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Bertels N, Molenaers G, Van Campenhout A, Craenen K, Franki I. An evaluation of factors contributing to employment in adults with cerebral palsy. Disabil Rehabil 2024; 46:2577-2583. [PMID: 37399533 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2227094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the impact of a selection of contributing factors on employment in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD Eighty adults with CP (39 male, median age 31, IQ > 70) were evaluated using standardized tests and questionnaires for hand function, gross motor function, pain, depressive symptoms, fatigue, social participation, performing daily activities, supportive materials, and mobility aids. Two separate analyses were performed. Firstly, differences between three subgroups were investigated: employee (n = 43), volunteer/sheltered (n = 14), and unemployed (n = 23). Secondly, multivariable regression analysis was applied to investigate the association between functional factors and employment hours. RESULTS Compared to employees, volunteer/sheltered workers performed significantly slower hand function tasks (p < 0.001). Participants in the employee group had primarily MACS I (55.8%) or MACS II (44.9%) scores. The employee group showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher social participation and performance in daily activities. Thirty-eight percent of the variance in working hours could be explained by social participation, daily activities, fatigue, and gross motor function. INTERPRETATION Employees are more likely adults with CP with better manual abilities. Sheltered/volunteer workers showed slower execution in hand function and higher limitations in fine motor skills. Social participation, performing daily activities, fatigue, and gross motor function are functional factors associated with hours of employment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Bertels
- University Hospitals Leuven - Campus Pellenberg, Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Leuven, Belgium
- Hasselt University, REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Guy Molenaers
- University Hospitals Leuven - Campus Pellenberg, Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Belgium, Leuven
- Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anja Van Campenhout
- University Hospitals Leuven - Campus Pellenberg, Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Belgium, Leuven
- Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karen Craenen
- University Hospitals Leuven - Campus Pellenberg, Cerebral Palsy Clinic, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Franki
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Belgium, Leuven
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Kangarani-Farahani M, Malik MA, Zwicker JG. Motor Impairments in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:1977-1997. [PMID: 36949273 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05948-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
This article comprehensively reviews motor impairments in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to: (1) determine the prevalence of motor problems in children with ASD; (2) understand the nature of motor difficulties in ASD and whether they are consistent with developmental coordination disorder (DCD); and (3) determine if the term DCD was used as a co-occurring diagnosis in children with ASD after publication of the DSM-5 in 2013. The following databases were systematically searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from 2010 to December 2021. Articles were included if they: (1) were peer-reviewed and published in a scientific journal; (2) included children with ASD who were between 5 and 12 years; (3) used motor or function measures to assess motor abilities in children with ASD. Studies that included children with intellectual disabilities were excluded. Two independent reviewers reviewed titles, abstracts, and full-text articles for inclusion. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for quality by two independent reviewers using the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies. The majority of articles (92.5%) indicated that 50-88% of children with ASD had significant motor impairments on standardized motor assessments and/or functional questionnaires. The nature of motor and function problems in ASD were consistent with DCD; however, only three out of 20 papers (15%) that were published from 2014 described the motor problems as DCD. One study reported that 15.1% of children with ASD with motor impairments had a co-occurring diagnosis of DCD, suggesting that DCD is under-recognized in this clinical population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melika Kangarani-Farahani
- Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, K3-180 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Myrah Anum Malik
- Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, K3-180 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Jill G Zwicker
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, K3-180 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4, Canada.
- Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, Hamilton, Canada.
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Messing A, Apthorp D. Autistic traits are associated with individual differences in finger tapping: an online study. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15406. [PMID: 37214091 PMCID: PMC10198151 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In a novel online study, we explored whether finger tapping differences are evident in people with autistic traits in the general population. We hypothesised that those with higher autistic traits would show more impairment in finger tapping, and that age would moderate tapping output. The study included a non-diagnosed population of 159 participants aged 18-78 who completed an online measure of autistic traits (the AQ-10) and a measure of finger tapping (the FTT). Results showed those with higher AQ-10 scores recorded lower tapping scores in both hands. Moderation analysis showed younger participants with more autistic traits recorded lower tapping scores for the dominant hand. This suggests motor differences seen in autism studies are evident in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alycia Messing
- School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Deborah Apthorp
- School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Computing, Australian National University, Canberra, New South Wales, Australia
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Sultan S. Translating neuroimaging changes to neuro-endophenotypes of autistic spectrum disorder: a narrative review. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-022-00578-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Autism-spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with heterogeneity in etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation. Neuroanatomical and neurophysiological abnormalities may represent neural endophenotypes for autism spectrum disorders which may help identify subgroups of patients seemingly similar in clinical presentation yet different in their pathophysiological underpinnings. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of disease can pave the way to effective treatments, prevention, and prognostic predictions. The aim of this review is to identify the predominant neural endophenotypes in autism-spectrum disorder. The evidence was researched at the following electronic databases: Pubmed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE.
