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Bochud-Fragnière E, Lonchampt G, Bittolo P, Ehrensperger G, Circelli AR, Antonicelli N, Costanzo F, Menghini D, Vicari S, Banta Lavenex P, Lavenex P. Why do individuals with Williams syndrome or Down syndrome fail the Weather Prediction Task? Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22503. [PMID: 38807263 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22503] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) and Down syndrome (DS) are two neurodevelopmental disorders with distinct genetic origins characterized by mild to moderate intellectual disability. Individuals with WS or DS exhibit impaired hippocampus-dependent place learning and enhanced striatum-dependent spatial response learning. Here, we used the Weather Prediction Task (WPT), which can be solved using hippocampus- or striatum-dependent learning strategies, to determine whether individuals with WS or DS exhibit similar profiles outside the spatial domain. Only 10% of individuals with WS or DS solved the WPT. We further assessed whether a concurrent memory task could promote reliance on procedural learning to solve the WPT in individuals with WS but found that the concurrent task did not improve performance. To understand how the probabilistic cue-outcome associations influences WPT performance, and whether individuals with WS or DS can ignore distractors, we assessed performance using a visual learning task with differing reward contingencies, and a modified WPT with unpredictive cues. Both probabilistic feedback and distractors negatively impacted the performance of individuals with WS or DS. These findings are consistent with deficits in hippocampus-dependent learning and executive functions, and reveal the importance of congruent feedback and the minimization of distractors to optimize learning in these two populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Bochud-Fragnière
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gianni Lonchampt
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paola Bittolo
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giada Ehrensperger
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicole Antonicelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Costanzo
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Pamela Banta Lavenex
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Faculty of Psychology, UniDistance Suisse, Brig, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Lavenex
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Nir Sade A, Levy G, Schokoroy Trangle S, Elad Sfadia G, Bar E, Ophir O, Fischer I, Rokach M, Atzmon A, Parnas H, Rosenberg T, Marco A, Elroy Stein O, Barak B. Neuronal Gtf2i deletion alters mitochondrial and autophagic properties. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1269. [PMID: 38097729 PMCID: PMC10721858 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05612-5] [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: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gtf2i encodes the general transcription factor II-I (TFII-I), with peak expression during pre-natal and early post-natal brain development stages. Because these stages are critical for proper brain development, we studied at the single-cell level the consequences of Gtf2i's deletion from excitatory neurons, specifically on mitochondria. Here we show that Gtf2i's deletion resulted in abnormal morphology, disrupted mRNA related to mitochondrial fission and fusion, and altered autophagy/mitophagy protein expression. These changes align with elevated reactive oxygen species levels, illuminating Gtf2i's importance in neurons mitochondrial function. Similar mitochondrial issues were demonstrated by Gtf2i heterozygous model, mirroring the human condition in Williams syndrome (WS), and by hemizygous neuronal Gtf2i deletion model, indicating Gtf2i's dosage-sensitive role in mitochondrial regulation. Clinically relevant, we observed altered transcript levels related to mitochondria, hypoxia, and autophagy in frontal cortex tissue from WS individuals. Our study reveals mitochondrial and autophagy-related deficits shedding light on WS and other Gtf2i-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Nir Sade
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gilad Levy
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sari Schokoroy Trangle
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Galit Elad Sfadia
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ela Bar
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Omer Ophir
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbar Fischer
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - May Rokach
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Andrea Atzmon
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine & Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hadar Parnas
- Neuro-Epigenetics Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Rosenberg
- Neuro-Epigenetics Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Asaf Marco
- Neuro-Epigenetics Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Orna Elroy Stein
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine & Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Ilic T, Porter MA, Reeve JL. Internalising and Externalising Symptoms and Their Association with the Family Environment in Young Children with Williams Syndrome: A Longitudinal Study. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1717. [PMID: 37892382 PMCID: PMC10605142 DOI: 10.3390/children10101717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Williams Syndrome (WS) involves high rates of psychopathology across the lifespan. However, little is known about the early, longitudinal trajectory of internalising/externalising symptoms or the association between these and the family environment in WS. WS (n = 16; aged 2 years, 2 months to 9 years, 5 months) and typically developing or TD (n = 46; aged 2 years, 2 months to 11 years, 1 month) children were assessed on two occasions over 2.5 years utilising parent report questionnaires-the Child Behaviour Checklist and the Family Environment Scale. No statistically significant changes were found in CBCL/psychopathology profiles across timepoints, on average, for either WS or TD children. However, reliable change scores showed WS children had considerable variability in CBCL scores over time. Cross-sectionally, the WS group showed higher scores (reflecting more psychopathology) compared to TD controls at both time points across most CBCL subscales, with elevated overall psychopathology problems identified in 56-68% of WS children (versus 8% in TD controls). Psychopathology was not associated with sex, chronological age, or cognitive ability in WS. Conflict in the family environment was positively associated with higher Attention Problems at Time 1 in the WS group, whilst the TD group showed associations between family conflict and total psychopathology problems at both time points and between family cohesion and total psychopathology problems at Time 2. Family environment did not differ between groups, except for lower engagement in intellectual and cultural activities in WS. Findings highlight variable Internalising and Externalising Problems in young WS children over time, with greater biological than environmental contributions to psychopathology in WS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melanie A. Porter
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, Marsfield, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; (T.I.); (J.L.R.)
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Strong E, Mervis CB, Tam E, Morris CA, Klein-Tasman BP, Velleman SL, Osborne LR. DNA methylation profiles in individuals with rare, atypical 7q11.23 CNVs correlate with GTF2I and GTF2IRD1 copy number. NPJ Genom Med 2023; 8:25. [PMID: 37709781 PMCID: PMC10502022 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-023-00368-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) and 7q11.23 duplication syndrome (Dup7) are rare neurodevelopmental disorders caused by deletion and duplication of a 1.5 Mb region that includes at least five genes with a known role in epigenetic regulation. We have shown that CNV of this chromosome segment causes dose-dependent, genome-wide changes in DNA methylation, but the specific genes driving these changes are unknown. We measured genome-wide whole blood DNA methylation in six participants with atypical CNV of 7q11.23 (three with deletions and three with duplications) using the Illumina HumanMethylation450k array and compared their profiles with those from groups of individuals with classic WBS or classic Dup7 and with typically developing (TD) controls. Across the top 1000 most variable positions we found that only the atypical rearrangements that changed the copy number of GTF2IRD1 and/or GTF2I (coding for the TFII-IRD1 and TFII-I proteins) clustered with their respective syndromic cohorts. This finding was supported by results from hierarchical clustering across a selection of differentially methylated CpGs, in addition to pyrosequencing validation. These findings suggest that CNV of the GTF2I genes at the telomeric end of the 7q11.23 interval is a key contributor to the large changes in DNA methylation that are seen in blood DNA from our WBS and Dup7 cohorts, compared to TD controls. Our findings suggest that members of the TFII-I protein family are involved in epigenetic processes that alter DNA methylation on a genome-wide level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Strong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's and Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carolyn B Mervis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Elaine Tam
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Colleen A Morris
- Department of Pediatrics, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | | | - Shelley L Velleman
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Lucy R Osborne
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Yeh TC, Cheng HC, Li HY, Chi SC, Yang HY, Yu JY, Niu DM, Wang AG. Ophthalmic characteristics and retinal vasculature changes in Williams syndrome, and its association with systemic diseases. Eye (Lond) 2023; 37:2265-2271. [PMID: 36437422 PMCID: PMC10366147 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-022-02328-4] [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] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aim to characterise the ophthalmic findings and retinal vasculature changes in patients with WS, and to analyse the correlation between ophthalmic manifestations and the associated systemic diseases. METHODS This retrospective case-control study included 27 WS patients and 28 age-matched healthy participants. Stellate pattern of iris, central macular thickness (CMT), foveal width, retinal vessel diameter, superficial vascular density (SVD) of macula and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were compared between WS patients and healthy participants. RESULTS Twenty-five patients (93%) had the classic stellate iris presentation. Compared with healthy controls, WS patients had decreased CMT, increased foveal width and a lower SVD of macula (all P < 0.001). Significantly decreased mean retinal arterial (117.9 ± 9.9 µm vs. 133.0 ± 6.7 µm in WS and controls, respectively; p < 0.001) and venous (158.9 ± 11.2 µm vs. 174.0 ± 8.0 µm in WS and controls, respectively; p < 0.001) outer diameters, as well as mean arterial wall thickness (11.2 ± 1.3 µm vs. 12.2 ± 0.8 µm in WS and controls, respectively; p < 0.01) were found in WS. Stellate iris grading was significantly associated with CMT, foveal width, retinal vessel diameter (all p < 0.05), and a significant increase in the odds of having hypertension (Odds ratio (OR), 5.63; P < 0.05). The severity of stellate iris in WS seemed to have the trend of increasing risk of having pulmonary stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation and mitral regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first in vivo evidence reflecting current knowledge on vessel morphology in WS patients that deficient circumferential growth is the predominant pathophysiologic changes resulting from elastin deficiency. The ophthalmic characteristics may serve as a complementary tool to diagnose and follow-up patients suffering from WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsai-Chu Yeh
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chen Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Program in Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Yuan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng Chu Chi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Yang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital Yuanshan and Suao Branch, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Jenn-Yah Yu
- Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Dau-Ming Niu
- Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - An-Guor Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Carlotto BS, Deconte D, Diniz BL, Silva PRD, Zen PRG, Silva AAD. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as an irreplaceable diagnostic tool for Williams-Beuren syndrome in developing countries: a literature review. REVISTA PAULISTA DE PEDIATRIA : ORGAO OFICIAL DA SOCIEDADE DE PEDIATRIA DE SAO PAULO 2023; 42:e2022125. [PMID: 37436242 DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2022125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to sum up and characterize all Williams-Beuren syndrome cases diagnosed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) since its implementation, as well as to discuss FISH as a cost-effective methodology in developing countries. DATA SOURCE From January 1986 to January 2022, articles were selected using the databases in PubMed (Medline) and SciELO. The following terms were used: Williams syndrome and In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence. Inclusion criteria included Williams-Beuren syndrome cases diagnosed by FISH with a stratified phenotype of each patient. Only studies written in English, Spanish, and Portuguese were included. Studies with overlapping syndromes or genetic conditions were excluded. DATA SYNTHESIS After screening, 64 articles were included. A total of 205 individuals with Williams-Beuren syndrome diagnosed by FISH were included and further analyzed. Cardiovascular malformations were the most frequent finding (85.4%). Supravalvular aortic stenosis (62.4%) and pulmonary stenosis (30.7%) were the main cardiac alterations described. CONCLUSIONS Our literature review reinforces that cardiac features may be the key to early diagnosis in Williams-Beuren syndrome patients. In addition, FISH may be the best diagnostic tool for developing nations that have limited access to new technologic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Desirée Deconte
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Bruna Lixinski Diniz
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo Ricardo Gazzola Zen
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Jenner L, Richards C, Howard R, Moss J. Heterogeneity of Autism Characteristics in Genetic Syndromes: Key Considerations for Assessment and Support. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2023; 10:132-146. [PMID: 37193200 PMCID: PMC10169182 DOI: 10.1007/s40474-023-00276-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Elevated prevalence of autism characteristics is reported in genetic syndromes associated with intellectual disability. This review summarises recent evidence on the behavioural heterogeneity of autism in the following syndromes: Fragile X, Cornelia de Lange, Williams, Prader-Willi, Angelman, Down, Smith-Magenis, and tuberous sclerosis complex. Key considerations for assessment and support are discussed. Recent Findings The profile and developmental trajectory of autism-related behaviour in these syndromes indicate some degree of syndrome specificity which may interact with broader behavioural phenotypes (e.g. hypersociability), intellectual disability, and mental health (e.g. anxiety). Genetic subtype and co-occurring epilepsy within syndromes contribute to increased significance of autism characteristics. Autism-related strengths and challenges are likely to be overlooked or misunderstood using existing screening/diagnostic tools and criteria, which lack sensitivity and specificity within these populations. Summary Autism characteristics are highly heterogeneous across genetic syndromes and often distinguishable from non-syndromic autism. Autism diagnostic assessment practices in this population should be tailored to specific syndromes. Service provisions must begin to prioritise needs-led support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Jenner
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, England
| | | | - Rachel Howard
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, England
| | - Joanna Moss
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, England
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Treichel N, Dukes D, Meuleman B, Van Herwegen J, Samson AC. "Not in the mood": The fear of being laughed at is better predicted by humor temperament traits than diagnosis in neurodevelopmental conditions. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 137:104513. [PMID: 37094391 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has shown that autistic individuals seem to be more prone to develop gelotophobia (i.e., the fear of being laughed at) than typically developing individuals. The goals of the present study were to discover whether the high levels of gelotophobia found in autism in previous studies were replicated here, to expand the research to Down syndrome (DS) and Williams syndrome (WS), and to assess the relation between individual differences and social impairments, affective predispositions, and humor temperament. METHODS Questionnaires were distributed to parents of autistic individuals (N = 48), individuals with DS (N = 139), and individuals with WS (N = 43) aged between 5 and 25 years old. RESULTS Autistic individuals were shown to frequently experience at least a slight level of gelotophobia (45%), compared to only 6% of individuals with DS and 7% of individuals with WS. Interestingly, humorless temperament traits (i.e., seriousness and bad mood) manifested as the strongest predictors of gelotophobia. This relation even transcended group differences. CONCLUSION The results confirm that gelotophobia seems to be particularly concerning for autistic individuals, whereas individuals with DS and WS seem to be more protected from developing such a fear. Moreover, it appears that gelotophobia seems to be more linked to high seriousness and irritability than diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Treichel
- Institute of Special Education, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Dukes
- Institute of Special Education, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ben Meuleman
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jo Van Herwegen
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK
| | - Andrea C Samson
- Institute of Special Education, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Faculty of Psychology, Unidistance Suisse, Brig, Switzerland.
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Porter M, Gavria P, Reeve J, Green M, Baracz S, Rossi A, Boulton K. Neuroanatomical correlates of social approach in Williams Syndrome and down syndrome. Neuropsychologia 2022; 175:108366. [PMID: 36088994 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) or Downs Syndrome (DS) are often described as hypersociable, friendly and overly trusting of others. This hypersociability is a major concern for parents/caregivers due to the associated increased risk of exploitation and victimisation. Two brain regions - the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) - have been implicated in driving this hypersociability in WS, and in the general population and have associations with emotional evaluation, threat detection and social motivation. However, there has been little neuroimaging research on this topic, especially in DS, to date. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential neuroanatomical and neuropsychological correlates of hypersociability in WS and DS. Twelve individuals with WS (M = 22 years of age) and eleven individuals with DS (M = 26 years of age) completed a neuropsychological battery of executive functioning and social measures, including informant ratings on an ecologically measure of social approach. Clinical groups and twelve typically developing controls (M = 23 years) underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan to investigate volumetric differences in the OFC and the amygdala. As expected, WS individuals displayed the highest overall social approach, especially in relation to need to approach strangers and drive to interact with strangers, as well as inappropriate/overfriendly behaviours. Both groups rated similarly in terms of social trust and unconditional positive regard. Emotion recognition abilities were similar across groups, with the DS group displaying some difficulties with negative emotions (especially anger). Inhibition and flexibility were similarly impaired across WS and DS. Compared to neurotypical controls, the DS group showed increased amygdala volumes bilaterally, while the WS group showed an enlarged right medial OFC. Approach ratings were significantly correlated with left amygdala and medial and left lateral OFC volumes in WS, and with these same regions bilaterally in DS. Results provide potential biological explanations for the hypersociability seen in WS and DS. Future research should focus on other potential neural correlates, as well as potential genetic and hormonal contributions to approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Porter
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Polina Gavria
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jessica Reeve
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Michael Green
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sarah Baracz
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Adriana Rossi
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Kelsie Boulton
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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Gomez A, Lio G, Costa M, Sirigu A, Demily C. Dissociation of early and late face-related processes in autism spectrum disorder and Williams syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:244. [PMID: 35733166 PMCID: PMC9215067 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02395-6] [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: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Williams syndrome (WS) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions associated with atypical but opposite face-to-face interactions patterns: WS patients overly stare at others, ASD individuals escape eye contact. Whether these behaviors result from dissociable visual processes within the occipito-temporal pathways is unknown. Using high-density electroencephalography, multivariate signal processing algorithms and a protocol designed to identify and extract evoked activities sensitive to facial cues, we investigated how WS (N = 14), ASD (N = 14) and neurotypical subjects (N = 14) decode the information content of a face stimulus. Results We found two neural components in neurotypical participants, both strongest when the eye region was projected onto the subject's fovea, simulating a direct eye contact situation, and weakest over more distant regions, reaching a minimum when the focused region was outside the stimulus face. The first component peaks at 170 ms, an early signal known to be implicated in low-level face features. The second is identified later, 260 ms post-stimulus onset and is implicated in decoding salient face social cues. Remarkably, both components were found distinctly impaired and preserved in WS and ASD. In WS, we could weakly decode the 170 ms signal based on our regressor relative to facial features, probably due to their relatively poor ability to process faces’ morphology, while the late 260 ms component was highly significant. The reverse pattern was observed in ASD participants who showed neurotypical like early 170 ms evoked activity but impaired late evoked 260 ms signal. Conclusions Our study reveals a dissociation between WS and ASD patients and points at different neural origins for their social impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Gomez
- Institut Des Sciences, Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, 67 boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France. .,Claude Bernard University Lyon, Lyon, France. .,Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, UCBL1, UJM, Lyon, France.
| | - Guillaume Lio
- Institut Des Sciences, Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, 67 boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France.,Claude Bernard University Lyon, Lyon, France.,Reference Center for Rare Diseases With Psychiatric Phenotype Génopsy, Le Vinatier Hospital, Bron, France.,iMIND Excellence Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Lyon, France
| | - Manuela Costa
- Institut Des Sciences, Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, 67 boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France.,Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, University Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angela Sirigu
- Institut Des Sciences, Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, 67 boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France.,Claude Bernard University Lyon, Lyon, France.,Reference Center for Rare Diseases With Psychiatric Phenotype Génopsy, Le Vinatier Hospital, Bron, France
| | - Caroline Demily
- Institut Des Sciences, Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, 67 boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France. .,Claude Bernard University Lyon, Lyon, France. .,Reference Center for Rare Diseases With Psychiatric Phenotype Génopsy, Le Vinatier Hospital, Bron, France. .,iMIND Excellence Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Lyon, France.
