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Urbanus E, Swaab H, Tartaglia N, van Rijn S. Social Communication in Young Children With Sex Chromosome Trisomy (XXY, XXX, XYY): A Study With Eye Tracking and Heart Rate Measures. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024; 39:482-497. [PMID: 37987192 PMCID: PMC11110620 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acad088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children with sex chromosome trisomy (SCT) have an increased risk for suboptimal development. Difficulties with language are frequently reported, start from a very young age, and encompass various domains. This cross-sectional study examined social orientation with eye tracking and physiological arousal responses to gain more knowledge on how children perceive and respond to communicative bids and evaluated the associations between social orientation and language outcomes, concurrently and 1 year later. METHOD In total, 107 children with SCT (33 XXX, 50 XXY, and 24 XYY) and 102 controls (58 girls and 44 boys) aged between 1 and 7 years were included. Assessments took place in the USA and Western Europe. A communicative bids eye tracking paradigm, physiological arousal measures, and receptive and expressive language outcomes were used. RESULTS Compared to controls, children with SCT showed reduced attention to the face and eyes of the on-screen interaction partner and reduced physiological arousal sensitivity in response to direct versus averted gaze. In addition, social orientation to the mouth was related to concurrent receptive and expressive language abilities in 1-year-old children with SCT. CONCLUSIONS Children with SCT may experience difficulties with social communication that extend past the well-recognized risk for early language delays. These difficulties may underlie social-behavioral problems that have been described in the SCT population and are an important target for early monitoring and support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelien Urbanus
- Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- TRIXY Center of Expertise, Leiden University Treatment and Expertise Centre (LUBEC), Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hanna Swaab
- Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- TRIXY Center of Expertise, Leiden University Treatment and Expertise Centre (LUBEC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole Tartaglia
- eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic, Developmental Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sophie van Rijn
- Department of Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- TRIXY Center of Expertise, Leiden University Treatment and Expertise Centre (LUBEC), Leiden, The Netherlands
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Ambarchi Z, Boulton KA, Thapa R, Arciuli J, DeMayo MM, Hickie IB, Thomas EE, Guastella AJ. Social and joint attention during shared book reading in young autistic children: a potential marker for social development. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024. [PMID: 38659350 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atypical patterns of social engagement and joint attention behaviors are diagnostic criteria for people with autism spectrum disorder. Experimental tasks using eye-tracking methodologies have, however, shown inconsistent results. The development of tasks with greater ecological validity and relevance for developmentally appropriate social milestones has been identified as important for the field. METHODS We developed a novel, dynamic eye-tracking task emulating a shared book reading (SBR) scenario. Four SBR videos of an adult reader engaging with the viewer while reading a children's picture book and including sequenced bids for joint attention were developed. Participants included 90 children (N = 56 autistic children, N = 34 neurotypical children; aged 3-12). Social attention was also measured in a live free play task between participants and an experimenter. RESULTS Compared to neurotypical children, autistic children displayed reduced attention to socially salient stimuli including the reader's face and picture book across SBR videos and during joint attention bids specifically. In contrast, they showed increased attention to nonsalient background stimuli compared to their neurotypical peers. These attention patterns in autistic children were associated with reduced verbal and nonverbal cognitive skills and increased symptoms associated with autism. Interestingly, positive correlations in the frequency of eye gaze between SBR and free play suggested a potential predictive value for social attention in live social interactions. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the utility of SBR eye-tracking tasks in understanding underlying divergences in social engagement and joint attention between autistic and neurotypical children. This commonly practiced early childhood activity may provide insights into the relationship between social engagement and learning to reveal how such attentional patterns might influence broader developmental and educational outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahava Ambarchi
- Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (CAN Research), Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kelsie A Boulton
- Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (CAN Research), Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rinku Thapa
- Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (CAN Research), Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joanne Arciuli
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Marilena M DeMayo
- Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (CAN Research), Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (CAN Research), Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emma E Thomas
- Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (CAN Research), Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research (CAN Research), Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Ambarchi Z, Boulton KA, Thapa R, Thomas EE, DeMayo MM, Sasson NJ, Hickie IB, Guastella AJ. Evidence of a reduced role for circumscribed interests in the social attention patterns of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:3999-4011. [PMID: 35927513 PMCID: PMC10499676 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05638-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Reduced social attention is characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It has been suggested to result from an early onset and excessive influence of circumscribed interests (CIs) on gaze behaviour, compared to typically developing (TYP) individuals. To date, these findings have been mixed. The current eye-tracking study utilised a visual preference paradigm to investigate the influence of CI versus non-CI objects on attention patterns in children with ASD (aged 3-12 years, n = 37) and their age-matched TYP peers (n = 30). Compared to TYP, social and object attention was reduced in the ASD group irrespective of the presence of CIs. Results suggest a reduced role for CIs and extend recent evidence of atypical attention patterns across social and non-social domains in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Ambarchi
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - K A Boulton
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - R Thapa
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - E E Thomas
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - M M DeMayo
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia
| | - N J Sasson
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, USA
| | - I B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, 2050, Sydney, Australia.