Results
Enlarged brain, especially frontotemporal cortices have been consistently reported by structural neuroimaging, whereas functional neuroimaging has revealed frontotemporal dysconnectivity.
Conclusions
Regrettably, many of these findings have not been consistent. Therefore, translating these findings into neural endophenotype is by far an attempt in its budding stage. The structural and functional neuroimaging changes may represent neural endophenotypes unique to autism-spectrum disorder. Despite inconsistent results, a clinically meaningful finding may require combined efforts of autism-spectrum-disorder researchers focused on different aspects of basic, genetic, neuroimaging, and clinical research.
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Wynn CJ, Josephson ER, Borrie SA. An Examination of Articulatory Precision in Autistic Children and Adults. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2022; 65:1416-1425. [PMID: 35235372 PMCID: PMC9499346 DOI: 10.1044/2021_jslhr-21-00490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE According to the speech attunement framework, autistic individuals lack the ability and/or motivation to "tune up" their speech to the same level of precision as their neurotypical peers. However, previous studies exploring the articulatory patterns of autistic individuals have yielded disparate findings. One reason contrasting conclusions exist may be because studies have relied on perceptual measures of articulation. Here, we use an objective acoustic measure of articulatory precision to explore the articulatory patterns of autistic children and adults. METHOD This was a retrospective analysis of an existing corpus of 900 recorded speech samples taken from 30 adult and 30 child participants across two different population groups: autistic individuals (autism spectrum disorder [ASD] group) and neurotypical individuals (neurotypical [NT] group). Articulatory precision scores were calculated using an automated metric that compares observed acoustics to the expected acoustics for each phoneme production. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare the articulatory precision scores across population group (i.e., ASD group vs. NT group) and to see if these differences were moderated by age group (i.e., children vs. adult). RESULTS The speech of autistic individuals was characterized by reduced articulatory precision relative to their neurotypical peers. This pattern was not significantly moderated by age, indicating it occurred in both the children and adult groups. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary findings indicate that imprecise articulation may be a characteristic of the speech of autistic individuals in both childhood and adulthood. These findings are in line with predictions posited by the speech attunement framework. Given the current lack of speech markers for this clinical population and the importance of speech quality in the social integration of autistic individuals, our results advance articulatory precision as a viable and important target for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille J. Wynn
- Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, Utah State University, Logan
| | | | - Stephanie A. Borrie
- Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, Utah State University, Logan
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Pretzsch CM, Floris DL, Voinescu B, Elsahib M, Mendez MA, Wichers R, Ajram L, Ivin G, Heasman M, Pretzsch E, Williams S, Murphy DGM, Daly E, McAlonan GM. Modulation of striatal functional connectivity differences in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder in a single-dose randomized trial of cannabidivarin. Mol Autism 2021; 12:49. [PMID: 34210360 PMCID: PMC8252312 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00454-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a high cost to affected individuals and society, but treatments for core symptoms are lacking. To expand intervention options, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of potential treatment targets, and their engagement, in the brain. For instance, the striatum (caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens) plays a central role during development and its (atypical) functional connectivity (FC) may contribute to multiple ASD symptoms. We have previously shown, in the adult autistic and neurotypical brain, the non-intoxicating cannabinoid cannabidivarin (CBDV) alters the balance of striatal 'excitatory-inhibitory' metabolites, which help regulate FC, but the effects of CBDV on (atypical) striatal FC are unknown. METHODS To examine this in a small pilot study, we acquired resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 28 men (15 neurotypicals, 13 ASD) on two occasions in a repeated-measures, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. We then used a seed-based approach to (1) compare striatal FC between groups and (2) examine the effect of pharmacological probing (600 mg CBDV/matched placebo) on atypical striatal FC in ASD. Visits were separated by at least 13 days to allow for drug washout. RESULTS Compared to the neurotypicals, ASD individuals had lower FC between the ventral striatum and frontal and pericentral regions (which have been associated with emotion, motor, and vision processing). Further, they had higher intra-striatal FC and higher putamenal FC with temporal regions involved in speech and language. In ASD, CBDV reduced hyperconnectivity to the neurotypical level. LIMITATIONS Our findings should be considered in light of several methodological aspects, in particular our participant group (restricted to male adults), which limits the generalizability of our findings to the wider and heterogeneous ASD population. CONCLUSION In conclusion, here we show atypical striatal FC with regions commonly associated with ASD symptoms. We further provide preliminary proof of concept that, in the adult autistic brain, acute CBDV administration can modulate atypical striatal circuitry towards neurotypical function. Future studies are required to determine whether modulation of striatal FC is associated with a change in ASD symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03537950. Registered May 25th, 2018-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03537950?term=NCT03537950&draw=2&rank=1 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte M. Pretzsch