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11
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Zhou J, Zheng Y, Liang G, Xu X, Liu J, Chen S, Ge T, Wen P, Zhang Y, Liu X, Zhuang J, Wu Y, Chen J. Atypical deletion of Williams-Beuren syndrome reveals the mechanism of neurodevelopmental disorders. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:79. [PMID: 35379245 PMCID: PMC8981662 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01227-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes associated with specific neurocognitive phenotypes in Williams–Beuren syndrome are still controversially discussed. This study identified nine patients with atypical deletions out of 111 patients with Williams–Beuren syndrome; these deletions included seven smaller deletions and two larger deletions. One patient had normal neurodevelopment with a deletion of genes on the distal side of the Williams–Beuren syndrome chromosomal region, including GTF2I and GTF2IRD1. However, another patient retained these genes but showed neurodevelopmental abnormalities. By comparing the genotypes and phenotypes of patients with typical and atypical deletions and previous reports in the literature, we hypothesize that the BAZ1B, FZD9, and STX1A genes may play an important role in the neurodevelopment of patients with WBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrong Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- Department of Nutrition, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guiying Liang
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Xu
- Department of Endocrinology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaoxian Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Research Department of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tongkai Ge
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengju Wen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Research Department of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Division of Epidemiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Zhuang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yueheng Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China. .,Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jimei Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
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12
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Kopp ND, Nygaard KR, Liu Y, McCullough KB, Maloney SE, Gabel HW, Dougherty JD. Functions of Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 in the developing brain: transcription, DNA binding and long-term behavioral consequences. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1498-1519. [PMID: 32313931 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gtf2ird1 and Gtf2i are two transcription factors (TFs) among the 28 genes deleted in Williams syndrome, and prior mouse models of each TF show behavioral phenotypes. Here we identify their genomic binding sites in the developing brain and test for additive effects of their mutation on transcription and behavior. GTF2IRD1 binding targets were enriched for transcriptional and chromatin regulators and mediators of ubiquitination. GTF2I targets were enriched for signal transduction proteins, including regulators of phosphorylation and WNT. Both TFs are highly enriched at promoters, strongly overlap CTCF binding and topological associating domain boundaries and moderately overlap each other, suggesting epistatic effects. Shared TF targets are enriched for reactive oxygen species-responsive genes, synaptic proteins and transcription regulators such as chromatin modifiers, including a significant number of highly constrained genes and known ASD genes. We next used single and double mutants to test whether mutating both TFs will modify transcriptional and behavioral phenotypes of single Gtf2ird1 mutants, though with the caveat that our Gtf2ird1 mutants, like others previously reported, do produce low levels of a truncated protein product. Despite little difference in DNA binding and transcriptome-wide expression, homozygous Gtf2ird1 mutation caused balance, marble burying and conditioned fear phenotypes. However, mutating Gtf2i in addition to Gtf2ird1 did not further modify transcriptomic or most behavioral phenotypes, suggesting Gtf2ird1 mutation alone was sufficient for the observed phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Kopp
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kayla R Nygaard
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yating Liu
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Katherine B McCullough
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Susan E Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Harrison W Gabel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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13
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Wang HG, Bavley CC, Li A, Jones RM, Hackett J, Bayleyen Y, Lee FS, Rajadhyaksha AM, Pitt GS. Scn2a severe hypomorphic mutation decreases excitatory synaptic input and causes autism-associated behaviors. JCI Insight 2021; 6:150698. [PMID: 34156984 PMCID: PMC8410058 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
SCN2A, encoding the neuronal voltage-gated Na+ channel NaV1.2, is one of the most commonly affected loci linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Most ASD-associated mutations in SCN2A are loss-of-function mutations, but studies examining how such mutations affect neuronal function and whether Scn2a mutant mice display ASD endophenotypes have been inconsistent. We generated a protein truncation variant Scn2a mouse model (Scn2aΔ1898/+) by CRISPR that eliminates the NaV1.2 channel's distal intracellular C-terminal domain, and we analyzed the molecular and cellular consequences of this variant in a heterologous expression system, in neuronal culture, in brain slices, and in vivo. We also analyzed multiple behaviors in WT and Scn2aΔ1898/+ mice and correlated behaviors with clinical data obtained in human subjects with SCN2A variants. Expression of the NaV1.2 mutant in a heterologous expression system revealed decreased NaV1.2 channel function, and cultured pyramidal neurons isolated from Scn2aΔ1898/+ forebrain showed correspondingly reduced voltage-gated Na+ channel currents without compensation from other CNS voltage-gated Na+ channels. Na+ currents in inhibitory neurons were unaffected. Consistent with loss of voltage-gated Na+ channel currents, Scn2aΔ1898/+ pyramidal neurons displayed reduced excitability in forebrain neuronal culture and reduced excitatory synaptic input onto the pyramidal neurons in brain slices. Scn2aΔ1898/+ mice displayed several behavioral abnormalities, including abnormal social interactions that reflect behavior observed in humans with ASD and with harboring loss-of-function SCN2A variants. This model and its cellular electrophysiological characterizations provide a framework for tracing how a SCN2A loss-of-function variant leads to cellular defects that result in ASD-associated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charlotte C. Bavley
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anfei Li
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
| | - Rebecca M. Jones
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, White Plains, New York, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jonathan Hackett
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Francis S. Lee
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
- Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, and
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
| | - Geoffrey S. Pitt
- Cardiovascular Research Institute
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program and
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14
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Miezah D, Porter M, Rossi A, Kazzi C, Batchelor J, Reeve J. Cognitive profile of young children with Williams syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2021; 65:784-794. [PMID: 34096129 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is very little research on the cognitive profile of young children with Williams syndrome (WS). METHOD The present study utilised the Differential Ability Scales - Second Edition to examine the early cognitive abilities of 22 young children with WS (aged 3.98 to 7.70 years, 10 male and 12 female participants). RESULTS Overall, IQ ranged from 38 (severely impaired) to 81.00 (low average). Consistent with Mervis et al. who looked at an older sample, over half (59.08%) of our young WS sample showed a significant and abnormal weakness in spatial ability relative to verbal ability. Moreover, 81.82% showed a significant and clinically unusual weakness in spatial ability relative to nonverbal reasoning ability. At the subtest level, only 4.55% of our sample showed a significant strength in naming vocabulary compared with verbal comprehension, while 13.64% showed a significant weakness in naming vocabulary relative to verbal comprehension. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study show cognitive heterogeneity, consistent with the literature on older children and adults with WS. There were variable levels of intellect and variable patterns of cognitive strength and weakness across both index and subtest scores. Findings highlight the need for individual assessment and management of young children with WS but also indicate that for the majority of WS individuals spatial skills are indeed an area of significant and abnormal weakness and should be a focus for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Miezah
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M Porter
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - A Rossi
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - C Kazzi
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J Batchelor
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J Reeve
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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15
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Silva LAF, Kawahira RSH, Kim CA, Matas CG. Auditory hypersensitivity in Williams syndrome. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 146:110740. [PMID: 33965724 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate auditory hypersensitivity in WS and to evaluate hyperacusis through standardized protocols, checking if it can be associated with the absence of acoustic reflexes in people with WS. METHOD The study was performed in 17 individuals with WS, aged between seven and 17 years old (10 males and seven females), and 17 individuals with typical development age- and gender-matched to individuals with WS. Statistical tests were used to analyze the responses collected with the Loudness Discomfort Level (LDL) test as well as ipsilateral and contralateral reflex responses. RESULTS Auditory hypersensitivity was commonly found. Individuals with WS had phonophobia and were less tolerant to high sound intensity, presenting a reduced discomfort threshold compared to those with typical development. However, hyperacusis was found in 35.29% of individuals with WS and was mild in 50% of cases. There was an association between hyperacusis and acoustic reflex responses, and individuals with absence of the contralateral acoustic reflex were more likely to have hyperacusis. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with WS have a high prevalence of auditory hypersensitivity, with the presence of phonophobia; however, hyperacusis was not as prevalent and may be associated with the absence of contralateral acoustic reflexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane Aparecida Fagundes Silva
- Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Rachel Sayuri Honjo Kawahira
- Unit of Genetic, Children's Institute of Hospital of Clinics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Chong Ae Kim
- Unit of Genetic, Children's Institute of Hospital of Clinics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carla Gentile Matas
- Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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16
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Nygaard KR, Swift RG, Glick RM, Wagner RE, Maloney SE, Gould GG, Dougherty JD. Oxytocin receptor activation does not mediate associative fear deficits in a Williams Syndrome model. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 21:e12750. [PMID: 33978321 PMCID: PMC8842878 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Williams Syndrome results in distinct behavioral phenotypes, which include learning deficits, anxiety, increased phobias and hypersociability. While the underlying mechanisms driving this subset of phenotypes is unknown, oxytocin (OT) dysregulation is hypothesized to be involved as some studies have shown elevated blood OT and altered OT receptor expression in patients. A "Complete Deletion" (CD) mouse, modeling the hemizygous deletion in Williams Syndrome, recapitulates many of the phenotypes present in humans. These CD mice also exhibit impaired fear responses in the conditioned fear task. Here, we address whether OT dysregulation is responsible for this impaired associative fear memory response. We show direct delivery of an OT receptor antagonist to the central nervous system did not rescue the attenuated contextual or cued fear memory responses in CD mice. Thus, increased OT signaling is not acutely responsible for this phenotype. We also evaluated OT receptor and serotonin transporter availability in regions related to fear learning, memory and sociability using autoradiography in wild type and CD mice. While no differences withstood correction, we identified regions that may warrant further investigation. There was a nonsignificant decrease in OT receptor expression in the lateral septal nucleus and nonsignificant lowered serotonin transporter availability in the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex. Together, these data suggest the fear conditioning anomalies in the Williams Syndrome mouse model are independent of any alterations in the oxytocinergic system caused by deletion of the Williams locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla R. Nygaard
- Department of GeneticsWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA,Department of PsychiatryWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Raylynn G. Swift
- Department of GeneticsWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA,Department of PsychiatryWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Rebecca M. Glick
- Department of GeneticsWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA,Department of PsychiatryWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Rachael E. Wagner
- Department of PsychiatryWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Susan E. Maloney
- Department of PsychiatryWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research CenterWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Georgianna G. Gould
- Department of Cellular and Integrative PhysiologyUniversity of Texas Health San AntonioSan AntonioTexasUSA
| | - Joseph D. Dougherty
- Department of GeneticsWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA,Department of PsychiatryWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research CenterWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
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17
