive functioning and cognitive alexithymia or
cognitive empathy were detected. Together, these findings suggest that
intellectually advanced individuals with autism spectrum disorder experience
serious impairments in the cognitive processing of social–emotional information.
However, these impairments cannot be attributed to individual levels of
cognitive executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Ziermans
- Leiden University, The Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
- Tim Ziermans, Department of Psychology,
University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The
Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Wouter Staal
- Leiden University, The Netherlands
- Karakter Universitair Centrum, The
Netherlands
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van Noordt S, Wu J, Venkataraman A, Larson MJ, South M, Crowley MJ. Inter-trial Coherence of Medial Frontal Theta Oscillations Linked to Differential Feedback Processing in Youth and Young Adults with Autism. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2017; 37:1-10. [PMID: 28983326 PMCID: PMC5624320 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairment in prediction and appreciation for choice outcomes could contribute to several core symptoms of ASD. We examined electroencephalography (EEG) oscillations in 27 youth and young adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 22 IQ-matched neurotypical controls while they performed a chance-based reward prediction task. METHOD We re-analyzed our previously published ERP data (Larson et al., 2011) and examined theta band oscillations (4-8 Hz) at frontal midline sites, within a timing window that overlaps with the feedback-related negativity (FRN). We focused on event-related changes after presentation of feedback for reward (WIN) and punitive (LOSE) outcomes, both for spectral power and inter-trial phase coherence. RESULTS In our reward prediction task, for both groups, medial frontal theta power and phase coherence were greater following LOSE compared to WIN feedback. However, compared to controls, inter-trial coherence of medial frontal theta was significantly lower overall (across both feedback types) for individuals with ASD. Our results indicate that while individuals with ASD are sensitive to the valence of reward feedback, comparable to their neurotypical peers, they have reduced synchronization of medial frontal theta activity during feedback processing. CONCLUSIONS This finding are consistent with previous studies showing neural variability in ASD and suggest that the processes underlying decision-making and reinforcement learning may be atypical and less efficient in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefon van Noordt
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine 230 South Frontage Rd., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jia Wu
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine 230 South Frontage Rd., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Archana Venkataraman
- Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University 3400 N Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Michael J. Larson
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Mikle South
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Michael J. Crowley
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine 230 South Frontage Rd., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Levinson AR, Speed BC, Nelson B, Bress JN, Hajcak G. Authoritarian parenting predicts reduced electrocortical response to observed adolescent offspring rewards. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2017; 12:363-371. [PMID: 27613780 PMCID: PMC5390718 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Parenting styles are robust predictors of offspring outcomes, yet little is known about their neural underpinnings. In this study, 44 parent-adolescent dyads (Mage of adolescent = 12.9) completed a laboratory guessing task while EEG was continuously recorded. In the task, each pair member received feedback about their own monetary wins and losses and also observed the monetary wins and losses of the other member of the pair. We examined the association between self-reported parenting style and parents' electrophysiological responses to watching their adolescent winning and losing money, dubbed the observational Reward Positivity (RewP) and observational feedback negativity (FN), respectively. Self-reported authoritarian parenting predicted reductions in parents' observational RewP but not FN. This predictive relationship remained after adjusting for sex of both participants, parents' responsiveness to their own wins, and parental psychopathology. 'Exploratory analyses found that permissive parenting was associated with a blunting of the adolescents' response to their parents' losses'. These findings suggest that parents' rapid neural responses to their child's successes may relate to the harsh parenting behaviors associated with authoritarian parenting.