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Dorothea L. Floris
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bogdan Voinescu
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Bristol Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Malka Elsahib
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Maria A. Mendez
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert Wichers
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Department of Psychiatry GGZ Geest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Ajram
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Medicines Discovery Catapult, Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, SK10 4TG Cheshire UK
| | - Glynis Ivin
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Martin Heasman
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Elise Pretzsch
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Steven Williams
- Department of Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Declan G. M. Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Gráinne M. McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK
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Hassan EB, Imani M, Duque G. Is Physical Frailty a Neuromuscular Condition? J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020; 20:1556-1557. [PMID: 31780040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim Bani Hassan
- Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine-Western Health, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mahdi Imani
- Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine-Western Health, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gustavo Duque
- Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine-Western Health, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia.
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Zhao H, Zheng Z, Swanson A, Weitlauf A, Warren Z, Sarkar N. Design of a Haptic-Gripper Virtual Reality System (Hg) for Analyzing Fine Motor Behaviors in Children with Autism. ACM TRANSACTIONS ON ACCESSIBLE COMPUTING 2018. [DOI: 10.1145/3231938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Fine motor skills, including grasping, manipulating, and reaching for objects, are a documented weakness for many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, relatively less research has attempted to address these motor deficits, especially by taking advantage of advanced technology. To explore potential mechanisms for expanding accessibility to fine motor intervention for people with ASD, we present the design and implementation of a feasibility study of a novel Haptic-Gripper Virtual Reality System (Hg). Hg is capable of providing analysis and practice opportunities of fine motor skills in an adaptive and low-cost virtual environment with real-time auditory, visual, and haptic feedback. The Haptic Gripper in Hg can detect a user's grip force and hand location and provide haptic feedback to guide hand movement and grip control while completing several simple and engaging virtual fine motor tasks. We conducted a feasibility study with six children with ASD and six typically developing (TD) children and found that participants were interested in using the Haptic Gripper and could quickly get used to the system. Although the results are preliminary and limited, we observed medium to strong correlations between the proposed fine motor skill metrics and the scores achieved with a standardized fine motor skill test and improvements of participants in accuracy and steadiness of movement and force control. This study provides important guidance for future investigations of the Hg's potential for assessing and improving fine motor manipulation skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhao
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Zhaobo Zheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Amy Swanson
- Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Amy Weitlauf
- Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Zachary Warren
- Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Nilanjan Sarkar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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Moseley RL, Pulvermüller F. What can autism teach us about the role of sensorimotor systems in higher cognition? New clues from studies on language, action semantics, and abstract emotional concept processing. Cortex 2018; 100:149-190. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Adorjan I, Ahmed B, Feher V, Torso M, Krug K, Esiri M, Chance SA, Szele FG. Calretinin interneuron density in the caudate nucleus is lower in autism spectrum disorder. Brain 2017; 140:2028-2040. [PMID: 29177493 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awx131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a debilitating condition with possible neurodevelopmental origins but unknown neuroanatomical correlates. Whereas investigators have paid much attention to the cerebral cortex, few studies have detailed the basal ganglia in autism. The caudate nucleus may be involved in the repetitive movements and limbic changes of autism. We used immunohistochemistry for calretinin and neuropeptide Y in 24 age- and gender-matched patients with autism spectrum disorder and control subjects ranging in age from 13 to 69 years. Patients with autism had a 35% lower density of calretinin+ interneurons in the caudate that was driven by loss of small