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Dimitriou D, Halstead EJ. Sleep-related learning in Williams Syndrome and Down's Syndrome. ADVANCES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 60:261-283. [PMID: 33641796 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acdb.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This chapter addresses sleep research challenges for the study of neurodevelopmental disorders drawing upon two disorders such as Down Syndrome and Williams syndrome. General sleep problems are outlined here, however particular consideration is given to the syndrome-specific issues or challenges that may be crucial to advancing our understanding of sleep-related cognitive and behavioral issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmara Dimitriou
- Sleep Research and Education Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Elizabeth J Halstead
- Sleep Research and Education Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom
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18
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Levy G, Barak B. Postnatal therapeutic approaches in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:414-422. [PMID: 32985459 PMCID: PMC7996025 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.293133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by abnormal neurophysiological and behavioral phenotypes, affecting individuals worldwide. While the subject has been heavily researched, current treatment options relate mostly to alleviating symptoms, rather than targeting the altered genome itself. In this review, we address the neurogenetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders, genetic tools that are enabling precision research of these disorders in animal models, and postnatal gene-therapy approaches for neurodevelopmental disorders derived from preclinical studies in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilad Levy
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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19
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Fagundes Silva LA, Honjo Kawahira RS, Kim CA, Matas CG. Abnormal auditory event-related potentials in Williams syndrome. Eur J Med Genet 2021; 64:104163. [PMID: 33571693 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2021.104163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) have specific auditory characteristics, including hypoacusis and hyperacusis, and music appreciation skills. Little is known about the functionality of the central auditory nervous system (CANS) for sound processing in WS. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the functionality of the CANS in individuals with WS, based on auditory event-related potentials, as far as cognitive and behavioral aspects are concerned. The study was carried out with 17 individuals, seven females and ten males, between seven and 17 years old, with WS, and 17 individuals with typical development matched by sex and chronological age to individuals with WS. None of these individuals had middle ear impairment or hearing loss. The subjects were evaluated for intelligence quotient, loudness discomfort level, and auditory event-related potentials with Tone Burst stimuli, on the oddball paradigm; the parents also answered the MTA-SNAP-IV questionnaire. Hyperacusis was found in six WS individuals and two individuals with typical development. In the present study, WS individuals present longer latency and reduced amplitude for P1, N1, N2 and P3 components. These results, suggesting a delay and hypoactive responses of the CANS in this syndrome, that cannot be related to the cognitive or behavioral aspects of these individuals, but it indicates a cortical immaturity to process acoustic stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane Aparecida Fagundes Silva
- Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Rachel Sayuri Honjo Kawahira
- Unit of Genetic, Children's Institute of Hospital of Clinics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Chong Ae Kim
- Unit of Genetic, Children's Institute of Hospital of Clinics, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carla Gentile Matas
- Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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20
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Niego A, Benítez-Burraco A. Autism and Williams syndrome: Dissimilar socio-cognitive profiles with similar patterns of abnormal gene expression in the blood. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 25:464-489. [PMID: 33143449 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320965074] [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] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome are complex cognitive conditions exhibiting quite opposite features in the social domain: whereas people with autism spectrum disorders are mostly hyposocial, subjects with Williams syndrome are usually reported as hypersocial. At the same time, autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome share some common underlying behavioral and cognitive deficits. It is not clear, however, which genes account for the attested differences (and similarities) in the socio-cognitive domain. In this article, we adopted a comparative molecular approach and looked for genes that might be differentially (or similarly) regulated in the blood of people with these conditions. We found a significant overlap between genes dysregulated in the blood of patients compared to neurotypical controls, with most of them being upregulated or, in some cases, downregulated. Still, genes with similar expression trends can exhibit quantitative differences between conditions, with most of them being more dysregulated in Williams syndrome than in autism spectrum disorders. Differentially expressed genes are involved in aspects of brain development and function (particularly dendritogenesis) and are expressed in brain areas (particularly the cerebellum, the thalamus, and the striatum) of relevance for the autism spectrum disorder and the Williams syndrome etiopathogenesis. Overall, these genes emerge as promising candidates for the similarities and differences between the autism spectrum disorder and the Williams syndrome socio-cognitive profiles.
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21
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Gomez A, Costa M, Lio G, Sirigu A, Demily C. Face first impression of trustworthiness in Williams Syndrome: Dissociating automatic vs decision based perception. Cortex 2020; 132:99-112. [PMID: 32971481 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Humans make rapid decisions of trustworthiness based on facial appearance. Williams Syndrome (WS) is a genetic disorder associated with hypersociability toward strangers, suggesting a disruption in trust assessment. We recorded eye-movements in neurotypically-developed (TD) participants (N = 21) and in patients with WS (N = 22) as we presented pairs of computer-generated faces, pre-rated as trustworthy or untrustworthy. In a spontaneous visual preference task, TD participants gazed significantly longer at trustworthy faces while patients with WS showed no preferences for either face-type. Next, in a decision task, participants selected the face that they judged consistent with one of three social descriptions relating to high levels of trust. Both groups gazed longer at trustworthy faces and made correct matches with the corresponding social descriptions. Improvements by patients with WS in the decision task were contingent on outcomes measured on the emotional NEPSY scale. We conclude that while spontaneous representation of trustworthiness is impaired in WS, top-down mechanisms of trust recognition appear partially preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Gomez
- Univ Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, F-69500, Lyon, France.
| | - Manuela Costa
- Univ Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, F-69500, Lyon, France
| | - Guillaume Lio
- Univ Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, F-69500, Lyon, France
| | - Angela Sirigu
- Univ Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, F-69500, Lyon, France
| | - Caroline Demily
- Univ Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, UMR 5229, F-69500, Lyon, France; Reference Center for Rare Diseases with Psychiatric Phenotype Génopsy, le Vinatier Hospital, Bron, France.
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22
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Niego A, Benítez-Burraco A. Autism and Williams syndrome: truly mirror conditions in the socio-cognitive domain? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2020; 68:399-415. [PMID: 35937179 PMCID: PMC9351567 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2020.1817717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Williams Syndrome (WS) are frequently characterized as mirror conditions in the socio-cognitive domain, with ASD entailing restrictive social interests and with WS exhibiting hypersociability. In this review paper, we examine in detail the strong points and deficits of people with ASD or WS in the socio-cognitive domain and show that both conditions also share some common features. Moreover, we explore the neurobiological basis of the social profile of ASD and WS and found a similar mixture of common affected areas and condition-specific impaired regions. We discuss these findings under the hypothesis of a continuum of the socio-cognitive abilities in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Niego
- Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
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23
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Nir A, Barak B. White matter alterations in Williams syndrome related to behavioral and motor impairments. Glia 2020; 69:5-19. [PMID: 32589817 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Myelin is the electrical insulator surrounding the neuronal axon that makes up the white matter (WM) of the brain. It helps increase axonal conduction velocity (CV) by inducing saltatory conduction. Damage to the myelin sheath and WM is associated with many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Decreasing myelin deficits, and thus improving axonal conduction, has the potential to serve as a therapeutic mechanism for reducing the severity of some of these disorders. Myelin deficits have been previously linked to abnormalities in social behavior, suggesting an interplay between brain connectivity and sociability. This review focuses on Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic disorder characterized by neurocognitive characteristics and motor abnormalities, mainly known for its hypersociability characteristic. We discuss fundamental aspects of WM in WS and how its alterations can affect motor abilities and social behavior. Overall, findings regarding changes in myelin genes and alterations in WM structure in WS suggest new targets for drug therapy aimed at improving conduction properties and altering brain-activity synchronization in this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Nir
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,The School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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24
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Kopp N, McCullough K, Maloney SE, Dougherty JD. Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 mutation do not account for the full phenotypic effect of the Williams syndrome critical region in mouse models. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3443-3465. [PMID: 31418010 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a 1.5-1.8 Mbp deletion on chromosome 7q11.23, affecting the copy number of 26-28 genes. Phenotypes of WS include cardiovascular problems, craniofacial dysmorphology, deficits in visual-spatial cognition and a characteristic hypersocial personality. There are still no genes in the region that have been consistently linked to the cognitive and behavioral phenotypes, although human studies and mouse models have led to the current hypothesis that the general transcription factor 2 I family of genes, GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, are responsible. Here we test the hypothesis that these two transcription factors are sufficient to reproduce the phenotypes that are caused by deletion of the WS critical region (WSCR). We compare a new mouse model with loss of function mutations in both Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 to an established mouse model lacking the complete WSCR. We show that the complete deletion (CD) model has deficits across several behavioral domains including social communication, motor functioning and conditioned fear that are not explained by loss of function mutations in Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling of the hippocampus shows changes in synaptic genes in the CD model that are not seen in the double mutants. Thus, we have thoroughly defined a set of molecular and behavioral consequences of complete WSCR deletion and shown that genes or combinations of genes beyond Gtf2i and Gtf2ird1 are necessary to produce these phenotypic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Kopp
- Department of Genetics.,Department of Psychiatry
| | | | - Susan E Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics.,Department of Psychiatry.,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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25
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Genes dysregulated in the blood of people with Williams syndrome are enriched in protein-coding genes positively selected in humans. Eur J Med Genet 2020; 63:103828. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2019.103828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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26
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Hrvoj-Mihic B, Semendeferi K. Neurodevelopmental disorders of the prefrontal cortex in an evolutionary context. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 250:109-127. [PMID: 31703898 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex consists of several cytoarchitectonically defined areas that are involved in higher-order cognitive and emotional processing. The areas are highly variable in terms of organization of cortical layers and distribution of specific neuronal classes, and are affected in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Here the focus is on microstructural anatomical characteristics of human prefrontal cortex in an evolutionary context with special emphasis on Williams syndrome. We include a pilot analysis of distribution of neurons labeled with an antibody to non-phosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI-32) in the frontal pole of Williams syndrome to further examine microstructural characteristics of the prefrontal cortex in Williams syndrome and implications of the distribution of SMI-32 immunoreactive neurons for connectivity between the frontal pole and other cortical areas in the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branka Hrvoj-Mihic
- University of California San Diego, Department of Anthropology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Katerina Semendeferi
- University of California San Diego, Department of Anthropology, La Jolla, CA, United States; University of California San Diego, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, La Jolla, CA, United States.