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Coffman M, Di Martino JM, Aiello R, Carpenter KL, Chang Z, Compton S, Eichner B, Espinosa S, Flowers J, Franz L, Perochon S, Krishnappa Babu PR, Sapiro G, Dawson G. Relationship between quantitative digital behavioral features and clinical profiles in young autistic children. Autism Res 2023; 16:1360-1374. [PMID: 37259909 PMCID: PMC10524806 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2955] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Early behavioral markers for autism include differences in social attention and orienting in response to one's name when called, and differences in body movements and motor abilities. More efficient, scalable, objective, and reliable measures of these behaviors could improve early screening for autism. This study evaluated whether objective and quantitative measures of autism-related behaviors elicited from an app (SenseToKnow) administered on a smartphone or tablet and measured via computer vision analysis (CVA) are correlated with standardized caregiver-report and clinician administered measures of autism-related behaviors and cognitive, language, and motor abilities. This is an essential step in establishing the concurrent validity of a digital phenotyping approach. In a sample of 485 toddlers, 43 of whom were diagnosed with autism, we found that CVA-based gaze variables related to social attention were associated with the level of autism-related behaviors. Two language-related behaviors measured via the app, attention to people during a conversation and responding to one's name being called, were associated with children's language skills. Finally, performance during a bubble popping game was associated with fine motor skills. These findings provide initial support for the concurrent validity of the SenseToKnow app and its potential utility in identifying clinical profiles associated with autism. Future research is needed to determine whether the app can be used as an autism screening tool, can reliably stratify autism-related behaviors, and measure changes in autism-related behaviors over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marika Coffman
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - J. Matias Di Martino
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Rachel Aiello
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kimberly L.H. Carpenter
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Zhuoqing Chang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott Compton
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian Eichner
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Steve Espinosa
- Office of Information Technology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jacqueline Flowers
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren Franz
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sam Perochon
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Ecole Normale Superieure Paris-Saclay, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Guillermo Sapiro
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Geraldine Dawson
- Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Bouw N, Swaab H, Tartaglia N, Cordeiro L, van Rijn S. The impact of sex chromosome trisomies (XXX, XXY, XYY) on gaze towards faces and affect recognition: a cross-sectional eye tracking study. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:44. [PMID: 35918661 PMCID: PMC9347080 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09453-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND About 1:650-1000 children are born with an extra X or Y chromosome (47,XXX; 47,XXY; 47,XYY), which results in a sex chromosome trisomy (SCT). This international cross-sectional study was designed to investigate gaze towards faces and affect recognition during early life of children with SCT, with the aim to find indicators for support and treatment. METHODS A group of 101 children with SCT (aged 1-7 years old; Mage= 3.7 years) was included in this study, as well as a population-based sample of 98 children without SCT (Mage= 3.7). Eye gaze patterns to faces were measured using an eye tracking method that quantifies first fixations and fixation durations on eyes of static faces and fixation durations on eyes and faces in a dynamic paradigm (with two conditions: single face and multiple faces). Affect recognition was measured using the subtest Affect Recognition of the NEPSY-II neuropsychological test battery. Recruitment and assessment took place in the Netherlands and the USA. RESULTS Eye tracking results reveal that children with SCT show lower proportion fixation duration on faces already from the age of 3 years, compared to children without SCT. Also, impairments in the clinical range for affect recognition were found (32.2% of the SCT group scored in the well below average range). CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the importance to further explore the development of social cognitive skills of children with SCT in a longitudinal design, the monitoring of affect recognition skills, and the implementation of (preventive) interventions aiming to support the development of attention to social important information and affect recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke Bouw
- Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, PO Box 9500, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hanna Swaab
- Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, PO Box 9500, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole Tartaglia
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Lisa Cordeiro
- Developmental Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sophie van Rijn
- Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, PO Box 9500, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Bouw N, Swaab H, Tartaglia N, van Rijn S. The Impact of Sex Chromosome Trisomies (XXX, XXY, XYY) on Early Social Cognition: Social Orienting, Joint Attention, and Theory of Mind. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2022; 37:63-77. [PMID: 34101798 PMCID: PMC8763088 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE About 1:650-1,000 children are born with an extra X or Y chromosome (XXX; XXY; XYY), which results in a sex chromosome trisomy (SCT). This study aims to cross-sectionally investigate the impact of SCT on early social cognitive skills. Basic orienting toward social cues, joint attention, and theory of mind (ToM) in young children with SCT were evaluated. METHOD About 105 children with SCT (range: 1-7 years old) were included in this study, as well as 96 age-matched nonclinical controls. Eyetracking paradigms were used to investigate the eye gaze patterns indicative of joint attention skills and orienting to social interactions. The ToM abilities were measured using the subtest ToM of the Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment, second edition, neuropsychological test battery. Recruitment and assessment took place in the Netherlands and in the United States. RESULTS Eyetracking results revealed difficulties in children with SCT in social orienting. These difficulties were more pronounced in children aged 3 years and older, and in boys with 47,XYY. Difficulties in joint attention were found over all age groups and karyotypes. Children with SCT showed impairments in ToM (26.3% in the [well] below expected level), increasing with age. These impairments did not differ between karyotypes. CONCLUSIONS An impact of SCT on social cognitive abilities was found already at an early age, indicating the need for early monitoring and support of early social cognition. Future research should explore the longitudinal trajectories of social development in order to evaluate the predictive relationships between social cognition and outcome later in life in terms of social functioning and the risk for psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - S van Rijn
- Corresponding author at: Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 71 527 1846; E-mail address: (S. van Rijn)
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7
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Bouw N, Swaab H, van Rijn S. Early Preventive Intervention for Young Children With Sex Chromosome Trisomies (XXX, XXY, XYY): Supporting Social Cognitive Development Using a Neurocognitive Training Program Targeting Facial Emotion Understanding. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:807793. [PMID: 35280174 PMCID: PMC8913493 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.807793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex Chromosome Trisomies (SCTs; XXX, XXY, XYY) are genetic conditions that are associated with increased risk for neurodevelopmental problems and psychopathology. There is a great need for early preventive intervention programs to optimize outcome, especially considering the increase in prenatal diagnoses due to recent advances in non-invasive prenatal screening. This study is the first to evaluate efficacy of a neurocognitive training in children with SCT. As social behavioral problems have been identified as among the key areas of vulnerability, it was targeted at improving a core aspect of social cognition, the understanding of social cues from facial expressions. METHODS Participants were 24 children with SCT and 18 typically developing children, aged 4-8 years old. Children with SCT were assigned to a training (n = 13) or waiting list (no-training) group (n = 11). Children in the training group completed a neurocognitive training program (The Transporters), aimed to increase understanding of facial emotions. Participants were tested before and after the training on facial emotion recognition and Theory of Mind abilities (NEPSY-II), and on social orienting (eyetracking paradigm). The SCT no-training group and typically developing control group were also assessed twice with the same time interval without any training. Feasibility of the training was evaluated with the Social Validity Questionnaire filled out by the parents and by children's ratings on a Visual Analog Scale. RESULTS The SCT training group improved significantly more than the SCT no-training and TD no-training group on facial emotion recognition (large effect size; η p 2 = 0.28), performing comparable to typical controls after completing the training program. There were no training effects on ToM abilities and social orienting. Both children and parents expressed satisfaction with the feasibility of the training. CONCLUSIONS The significant improvement in facial emotion recognition, with large effect sizes, suggests that there are opportunities for positively supporting the development of social cognition in children with an extra X- or Y-chromosome, already at a very young age. This evidence based support is of great importance given the need for preventive and early training programs in children with SCT, aimed to minimize neurodevelopmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke Bouw
- Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Department of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Hanna Swaab
- Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Department of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sophie van Rijn
- Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Department of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands
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Hunter MB, Chin RFM. Impaired social attention detected through eye movements in children with early-onset epilepsy. Epilepsia 2021; 62:1921-1930. [PMID: 34142371 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Children with early-onset epilepsy (CWEOE; epilepsy onset before 5 years) exhibit impaired social functioning, but social attention has not yet been examined. In this study we sought to explore visual attention via eye tracking as a component of social attention and examine its relationship with social functioning and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) risk scores. METHODS Forty-seven CWEOE (3-63 months) and 41 controls (3-61 months) completed two eye-tracking tasks: (1) preference for social versus nonsocial naturalistic scenes, and (2) face region preference task. ASD risk was measured via the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers or Conners Early Childhood Total Score. Social functioning was assessed via the Greenspan Social-Emotional Growth Chart, or Infant-Toddler Social & Emotional Assessment Competence Scale, or Conners Early Childhood Social Functioning Scale, depending on age. Fixation preferences for social scenes and eyes were compared between groups and evaluated by age and social functioning scores. RESULTS Regression analysis revealed that CWEOE viewed the social scene to a significantly less degree than controls. The greatest difference was found between the youngest CWEOE and controls. Fixation duration was independently and significantly related to social functioning scores. There were no significant differences between CWEOE and controls in the face scanning task, and there was no significant relationship between either task and ASD risk scores. SIGNIFICANCE CWEOE exhibit task-specific atypical social attention early in the course of the disease. This may be an early marker of impaired social development, and it suggests abnormal social brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Hunter
- Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences and MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Child Life and Health, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Richard F M Chin
- Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences and MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Child Life and Health, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, UK
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Ryan AM, Murai T, Lau AR, Hogrefe CE, McAllister AK, Carter CS, Bauman MD. New approaches to quantify social development in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Integrating eye tracking with traditional assessments of social behavior. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 62:950-962. [PMID: 32666534 PMCID: PMC8754470 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The nonhuman primate provides a sophisticated animal model system both to explore neurobiological mechanisms underlying complex behaviors and to facilitate preclinical research for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disease. A better understanding of evolutionarily conserved behaviors and brain processes between humans and nonhuman primates will be needed to successfully apply recently released NIMH guidelines (NOT-MH-19-053) for conducting rigorous nonhuman primate neurobehavioral research. Here, we explore the relationship between two measures of social behavior that can be used in both humans and nonhuman primates-traditional observations of social interactions with conspecifics and eye gaze detection in response to social stimuli. Infant male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) serving as controls (N = 14) for an ongoing study were observed in their social rearing groups and participated in a noninvasive, longitudinal eye-tracking study. We found significant positive relationships between time spent viewing eyes of faces in an eye tracker and number of initiations made for social interactions with peers that is consistent with similar observations in human populations. Although future studies are needed to determine if this relationship represents species-typical social developmental processes, these preliminary results provide a novel framework to explore the relationship between social interactions and social attention in nonhuman primate models for neurobehavioral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Ryan
- The UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis
- California National Primate Research Center, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Allison R. Lau
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis
- California National Primate Research Center, Osaka, Japan
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis
| | | | | | - Cameron S. Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis
| | - Melissa D. Bauman
- The UC Davis MIND Institute, University of California, Davis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis
- California National Primate Research Center, Osaka, Japan
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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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Ioannou C, Seernani D, Stefanou ME, Riedel A, Tebartz van Elst L, Smyrnis N, Fleischhaker C, Biscaldi-Schaefer M, Boccignone G, Klein C. Comorbidity Matters: Social Visual Attention in a Comparative Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Their Comorbidity. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:545567. [PMID: 33192661 PMCID: PMC7555692 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.545567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) represent two common neurodevelopmental disorders with considerable co-occurrence. Their comorbidity (ASD + ADHD) has been included in the latest diagnostic guidelines (DSM-V, 2013). The present study focuses on social visual attention that i) is a main aspect of social attention reflecting social cognition and ii) its atypicalities have been suggested as a potential biomarker for ASD. Considering the possible shared background of both disorders and their comorbidity, it is important to compare such traits directly. Here, 73 children and adolescents paired for age and IQ diagnosed with ASD (N = 12), ADHD (N = 21), comorbid ASD + ADHD (N = 15), and "typically developing" (TD) controls (N = 25), were shown static real-life social scenes while their gaze movements were recorded with eye-tracking. Scenes with two levels of social complexity were presented: low complexity (one person depicted) and high (four interacting individuals). Gaze fixation variables were investigated. Fixation duration on faces was significantly reduced only in ASD + ADHD which also required longer time to fixate all faces at least once. Fixation duration on faces in ASD was reduced, compared to TD, only when looking at scenes with high versus low social complexity. ADHD individuals did not differ from TD. Concluding, the observed alterations of social visual attention support the existence of possible dysfunctional particularities differentiating ASD, ADHD, and ASD + ADHD, which can be revealed with the new method of eye-tracking technique. The objective gaze measurements provided contribute to the development of biomarkers enabling early diagnosis, amelioration of care and further interventions specified for each group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chara Ioannou
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Divya Seernani
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria Elena Stefanou
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Riedel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Smyrnis
- Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christian Fleischhaker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Monica Biscaldi-Schaefer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Christoph Klein
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Simpson EA, Maylott SE, Leonard K, Lazo RJ, Jakobsen KV. Face detection in infants and adults: Effects of orientation and color. J Exp Child Psychol 2019; 186:17-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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