calretinin+ neurons. This was not caused by altered size of the caudate, as its cross-sectional surface areas were similar between diagnostic groups. Controls exhibited an age-dependent increase in the density of medium and large calretinin+ neurons, whereas subjects with autism did not. Diagnostic groups did not differ regarding ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1+ immunoreactivity for microglia, suggesting chronic inflammation did not cause the decreased calretinin+ density. There was no statistically significant difference in the density of neuropeptide Y+ neurons between subjects with autism and controls. The decreased calretinin+ density may disrupt the excitation/inhibition balance in the caudate leading to dysfunctional corticostriatal circuits. The description of such changes in autism spectrum disorder may clarify pathomechanisms and thereby help identify targets for drug intervention and novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Istvan Adorjan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bashir Ahmed
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Virginia Feher
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mario Torso
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kristine Krug
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Margaret Esiri
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Steven A Chance
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Francis G Szele
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Grace N, Enticott PG, Johnson BP, Rinehart NJ. Do Handwriting Difficulties Correlate with Core Symptomology, Motor Proficiency and Attentional Behaviours? J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:1006-1017. [PMID: 28083779 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-3019-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Handwriting is commonly identified as an area of weakness in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but precise deficits have not been fully characterised. Boys with ASD (n = 23) and matched controls (n = 20) aged 8-12 years completed a simple, digitised task to objectively assess handwriting performance using advanced descriptive measures. Moderate to large associations were identified between handwriting performance and attention, ASD symptoms and motor proficiency. The ASD group demonstrated significantly less smooth movements and significantly greater sizing variability and peak velocity relative to controls. These findings provide a clearer indication of the specific nature of handwriting impairments in children with ASD, and suggest a relationship with core clinical symptom severity, attention and motor behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicci Grace
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, 18 Innovation Walk, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Peter Gregory Enticott
- Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Beth Patricia Johnson
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, 18 Innovation Walk, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Nicole Joan Rinehart
- Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
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12
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Wang Z, Kwon M, Mohanty S, Schmitt LM, White SP, Christou EA, Mosconi MW. Increased Force Variability Is Associated with Altered Modulation of the Motorneuron Pool Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E698. [PMID: 28346344 PMCID: PMC5412284 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18040698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Force control deficits have been repeatedly documented in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They are associated with worse social and daily living skill impairments in patients suggesting that developing a more mechanistic understanding of the central and peripheral processes that cause them may help guide the development of treatments that improve multiple outcomes in ASD. The neuromuscular mechanisms underlying force control deficits are not yet understood. Seventeen individuals with ASD and 14 matched healthy controls completed an isometric index finger abduction test at 60% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) during recording of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle to determine the neuromuscular processes associated with sustained force variability. Central modulation of the motorneuron pool activation of the FDI muscle was evaluated at delta (0-4 Hz), alpha (4-10 Hz), beta (10-35 Hz) and gamma (35-60 Hz) frequency bands. ASD patients showed greater force variability than controls when attempting to maintain a constant force. Relative to controls, patients also showed increased central modulation of the motorneuron pool at beta and gamma bands. For controls, reduced force variability was associated with reduced delta frequency modulation of the motorneuron pool activity of the FDI muscle and increased modulation at beta and gamma bands. In contrast, delta, beta, and gamma frequency oscillations were not associated with force variability in ASD. These findings suggest that alterations of central mechanisms that control motorneuron pool firing may underlie the common and often impairing symptoms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas Medical School, Overland Park, KS 66213, USA.
| | - Minhyuk Kwon
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas Medical School, Overland Park, KS 66213, USA.
| | - Suman Mohanty
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Lauren M Schmitt
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas Medical School, Overland Park, KS 66213, USA.
| | - Stormi P White
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Evangelos A Christou
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas Medical School, Overland Park, KS 66213, USA.