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Amiruddin A, Fueggle SN, Nguyen AT, Gignac GE, Clunies-Ross KL, Fox AM. Error monitoring and empathy: Explorations within a neurophysiological context. Psychophysiology 2017; 54:864-873. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Azhani Amiruddin
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
| | - Simone N. Fueggle
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
| | - An T. Nguyen
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
| | - Gilles E. Gignac
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
| | - Karen L. Clunies-Ross
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
| | - Allison M. Fox
- Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
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Hüpen P, Groen Y, Gaastra GF, Tucha L, Tucha O. Performance monitoring in autism spectrum disorders: A systematic literature review of event-related potential studies. Int J Psychophysiol 2016; 102:33-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Hudac CM, Kresse A, Aaronson B, DesChamps TD, Webb SJ, Bernier RA. Modulation of mu attenuation to social stimuli in children and adults with 16p11.2 deletions and duplications. J Neurodev Disord 2015; 7:25. [PMID: 26213586 PMCID: PMC4514956 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-015-9118-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Copy number variations (CNV) within the recurrent ~600 kb chromosomal locus of 16p11.2 are associated with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little is known about the social brain phenotype of 16p11.2 CNV and how this phenotype is related to the social impairments associated with CNVs at this locus. The aim of this preliminary study was to use molecular subtyping to establish the social brain phenotype of individuals with 16p11.2 CNV and how these patterns relate to typical development and ASD. METHODS We evaluated the social brain phenotype as expressed by mu attenuation in 48 children and adults characterized as duplication carriers (n = 12), deletion carriers (n = 12), individuals with idiopathic ASD (n = 8), and neurotypical controls (n = 16). Participants watched videos containing social and nonsocial motion during electroencephalogram (EEG) acquisition. RESULTS Overall, only the typical group exhibited predicted patterns of mu modulation to social information (e.g., greater mu attenuation for social than nonsocial motion). Both 16p11.2 CNV groups exhibited more mu attenuation for nonsocial than social motion. The ASD group did not discriminate between conditions and demonstrated less mu attenuation compared to the typical and duplication carriers. Single-trial analysis indicated that mu attenuation decreased over time more rapidly for 16p11.2 CNV groups than the typical group. The duplication group did not diverge from typical patterns of mu attenuation until after initial exposure. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate atypical but unique patterns of mu attenuation for deletion and duplication carriers, highlighting the need to continue characterizing the social brain phenotype associated with 16p11.2 CNVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M. Hudac
- />Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street #115, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Anna Kresse
- />Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 2001 8th Avenue #400, Seattle, WA 98121 USA
| | - Benjamin Aaronson
- />Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street #115, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Trent D. DesChamps
- />Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street #115, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Sara Jane Webb
- />Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street #115, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
- />Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 2001 8th Avenue #400, Seattle, WA 98121 USA
| | - Raphael A. Bernier
- />Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street #115, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
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The influence of affective empathy and autism spectrum traits on empathic accuracy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98436. [PMID: 24905105 PMCID: PMC4048168 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by interpersonal deficits and has been associated with limited cognitive empathy, which includes perspective taking, theory of mind, and empathic accuracy (EA). The capacity for affective empathy may also be impaired. In the present study we aimed to determine if EA in normally developing individuals with varying levels of autism spectrum traits is moderated by trait affective empathy. Fifty male and fifty female participants (‘perceivers’) completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient and the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale to assess autism spectrum traits and trait affective empathy, respectively. EA was assessed using a Dutch-language version of a previously developed task and involved rating the feelings of others (‘targets’) verbally recounting autobiographical emotional events. Targets varied in trait emotional expressivity, assessed using the Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire. Perceivers with more autism spectrum traits performed worse on the EA task, particularly when their trait affective empathy was relatively low. Interpersonal deficits in autism spectrum disorder may be partially explained by low cognitive empathy. Further, they might be aggravated by a limited capacity for affective empathy.
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Clawson A, Clayson PE, Worsham W, Johnston O, South M, Larson MJ. How about watching others? Observation of error-related feedback by others in autism spectrum disorders. Int J Psychophysiol 2014; 92:S0167-8760(14)00038-5. [PMID: 24491851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2014.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Research indicates that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have a reduced ability to utilize performance feedback to regulate their behavior; however, it is unclear to what degree alterations in the environmental context affect feedback processing and contribute to the symptoms of ASD. We utilized the observational FRN (oFRN), an event-related potential (ERP) component that putatively indexes feedback processing while observing feedback directed toward another person, to examine the influence of motivational and social demands on feedback processing in ASD. High-density electroencephalogram recordings were collected from 38 youth with ASD and 31 control participants similar on age and IQ while they observed a confederate performing a modified Eriksen Flanker task. Participants were instructed to count the confederate's errors and were told that they would be awarded based on performance: the confederate would either earn points for the participant or herself. Both groups showed robust oFRN activity on traditional scalp-electrode waveforms and waveforms identified using temporospatial principal components analysis. Amplitude of oFRN did not differentiate groups. Results remained non-significant when comparing medicated to non-medicated participants. There were no significant correlations between oFRN amplitudes, autism symptom severity, and anxiety symptoms. Findings suggest that the social context of the task and motivational significance of the confederate's performance did not limit feedback processing in ASD. Future research in which the context is manipulated further is warranted to determine whether increased environmental complexity influences feedback processing in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Clawson
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Peter E Clayson
- University of California-Los Angeles, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Whitney Worsham
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Oliver Johnston
- Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Management, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Mikle South
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology, Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young University, Neuroscience Center, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Michael J Larson
- Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology, Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young University, Neuroscience Center, Provo, UT, USA.
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