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27
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Benítez-Burraco A, Kimura R. Robust Candidates for Language Development and Evolution Are Significantly Dysregulated in the Blood of People With Williams Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:258. [PMID: 30971880 PMCID: PMC6444191 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a clinical condition, involving cognitive deficits and an uneven language profile, which has been the object of intense inquiry over the last decades. Although WS results from the hemideletion of around two dozen genes in chromosome 7, no gene has yet been probed to account for, or contribute significantly to, the language problems exhibited by the affected people. In this paper we have relied on gene expression profiles in the peripheral blood of WS patients obtained by microarray analysis and show that several robust candidates for language disorders and/or for language evolution in the species, all of them located outside the hemideleted region, are up- or downregulated in the blood of subjects with WS. Most of these genes play a role in the development and function of brain areas involved in language processing, which exhibit structural and functional anomalies in people with this condition. Overall, these genes emerge as robust candidates for language dysfunction in WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Ryo Kimura
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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28
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Niego A, Benítez-Burraco A. Williams Syndrome, Human Self-Domestication, and Language Evolution. Front Psychol 2019; 10:521. [PMID: 30936846 PMCID: PMC6431629 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Language evolution resulted from changes in our biology, behavior, and culture. One source of these changes might be human self-domestication. Williams syndrome (WS) is a clinical condition with a clearly defined genetic basis which results in a distinctive behavioral and cognitive profile, including enhanced sociability. In this paper we show evidence that the WS phenotype can be satisfactorily construed as a hyper-domesticated human phenotype, plausibly resulting from the effect of the WS hemideletion on selected candidates for domestication and neural crest (NC) function. Specifically, we show that genes involved in animal domestication and NC development and function are significantly dysregulated in the blood of subjects with WS. We also discuss the consequences of this link between domestication and WS for our current understanding of language evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Niego
- Ph.D. Program, Faculty of Humanities, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature, Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
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29
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Silva LAF, Kim CA, Matas CG. Características da avaliação auditiva na síndrome de Williams: revisão sistemática. Codas 2018; 30:e20170267. [DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20182017267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
RESUMO Objetivo Identificar por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura quais são as características da avaliação audiológica clínica de indivíduos com síndrome de Williams. Estratégia de pesquisa Inicialmente foi determinada a seguinte pergunta de pesquisa: “Quais são as características da avaliação auditiva clínica em indivíduos com síndrome de Williams?”. A partir desta, foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico em 4 bases de dados, utilizando-se dos seguintes descritores: síndrome de Williams (Williams syndrome), perda auditiva (hearing loss) e audiologia (audiology). Critérios de seleção Foram selecionados artigos com nível de evidência 1 ou 2, publicados na íntegra nos idiomas português brasileiro ou inglês. Análise dos dados Foram analisados os resultados obtidos nos testes auditivos utilizados na rotina clínica, incluindo: imitanciometria, audiometria tonal, emissões otoacústicas e potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico. Resultados 209 estudos foram encontrados, porém apenas 12 contemplaram os critérios de inclusão para o estudo. Foi possível observar prevalência de curva timpanométrica do tipo A, que pode ocorrer juntamente com ausência de reflexos acústicos, perda auditiva neurossensorial de grau leve a moderado acometendo principalmente as frequências altas, emissões otoacústicas ausentes ou de menor amplitude e potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico sem alteração retrococlear. Conclusão O comprometimento coclear é comum em indivíduos com síndrome de Williams e as principais alterações na avaliação auditiva nesta população são a ausência das emissões otoacústicas e dos reflexos acústicos bem como a presença de perda auditiva neurossensorial de grau leve a moderado principalmente nas frequências altas na audiometria tonal.
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30
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Toth M. The other side of the coin: Hypersociability. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 18:e12512. [PMID: 30101538 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Affiliative social motivation and behavior, that is, sociability that includes attachment, prosocial behavior (sharing, caring and helping) and empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others), has high variability in the human population, with a portion of people outside of the normal range. While psychiatric disorders and autism spectrum disorders are typically associated with a deficit in social behavior, the opposite trait of hypersociability and indiscriminate friendliness are exhibited by individual with specific neurodevelopmental disorders and following early adverse care. Here we discuss both genetic and environmental factors that cause or increase the risk for developing pathological hypersociability from human to rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklos Toth
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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31
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Baptista J, Sampaio A, Fachada I, Osório A, Mesquita AR, Garayzabal E, Duque F, Oliveira G, Soares I. Maternal Interactive Behaviours in Parenting Children with Williams Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Relations with Emotional/Behavioural Problems. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 49:216-226. [PMID: 30143949 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3715-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This study compared maternal responsiveness to children with two neurodevelopmental disorders sharing different but, in some cases, overlapping social phenotypes-Williams syndrome (WS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-and explored the relations between maternal responsiveness and child emotional/behavioural problems (EBP). The sample included 16 pre-schoolers with WS and 43 with ASD, and their mothers. Responsiveness was assessed during a mother-child interaction task. Mothers completed the CBCL 1½-5, providing a measure of EBP. No significant differences emerged between groups, and most dyads were characterized by less responsive behaviours. Maternal responsiveness proved related to child developmental age, but not with EBP. These results provide further insight into the rearing environment of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting the need for early relationship-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Baptista
- Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Inês Fachada
- Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Osório
- Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana R Mesquita
- Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Elena Garayzabal
- Department of Linguistics, University Autónoma of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frederico Duque
- Neurodevelopmental and Autism Unit from Child Developmental Center and Centro de Investigação e Formação Clinica, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Guiomar Oliveira
- Neurodevelopmental and Autism Unit from Child Developmental Center and Centro de Investigação e Formação Clinica, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Soares
- Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
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32
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Abnormalities in early visual processes are linked to hypersociability and atypical evaluation of facial trustworthiness: An ERP study with Williams syndrome. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2018; 17:1002-1017. [PMID: 28685402 PMCID: PMC5608800 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-017-0528-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Accurate assessment of trustworthiness is fundamental to successful and adaptive social behavior. Initially, people assess trustworthiness from facial appearance alone. These assessments then inform critical approach or avoid decisions. Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) exhibit a heightened social drive, especially toward strangers. This study investigated the temporal dynamics of facial trustworthiness evaluation in neurotypic adults (TD) and individuals with WS. We examined whether differences in neural activity during trustworthiness evaluation may explain increased approach motivation in WS compared to TD individuals. Event-related potentials were recorded while participants appraised faces previously rated as trustworthy or untrustworthy. TD participants showed increased sensitivity to untrustworthy faces within the first 65-90 ms, indexed by the negative-going rise of the P1 onset (oP1). The amplitude of the oP1 difference to untrustworthy minus trustworthy faces was correlated with lower approachability scores. In contrast, participants with WS showed increased N170 amplitudes to trustworthy faces. The N170 difference to low-high-trust faces was correlated with low approachability in TD and high approachability in WS. The findings suggest that hypersociability associated with WS may arise from abnormalities in the timing and organization of early visual brain activity during trustworthiness evaluation. More generally, the study provides support for the hypothesis that impairments in low-level perceptual processes can have a cascading effect on social cognition.