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Thompson A, Murphy D, Dell’Acqua F, Ecker C, McAlonan G, Howells H, Baron-Cohen S, Lai MC, Lombardo MV. Impaired Communication Between the Motor and Somatosensory Homunculus Is Associated With Poor Manual Dexterity in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:211-219. [PMID: 27639500 PMCID: PMC5227100 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fine motor skill impairments are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), significantly affecting quality of life. Sensory inputs reaching the primary motor cortex (M1) from the somatosensory cortex (S1) are likely involved in fine motor skill and specifically motor learning. However, the role of these connections has not been directly investigated in humans. This study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the role of the S1-M1 connections in healthy subjects in vivo and whether microstructural alterations are associated with motor impairment in ASD. METHODS Sixty right-handed neurotypical adult men aged 18 to 45 years, and 60 right-handed age- and sex-matched subjects diagnosed with ASD underwent fine motor skill assessment and scanning with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The streamlines of the hand region connecting S1-M1 of the motor-sensory homunculus were virtually dissected using TrackVis, and diffusion properties were extracted. The face/tongue region connections were used as control tracts. RESULTS The ASD group displayed lower motor performances and altered DTI measurements of the hand-region connection. Behavioral performance correlated with hand-region DTI measures in both groups, but not with the face/tongue connections, indicating anatomical specificity. There was a left-hemisphere association of motor ability in the control group and an atypical rightward shift in the ASD group. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that direct interaction between S1 and M1 may contribute to the human ability to precisely interact with and manipulate the environment. Because electrophysiological evidence indicates that these connections may underpin long-term potentiation in M1, our findings may lead to novel therapeutic treatments for motor skill disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Thompson
- NatBrainLab, Department of Forensic, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London.
| | - Declan Murphy
- Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
| | - Flavio Dell’Acqua
- Department of Neuroimaging, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
| | - Christine Ecker
- Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Neurodevelopmental Sciences, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
| | - Henrietta Howells
- NatBrainLab, Department of Forensic, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- NatBrainLab, Department of Forensic, and the Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London,Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Michael V. Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Department of Psychology and, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus,Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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14
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Contarino VE, Bulgheroni S, Annunziata S, Erbetta A, Riva D. Widespread Focal Cortical Alterations in Autism Spectrum Disorder with Intellectual Disability Detected by Threshold-Free Cluster Enhancement. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2016; 37:1721-6. [PMID: 27102310 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a4779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In the past decades, a large body of work aimed at investigating brain structural anomalies accrued in autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorder is associated with intellectual disability in up to 50% of cases. However, only a few neuroimaging studies were conducted in autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability, and none of them benefited from a nonsyndromic intellectual disability control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a voxelwise investigation of the structural alterations in 25 children with autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability by comparing them with 25 typically developing children and 25 nonsyndromic children with an intellectual disability. Besides a classic voxel-based morphometry statistical approach, the threshold-free cluster enhancement statistical approach was adopted. RESULTS Classic voxel-based morphometry results did not survive family-wise error correction. The threshold-free cluster enhancement-based analysis corrected for family-wise error highlighted the following: 1) widespread focal cortical anomalies and corpus callosum alteration detected in autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability; 2) basal ganglia and basal forebrain alteration detected both in autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability and in nonsyndromic intellectual disability; and 3) differences in the frontocingulate-parietal cortex between autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability and nonsyndromic intellectual disability. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that the frontocingulate-parietal cortex may be the eligible key region for further investigations aiming at detecting imaging biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability. The detection of structural alterations in neurodevelopmental disorders may be dramatically improved by using a threshold-free cluster enhancement statistical approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S Bulgheroni
- Developmental Neurology Division (S.B., S.A., D.R.), Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - S Annunziata
- Developmental Neurology Division (S.B., S.A., D.R.), Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - A Erbetta
- From the Neuroradiology Department (V.E.C., A.E.)
| | - D Riva
- Developmental Neurology Division (S.B., S.A., D.R.), Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
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15
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Ismail MMT, Keynton RS, Mostapha MMMO, ElTanboly AH, Casanova MF, Gimel'farb GL, El-Baz A. Studying Autism Spectrum Disorder with Structural and Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Survey. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:211. [PMID: 27242476 PMCID: PMC4862981 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities have emerged as powerful means that facilitate non-invasive clinical diagnostics of various diseases and abnormalities since their inception in the 1980s. Multiple MRI modalities, such as different types of the sMRI and DTI, have been employed to investigate facets of ASD in order to better understand this complex syndrome. This paper reviews recent applications of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to study autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Main reported findings are sometimes contradictory due to different age ranges, hardware protocols, population types, numbers of participants, and image analysis parameters. The primary anatomical structures, such as amygdalae, cerebrum, and cerebellum, associated with clinical-pathological correlates of ASD are highlighted through successive life stages, from infancy to adulthood. This survey demonstrates the absence of consistent pathology in the brains of autistic children and lack of research investigations in patients under 2 years of age in the literature. The known publications also emphasize advances in data acquisition and analysis, as well as significance of multimodal approaches that combine resting-state, task-evoked, and sMRI measures. Initial results obtained with the sMRI and DTI show good promise toward the early and non-invasive ASD diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M. T. Ismail
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
| | - Robert S. Keynton
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
| | | | - Ahmed H. ElTanboly
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
| | - Manuel F. Casanova
- Departments of Pediatrics and Biomedical Sciences, University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC, USA
| | | | - Ayman El-Baz
- BioImaging Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY, USA
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16
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Brainstem White Matter Predicts Individual Differences in Manual Motor Difficulties and Symptom Severity in Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 45:3030-40. [PMID: 26001365 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2467-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that poorer motor skills may be related to more severe autism symptoms. This study investigated if atypical white matter microstructure in the brain mediated the relationship between motor skills and ASD symptom severity. Sixty-seven males with ASD and 42 males with typical development (5-33 years old) completed a diffusion tensor imaging scan and measures of grip strength, finger tapping, and autism symptom severity. Within the ASD group, weaker grip strength predicted more severe autism symptoms. Fractional anisotropy of the brainstem's corticospinal tract predicted both grip strength and autism symptom severity and mediated the relationship between the two. These findings suggest that brainstem white matter may contribute to autism symptoms and grip strength in ASD.
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17
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Sacco R, Gabriele S, Persico AM. Head circumference and brain size in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2015; 234:239-51. [PMID: 26456415 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Macrocephaly and brain overgrowth have been associated with autism spectrum disorder. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide an overall estimate of effect size and statistical significance for both head circumference and total brain volume in autism. Our literature search strategy identified 261 and 391 records, respectively; 27 studies defining percentages of macrocephalic patients and 44 structural brain imaging studies providing total brain volumes for patients and controls were included in our meta-analyses. Head circumference was significantly larger in autistic compared to control individuals, with 822/5225 (15.7%) autistic individuals displaying macrocephaly. Structural brain imaging studies measuring brain volume estimated effect size. The effect size is higher in low functioning autistics compared to high functioning and ASD individuals. Brain overgrowth was recorded in 142/1558 (9.1%) autistic patients. Finally, we found a significant interaction between age and total brain volume, resulting in larger head circumference and brain size during early childhood. Our results provide conclusive effect sizes and prevalence rates for macrocephaly and brain overgrowth in autism, confirm the variation of abnormal brain growth with age, and support the inclusion of this endophenotype in multi-biomarker diagnostic panels for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sacco
- Unit of Child and Adolescent NeuroPsychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy.