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33
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Sampaio A, Moreira PS, Osório A, Magalhães R, Vasconcelos C, Férnandez M, Carracedo A, Alegria J, Gonçalves ÓF, Soares JM. Altered functional connectivity of the default mode network in Williams syndrome: a multimodal approach. Dev Sci 2018; 19:686-95. [PMID: 27412230 DOI: 10.1111/desc.12443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Resting state brain networks are implicated in a variety of relevant brain functions. Importantly, abnormal patterns of functional connectivity (FC) have been reported in several neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, the Default Mode Network (DMN) has been found to be associated with social cognition. We hypothesize that the DMN may be altered in Williams syndrome (WS), a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder characterized by an unique cognitive and behavioral phenotype. In this study, we assessed the architecture of the DMN using fMRI in WS patients and typically developing matched controls (sex and age) in terms of FC and volumetry of the DMN. Moreover, we complemented the analysis with a functional connectome approach. After excluding participants due to movement artifacts (n = 3), seven participants with WS and their respective matched controls were included in the analyses. A decreased FC between the DMN regions was observed in the WS group when compared with the typically developing group. Specifically, we found a decreased FC in a posterior hub of the DMN including the precuneus, calcarine and the posterior cingulate of the left hemisphere. The functional connectome approach showed a focalized and global increased FC connectome in the WS group. The reduced FC of the posterior hub of the DMN in the WS group is consistent with immaturity of the brain FC patterns and may be associated with the singularity of their visual spatial phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Sampaio
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Portugal
| | - Pedro Silva Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Osório
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Portugal.,Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Post-Graduate Program on Developmental Disorders - Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Montse Férnandez
- Genetic Molecular Unit, Galician Public Foundation of Genomic Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Angel Carracedo
- Genetic Molecular Unit, Galician Public Foundation of Genomic Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Joana Alegria
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Portugal
| | - Óscar F Gonçalves
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Portugal.,Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.,Department of Applied Psychology, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, USA
| | - José Miguel Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Bostelmann M, Fragnière E, Costanzo F, Di Vara S, Menghini D, Vicari S, Lavenex P, Lavenex PB. Dissociation of spatial memory systems in Williams syndrome. Hippocampus 2017; 27:1192-1203. [PMID: 28710800 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic deletion syndrome, is characterized by severe visuospatial deficits affecting performance on both tabletop spatial tasks and on tasks which assess orientation and navigation. Nevertheless, previous studies of WS spatial capacities have ignored the fact that two different spatial memory systems are believed to contribute parallel spatial representations supporting navigation. The place learning system depends on the hippocampal formation and creates flexible relational representations of the environment, also known as cognitive maps. The spatial response learning system depends on the striatum and creates fixed stimulus-response representations, also known as habits. Indeed, no study assessing WS spatial competence has used tasks which selectively target these two spatial memory systems. Here, we report that individuals with WS exhibit a dissociation in their spatial abilities subserved by these two memory systems. As compared to typically developing (TD) children in the same mental age range, place learning performance was impaired in individuals with WS. In contrast, their spatial response learning performance was facilitated. Our findings in individuals with WS and TD children suggest that place learning and response learning interact competitively to control the behavioral strategies normally used to support human spatial navigation. Our findings further suggest that the neural pathways supporting place learning may be affected by the genetic deletion that characterizes WS, whereas those supporting response learning may be relatively preserved. The dissociation observed between these two spatial memory systems provides a coherent theoretical framework to characterize the spatial abilities of individuals with WS, and may lead to the development of new learning strategies based on their facilitated response learning abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Bostelmann
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, The Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1005, Switzerland
| | - Emilie Fragnière
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, The Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1005, Switzerland
| | - Floriana Costanzo
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Vara
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Pierre Lavenex
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, The Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1005, Switzerland
| | - Pamela Banta Lavenex
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, The Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1005, Switzerland
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vonHoldt BM, Shuldiner E, Koch IJ, Kartzinel RY, Hogan A, Brubaker L, Wanser S, Stahler D, Wynne CDL, Ostrander EA, Sinsheimer JS, Udell MAR. Structural variants in genes associated with human Williams-Beuren syndrome underlie stereotypical hypersociability in domestic dogs. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1700398. [PMID: 28776031 PMCID: PMC5517105 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Although considerable progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of morphologic traits (for example, body size and coat color) in dogs and wolves, the genetic basis of their behavioral divergence is poorly understood. An integrative approach using both behavioral and genetic data is required to understand the molecular underpinnings of the various behavioral characteristics associated with domestication. We analyze a 5-Mb genomic region on chromosome 6 previously found to be under positive selection in domestic dog breeds. Deletion of this region in humans is linked to Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), a multisystem congenital disorder characterized by hypersocial behavior. We associate quantitative data on behavioral phenotypes symptomatic of WBS in humans with structural changes in the WBS locus in dogs. We find that hypersociability, a central feature of WBS, is also a core element of domestication that distinguishes dogs from wolves. We provide evidence that structural variants in GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, genes previously implicated in the behavioral phenotype of patients with WBS and contained within the WBS locus, contribute to extreme sociability in dogs. This finding suggests that there are commonalities in the genetic architecture of WBS and canine tameness and that directional selection may have targeted a unique set of linked behavioral genes of large phenotypic effect, allowing for rapid behavioral divergence of dogs and wolves, facilitating coexistence with humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridgett M. vonHoldt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Corresponding author.
| | - Emily Shuldiner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Translational Genetics and Genomics Unit, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ilana Janowitz Koch
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Rebecca Y. Kartzinel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Andrew Hogan
- Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lauren Brubaker
- Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, OR 97331, USA
| | - Shelby Wanser
- Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, OR 97331, USA
| | - Daniel Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA
| | - Clive D. L. Wynne
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Elaine A. Ostrander
- Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janet S. Sinsheimer
- Departments of Human Genetics and Biomathematics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Monique A. R. Udell
- Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, OR 97331, USA
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36
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Saj A, Heiz J, Barisnikov K. Where is the 'subjective straight ahead' in Williams syndrome? JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2017; 61:512-518. [PMID: 28185328 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) are known to have particular difficulties when performing visuo-spatial tasks, which could be related to their difficulties in using a specific reference system to determine spatial relations. The aim of the present study was to assess the internal representation of the body's sagittal plane, which is an important benchmark for an egocentric frame of reference. METHOD The results of 18 WS individuals (mean age = 20.5 ± 9.2 years) on the subjective straight ahead (SSA) task were compared with those of two healthy control groups composed of 36 participants matched on chronological age matched on chronological age (CA) and 30 young children matched on non-verbal intellectual ability (YC). RESULTS Individuals with WS showed a significant left deviation on the SSA body's sagittal plane representation compared with the chronological age control group and a marginal left deviation compared with the young children control group. A comparison with the objective SA (0°) showed a significant leftward deviation in the WS group but not in the two control groups. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with WS showed a significant leftward deviation in the SSA task. This bias of the body's longitudinal axe representation could have a negative impact on the use of an egocentric reference system, which could be the cause for their difficulties in defining spatial relations (e.g. location and orientation) necessary for performing spatial tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Saj
- Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology Unit, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - J Heiz
- Department of Psychology, Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - K Barisnikov
- Department of Psychology, Child Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, University of Geneva, Switzerland
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37
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Doğan ÖA, Şimşek Kiper PÖ, Utine GE, Alikaşifoğlu M, Boduroğlu K. A Diagnosis to Consider in an Adult Patient with Facial Features and Intellectual Disability: Williams Syndrome. Korean J Fam Med 2017; 38:102-105. [PMID: 28360987 PMCID: PMC5371580 DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.2.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (OMIM #194050) is a rare, well-recognized, multisystemic genetic condition affecting approximately 1/7,500 individuals. There are no marked regional differences in the incidence of Williams syndrome. The syndrome is caused by a hemizygous deletion of approximately 28 genes, including ELN on chromosome 7q11.2. Prenatal-onset growth retardation, distinct facial appearance, cardiovascular abnormalities, and unique hypersocial behavior are among the most common clinical features. Here, we report the case of a patient referred to us with distinct facial features and intellectual disability, who was diagnosed with Williams syndrome at the age of 37 years. Our aim is to increase awareness regarding the diagnostic features and complications of this recognizable syndrome among adult health care providers. Williams syndrome is usually diagnosed during infancy or childhood, but in the absence of classical findings, such as cardiovascular anomalies, hypercalcemia, and cognitive impairment, the diagnosis could be delayed. Due to the multisystemic and progressive nature of the syndrome, accurate diagnosis is critical for appropriate care and screening for the associated morbidities that may affect the patient's health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Akgün Doğan
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Gülen Eda Utine
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Alikaşifoğlu
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Koray Boduroğlu
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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38
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Abstract
Williams syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by an uncommon hypersociability and a mosaic of retained and compromised linguistic and cognitive abilities. Nearly all clinically diagnosed individuals with Williams syndrome lack precisely the same set of genes, with breakpoints in chromosome band 7q11.23 (refs 1-5). The contribution of specific genes to the neuroanatomical and functional alterations, leading to behavioural pathologies in humans, remains largely unexplored. Here we investigate neural progenitor cells and cortical neurons derived from Williams syndrome and typically developing induced pluripotent stem cells. Neural progenitor cells in Williams syndrome have an increased doubling time and apoptosis compared with typically developing neural progenitor cells. Using an individual with atypical Williams syndrome, we narrowed this cellular phenotype to a single gene candidate, frizzled 9 (FZD9). At the neuronal stage, layer V/VI cortical neurons derived from Williams syndrome were characterized by longer total dendrites, increased numbers of spines and synapses, aberrant calcium oscillation and altered network connectivity. Morphometric alterations observed in neurons from Williams syndrome were validated after Golgi staining of post-mortem layer V/VI cortical neurons. This model of human induced pluripotent stem cells fills the current knowledge gap in the cellular biology of Williams syndrome and could lead to further insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the disorder and the human social brain.
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39
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Batulan Z, Pulakazhi Venu VK, Li Y, Koumbadinga G, Alvarez-Olmedo DG, Shi C, O'Brien ER. Extracellular Release and Signaling by Heat Shock Protein 27: Role in Modifying Vascular Inflammation. Front Immunol 2016; 7:285. [PMID: 27507972 PMCID: PMC4960997 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is traditionally viewed as an intracellular chaperone protein with anti-apoptotic properties. However, recent data indicate that a number of heat shock proteins, including HSP27, are also found in the extracellular space where they may signal via membrane receptors to alter gene transcription and cellular function. Therefore, there is increasing interest in better understanding how HSP27 is released from cells, its levels and composition in the extracellular space, and the cognate cell membrane receptors involved in effecting cell signaling. In this paper, the knowledge to date, as well as some emerging paradigms about the extracellular function of HSP27 is presented. Of particular interest is the role of HSP27 in attenuating atherogenesis by modifying lipid uptake and inflammation in the plaque. Moreover, the abundance of HSP27 in serum is an emerging new biomarker for ischemic events. Finally, HSP27 replacement therapy may represent a novel therapeutic opportunity for chronic inflammatory disorders, such as atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zarah Batulan
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Health Research Innovation Centre, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine , Calgary, AB , Canada
| | - Vivek Krishna Pulakazhi Venu
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Health Research Innovation Centre, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine , Calgary, AB , Canada
| | - Yumei Li
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Health Research Innovation Centre, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine , Calgary, AB , Canada
| | - Geremy Koumbadinga
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Health Research Innovation Centre, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine , Calgary, AB , Canada
| | - Daiana Gisela Alvarez-Olmedo
- Oncology Laboratory, Institute for Experimental Medicine and Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), CCT CONICET , Mendoza , Argentina
| | - Chunhua Shi
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Health Research Innovation Centre, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine , Calgary, AB , Canada
| | - Edward R O'Brien
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, Health Research Innovation Centre, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine , Calgary, AB , Canada
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40
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Bellugi U, Järvinen-Pasley A, Doyle TF, Reilly J, Reiss AL, Korenberg JR. Affect, Social Behavior, and the Brain in Williams Syndrome. CURRENT DIRECTIONS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00484.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual impairment and a distinctive physical and neuropsychological profile. Relative to their level of intellectual functioning, individuals with WS exhibit strengths in language and face recognition, with deficits in visual-spatial cognition. A heightened appetitive drive toward social interaction is a strong behavioral feature. Relative to other neurodevelopmental disorders, WS has a clearly defined genetic basis, together with a consistent neurocognitive profile of strengths and deficits. Thus, this disorder offers unique opportunities for elucidating gene–brain–behavior relationships. We focus on manifestations of the unusual social profile in WS, by examining data within and across levels of cognition, brain, and molecular genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Bellugi
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | | | - Teresa F. Doyle
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Judy Reilly
- San Diego State University
- University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
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41
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Osório AAC, Rossi NF, Gonçalves ÓF, Sampaio A, Giacheti CM. Psychopathology and behavior problems in children and adolescents with Williams syndrome: Distinctive relationships with cognition. Child Neuropsychol 2016; 23:631-641. [PMID: 27224940 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2016.1183607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have documented the high prevalence of psychopathology and behavior problems in Williams syndrome (WS). However, the links between cognitive development and such symptoms need further clarification. Our study aims to expand current knowledge on levels of behavior problems and its links to cognition in a sample of Brazilian individuals with WS. A total of 25 children and adolescents with WS and their parents participated in this study. The participants' IQs were assessed with the Wechsler Scales of Intelligence (for children or adults) and parental reports of psychopathology/behavior problems were collected using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The presence of clinically significant attention problems was a main feature in our sample of children and adolescents with WS. In the children, higher IQ scores were found to be significantly associated with less externalizing problems, while in the adolescents cognitive abilities were found to be associated with less internalizing symptoms. These results provide further insight into the links between psychopathology and behavior problems and cognitive abilities in WS, and suggest the need to take age into consideration when analyzing such relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana A C Osório
- a Center for Biological and Health Sciences , Mackenzie Presbyterian University , São Paulo , Brazil.,b CIPsi-School of Psychology , University of Minho , Braga , Portugal
| | - Natália F Rossi
- c Post-Graduate Program in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology , São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus of Marília , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Óscar F Gonçalves
- b CIPsi-School of Psychology , University of Minho , Braga , Portugal.,d Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation , Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital & Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Charlestown , MA , USA.,e Applied Psychology Department, Bouvé College of Health Sciences , Northeastern University , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- b CIPsi-School of Psychology , University of Minho , Braga , Portugal
| | - Célia M Giacheti
- c Post-Graduate Program in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology , São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus of Marília , São Paulo , Brazil.,f Department of Speech, Language Pathology and Audiology , São Paulo State University (UNESP) , Marília , Brazil
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42
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Barak B, Feng G. Neurobiology of social behavior abnormalities in autism and Williams syndrome. Nat Neurosci 2016; 19:647-655. [PMID: 29323671 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Social behavior is a basic behavior mediated by multiple brain regions and neural circuits, and is crucial for the survival and development of animals and humans. Two neuropsychiatric disorders that have prominent social behavior abnormalities are autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which is characterized mainly by hyposociability, and Williams syndrome (WS), whose subjects exhibit hypersociability. Here we review the unique properties of social behavior in ASD and WS, and discuss the major theories in social behavior in the context of these disorders. We conclude with a discussion of the research questions needing further exploration to enhance our understanding of social behavior abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boaz Barak
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Brain &Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Brain &Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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43
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Perinatally Influenced Autonomic System Fluctuations Drive Infant Vocal Sequences. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1249-60. [PMID: 27068420 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The variable vocal behavior of human infants is the scaffolding upon which speech and social interactions develop. It is important to know what factors drive this developmentally critical behavioral output. Using marmoset monkeys as a model system, we first addressed whether the initial conditions for vocal output and its sequential structure are perinatally influenced. Using dizygotic twins and Markov analyses of their vocal sequences, we found that in the first postnatal week, twins had more similar vocal sequences to each other than to their non-twin siblings. Moreover, both twins and their siblings had more vocal sequence similarity with each other than with non-sibling infants. Using electromyography, we then investigated the physiological basis of vocal sequence structure by measuring respiration and arousal levels (via changes in heart rate). We tested the hypothesis that early-life influences on vocal output are via fluctuations of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) mediated by vocal biomechanics. We found that arousal levels fluctuate at ∼0.1 Hz (the Mayer wave) and that this slow oscillation modulates the amplitude of the faster, ∼1.0 Hz respiratory rhythm. The systematic changes in respiratory amplitude result in the different vocalizations that comprise infant vocal sequences. Among twins, the temporal structure of arousal level changes was similar and therefore indicates why their vocal sequences were similar. Our study shows that vocal sequences are tightly linked to respiratory patterns that are modulated by ANS fluctuations and that the temporal structure of ANS fluctuations is perinatally influenced.
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44
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Lalli MA, Jang J, Park JHC, Wang Y, Guzman E, Zhou H, Audouard M, Bridges D, Tovar KR, Papuc SM, Tutulan-Cunita AC, Huang Y, Budisteanu M, Arghir A, Kosik KS. Haploinsufficiency of BAZ1B contributes to Williams syndrome through transcriptional dysregulation of neurodevelopmental pathways. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1294-306. [PMID: 26755828 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a genomic deletion of ∼28 genes that results in a cognitive and behavioral profile marked by overall intellectual impairment with relative strength in expressive language and hypersocial behavior. Advancements in protocols for neuron differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells allowed us to elucidate the molecular circuitry underpinning the ontogeny of WS. In patient-derived stem cells and neurons, we determined the expression profile of the Williams-Beuren syndrome critical region-deleted genes and the genome-wide transcriptional consequences of the hemizygous genomic microdeletion at chromosome 7q11.23. Derived neurons displayed disease-relevant hallmarks and indicated novel aberrant pathways in WS neurons including over-activated Wnt signaling accompanying an incomplete neurogenic commitment. We show that haploinsufficiency of the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler, BAZ1B, which is deleted in WS, significantly contributes to this differentiation defect. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq) revealed BAZ1B target gene functions are enriched for neurogenesis, neuron differentiation and disease-relevant phenotypes. BAZ1B haploinsufficiency caused widespread gene expression changes in neural progenitor cells, and together with BAZ1B ChIP-seq target genes, explained 42% of the transcriptional dysregulation in WS neurons. BAZ1B contributes to regulating the balance between neural precursor self-renewal and differentiation and the differentiation defect caused by BAZ1B haploinsufficiency can be rescued by mitigating over-active Wnt signaling in neural stem cells. Altogether, these results reveal a pivotal role for BAZ1B in neurodevelopment and implicate its haploinsufficiency as a likely contributor to the neurological phenotypes in WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Lalli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program
| | - Jiwon Jang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Joo-Hye C Park
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Yidi Wang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Elmer Guzman
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Hongjun Zhou
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Morgane Audouard
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Daniel Bridges
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth R Tovar
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute
| | - Sorina M Papuc
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Clinical Cytogenetics, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Yadong Huang
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA and
| | - Magdalena Budisteanu
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Clinical Cytogenetics, Bucharest, Romania, Alexandru Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Neuropediatric Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aurora Arghir
- Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Clinical Cytogenetics, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Kenneth S Kosik
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program,
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45
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Castelhano J, Bernardino I, Rebola J, Rodriguez E, Castelo-Branco M. Oscillations or Synchrony? Disruption of Neural Synchrony despite Enhanced Gamma Oscillations in a Model of Disrupted Perceptual Coherence. J Cogn Neurosci 2015; 27:2416-26. [DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_00863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
It has been hypothesized that neural synchrony underlies perceptual coherence. The hypothesis of loss of central perceptual coherence has been proposed to be at the origin of abnormal cognition in autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder linked with autism, and a clearcut model for impaired central coherence. We took advantage of this model of impaired holistic processing to test the hypothesis that loss of neural synchrony plays a separable role in visual integration using EEG and a set of experimental tasks requiring coherent integration of local elements leading to 3-D face perception. A profound reorganization of brain activity was identified. Neural synchrony was reduced across stimulus conditions, and this was associated with increased amplitude modulation at 25–45 Hz. This combination of a dramatic loss of synchrony despite increased oscillatory activity is strong evidence that synchrony underlies central coherence. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that dissociation between amplitude and synchrony is reported in a human model of impaired perceptual coherence, suggesting that loss of phase coherence is more directly related to disruption of holistic perception.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eugenio Rodriguez
- 2Max-Planck for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- 3Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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46
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Vega JN, Hohman TJ, Pryweller JR, Dykens EM, Thornton-Wells TA. Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Individuals with Down Syndrome and Williams Syndrome Compared with Typically Developing Controls. Brain Connect 2015; 5:461-75. [PMID: 25712025 PMCID: PMC4601631 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2014.0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis, which examines temporal correlations of low-frequency (<0.1 Hz) blood oxygen level-dependent signal fluctuations between brain regions, has dramatically improved our understanding of the functional architecture of the typically developing (TD) human brain. This study examined rsFC in Down syndrome (DS) compared with another neurodevelopmental disorder, Williams syndrome (WS), and TD. Ten subjects with DS, 18 subjects with WS, and 40 subjects with TD each participated in a 3-Tesla MRI scan. We tested for group differences (DS vs. TD, DS vs. WS, and WS vs. TD) in between- and within-network rsFC connectivity for seven functional networks. For the DS group, we also examined associations between rsFC and other cognitive and genetic risk factors. In DS compared with TD, we observed higher levels of between-network connectivity in 6 out 21 network pairs but no differences in within-network connectivity. Participants with WS showed lower levels of within-network connectivity and no significant differences in between-network connectivity relative to DS. Finally, our comparison between WS and TD controls revealed lower within-network connectivity in multiple networks and higher between-network connectivity in one network pair relative to TD controls. While preliminary due to modest sample sizes, our findings suggest a global difference in between-network connectivity in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders compared with controls and that such a difference is exacerbated across many brain regions in DS. However, this alteration in DS does not appear to extend to within-network connections, and therefore, the altered between-network connectivity must be interpreted within the framework of an intact intra-network pattern of activity. In contrast, WS shows markedly lower levels of within-network connectivity in the default mode network and somatomotor network relative to controls. These findings warrant further investigation using a task-based procedure that may help disentangle the relationship between brain function and cognitive performance across the spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Vega
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Timothy J. Hohman
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jennifer R. Pryweller
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Neuroimaging of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, The Graduate School, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Elisabeth M. Dykens
- Center for Cognitive Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Tricia A. Thornton-Wells
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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47
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Boggio PS, Asthana MK, Costa TL, Valasek CA, Osório AAC. Promoting social plasticity in developmental disorders with non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:294. [PMID: 26388712 PMCID: PMC4555066 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Being socially connected directly impacts our basic needs and survival. People with deficits in social cognition might exhibit abnormal behaviors and face many challenges in our highly social-dependent world. These challenges and limitations are associated with a substantial economical and subjective impact. As many conditions where social cognition is affected are highly prevalent, more treatments have to be developed. Based on recent research, we review studies where non-invasive neuromodulatory techniques have been used to promote Social Plasticity in developmental disorders. We focused on three populations where non-invasive brain stimulation seems to be a promising approach in inducing social plasticity: Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Williams Syndrome (WS). There are still very few studies directly evaluating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the social cognition of these populations. However, when considering the promising preliminary evidences presented in this review and the limited amount of clinical interventions available for treating social cognition deficits in these populations today, it is clear that the social neuroscientist arsenal may profit from non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for rehabilitation and promotion of social plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo S Boggio
- Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manish K Asthana
- Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago L Costa
- Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cláudia A Valasek
- Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana A C Osório
- Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University Sao Paulo, Brazil
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48
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Ng R, Brown TT, Erhart M, Järvinen AM, Korenberg JR, Bellugi U, Halgren E. Morphological differences in the mirror neuron system in Williams syndrome. Soc Neurosci 2015; 11:277-88. [PMID: 26230578 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2015.1070746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition characterized by an overly gregarious personality, including high empathetic concern for others. Although seemingly disparate from the profile of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), both are associated with deficits in social communication/cognition. Notably, the mirror neuron system (MNS) has been implicated in social dysfunction for ASD; yet, the integrity of this network and its association with social functioning in WS remains unknown. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods were used to examine the structural integrity of the MNS of adults with WS versus typically developing (TD) individuals. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a tool typically used to screen for social features of ASD, was also employed to assess the relationships between social functioning with the MNS morphology in WS participants. WS individuals showed reduced cortical surface area of MNS substrates yet relatively preserved cortical thickness as compared to TD adults. Increased cortical thickness of the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) was associated with increased deficits in social communication, social awareness, social cognition, and autistic mannerisms. However, social motivation was not related to anatomical features of the MNS. Our findings indicate that social deficits typical to both ASD and WS may be attributed to an aberrant MNS, whereas the unusual social drive marked in WS is subserved by substrates distinct from this network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- a Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience , Salk Institute for Biological Studies , La Jolla , CA , USA.,b Institute of Child Development , University of Minnesota, Twin Cities , Minneapolis , MN , USA
| | - Timothy T Brown
- c Multimodal Imaging Laboratory , University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA.,d Department of Neurosciences , University of California, San Diego School of Medicine , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Matthew Erhart
- c Multimodal Imaging Laboratory , University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Anna M Järvinen
- a Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience , Salk Institute for Biological Studies , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Julie R Korenberg
- e Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Ursula Bellugi
- a Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience , Salk Institute for Biological Studies , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Eric Halgren
- c Multimodal Imaging Laboratory , University of California, San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA.,d Department of Neurosciences , University of California, San Diego School of Medicine , La Jolla , CA , USA.,f Department of Radiology , University of California, San Diego School of Medicine , La Jolla , CA , USA
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49
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Ng R, Brown TT, Järvinen AM, Erhart M, Korenberg JR, Bellugi U, Halgren E. Structural integrity of the limbic-prefrontal connection: Neuropathological correlates of anxiety in Williams syndrome. Soc Neurosci 2015. [PMID: 26214361 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2015.1057294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition characterized by a hypersocial personality and desire to form close relationships, juxtaposed with significant anxieties of nonsocial events. The neural underpinnings of anxiety in individuals with WS are currently unknown. Aberrations in the anatomical and microstructural integrity of the uncinate fasciculus (UF) have been recently implicated in social and generalized anxiety disorders. Based on these findings, we tested the hypothesis that the reported anxieties in individuals with WS share similar neuropathological correlates. Toward this end, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) methods were employed to examine the microstructural integrity (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, longitudinal diffusivity) of the UF in 18 WS and 15 typically developing adults (TD). Anxiety and sociability questionnaires were administered to determine associations with DTI indices of UF across groups. Results revealed comparable white matter integrity of the UF across groups, yet elevated subjective experience of anxiety in those with WS. Additionally, sociability and UF microstructural properties were dissociated across both groups. Whereas no relationships were found between DTI indices and anxiety in TD participants, strong negative associations were observed between these constructs in individuals with WS. Findings indicated that increased anxiety manifested by individuals with WS was associated with DTI measures of the UF and may signal structural or possibly physiological aberration involving this tract within the prefrontal-temporal network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- a Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience , Salk Institute for Biological Studies , La Jolla , CA , USA.,b Institute of Child Development , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , MN , USA
| | - Timothy T Brown
- c Multimodal Imaging Laboratory , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA.,d Department of Neurosciences , University of California, San Diego School of Medicine , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Anna M Järvinen
- a Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience , Salk Institute for Biological Studies , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Matthew Erhart
- c Multimodal Imaging Laboratory , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Julie R Korenberg
- e Center for Integrated Neuroscience and Human Behavior , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Ursula Bellugi
- a Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience , Salk Institute for Biological Studies , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Eric Halgren
- c Multimodal Imaging Laboratory , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , CA , USA.,f Department of Radiology , University of California, San Diego School of Medicine , La Jolla , CA , USA
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Van Herwegen J. Williams syndrome and its cognitive profile: the importance of eye movements. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2015; 8:143-51. [PMID: 26082669 PMCID: PMC4461016 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s63474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
People with Williams syndrome (WS), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that is caused by a deletion on the long arm of chromosome 7, often show an uneven cognitive profile with participants performing better on language and face recognition tasks, in contrast to visuospatial and number tasks. Recent studies have shown that this specific cognitive profile in WS is a result of atypical developmental processes that interact with and affect brain development from infancy onward. Using examples from language, face processing, number, and visuospatial studies, this review evaluates current evidence from eye-tracking and developmental studies and argues that domain general processes, such as the ability to plan or execute saccades, influence the development of these domain-specific outcomes. Although more research on eye movements in WS is required, the importance of eye movements for cognitive development suggests a possible intervention pathway to improve cognitive abilities in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Van Herwegen
- Department of Psychology, Kingston University London, Surrey, UK
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