| | - Stefano Gabriele
- Unit of Child and Adolescent NeuroPsychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Unit of Child and Adolescent NeuroPsychiatry, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy; Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
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18
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Paquet A, Olliac B, Golse B, Vaivre-Douret L. [Formula: see text]Current knowledge on motor disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Child Neuropsychol 2015; 22:763-94. [PMID: 26416608 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2015.1085501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Motor symptomatology in autism is currently poorly understood, and still not included in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic criteria, although some studies suggest the presence of motor disturbances in this syndrome. We provide here a literature review on early motor symptoms in autism, focusing on studies on psychomotor issues (tone, postural control, manual dexterity, handedness, praxis). The approach adopted in research to study altered motor behaviors is generally global and there is no detailed semiology of the motor or neuromotor disorders observed in people with ASD. This global approach does not enable understanding of the neuro-developmental mechanisms involved in ASD. Identification of clinical neuro-psychomotor profiles in reference to a standard would help to better understand the origin and the nature of the disorders encountered in ASD, and would thus give new directions for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Paquet
- a Department of Psychology , University of Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité , Paris , France.,c INSERM, UMR1178 , University of Paris-Sud and Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,d Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Hospital Center Esquirol , Limoges , France
| | - B Olliac
- d Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Hospital Center Esquirol , Limoges , France.,e INSERM, U 1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology , Limoges University , Limoges , France
| | - B Golse
- a Department of Psychology , University of Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité , Paris , France.,b Department of Medicine , University of Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité , Paris , France.,c INSERM, UMR1178 , University of Paris-Sud and Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,f Department of Child Psychiatry , AP-HP Necker Enfants-Malades University Hospital , Paris , France
| | - L Vaivre-Douret
- a Department of Psychology , University of Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité , Paris , France.,b Department of Medicine , University of Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité , Paris , France.,c INSERM, UMR1178 , University of Paris-Sud and Paris Descartes , Paris , France.,f Department of Child Psychiatry , AP-HP Necker Enfants-Malades University Hospital , Paris , France.,g Department of Pediatrics , AP-HP Paris Centre Cochin-Port-Royal University Hospital , Paris , France
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19
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Kern JK, Geier DA, Sykes LK, Geier MR, Deth RC. Are ASD and ADHD a Continuum? A Comparison of Pathophysiological Similarities Between the Disorders. J Atten Disord 2015; 19:805-27. [PMID: 23074304 DOI: 10.1177/1087054712459886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to review and compare the similarities between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD with regard to symptomatology, neurological deficits, metabolic and endocrine-related conditions, and brain pathology. METHOD A comprehensive review of the relevant research literature was carried out. RESULTS A number of important similarities between ASD and ADHD were identified, including recent increases in prevalence, male-biased incidence, shared involvement of sensory processing, motor and impulse control, abnormal patterns of neural connectivity, and sleep disturbances. Studies suggest involvement of androgen metabolism, impaired methylation, and heavy metal toxicity as possible contributing factors for both disorders. CONCLUSION ASD and ADHD share a number of features and pathophysiological conditions, which suggests that the two disorders may be a continuum and have a common origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet K Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX, USA
| | - David A Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA
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20
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Green RR, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Travers BG, Cariello AN, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. Beery VMI performance in autism spectrum disorder. Child Neuropsychol 2015; 22:795-817. [PMID: 26292997 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2015.1056131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have examined the visuomotor integration (VMI) abilities of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An all-male sample consisting of 56 ASD participants (ages 3-23 years) and 36 typically developing (TD) participants (ages 4-26 years) completed the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. Participants were also administered standardized measures of intellectual functioning and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), which assesses autism and autism-like traits. The ASD group performed significantly lower on the Beery VMI and on all IQ measures compared to the TD group. VMI performance was significantly correlated with full scale IQ (FSIQ), performance IQ (PIQ), and verbal IQ (VIQ) in the TD group only. However, when FSIQ was taken into account, no significant Beery VMI differences between groups were observed. Only one TD participant scored 1.5 standard deviations (SDs) below the Beery VMI normative sample mean, in comparison to 21% of the ASD sample. As expected, the ASD group was rated as having significantly higher levels of social impairment on the SRS compared to the TD group across all major domains. However, level of functioning on the SRS was not associated with Berry VMI performance. These findings demonstrate that a substantial number of individuals with ASD experience difficulties compared to TD in performing VMI-related tasks, and that VMI is likely affected by general cognitive ability. The fact that lowered Beery VMI performance occurred only within a subset of individuals with ASD and did not correlate with SRS would indicate that visuomotor deficits are not a core feature of ASD, even though they present at a higher rate of impairment than observed in TD participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R Green
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Erin D Bigler
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,b Neuroscience Center , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Molly B D Prigge
- c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brittany G Travers
- d Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Annahir N Cariello
- c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Jeffrey S Anderson
- e Department of Radiology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brandon A Zielinski
- f Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, School of Medicine , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Andrew Alexander
- d Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,g Department of Medical Physics , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,h Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Nicholas Lange
- i Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA.,j Neurostatistics Laboratory , McLean Hospital , Belmont , MA , USA
| | - Janet E Lainhart
- d Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,h Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
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21
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Parma V, de Marchena AB. Motor signatures in autism spectrum disorder: the importance of variability. J Neurophysiol 2015; 115:1081-4. [PMID: 26269560 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00647.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In a recent study, Wang et al. (J Neurophysiol 113: 1989-2001, 2015) used a precision grip force control task to unveil the contribution of feedforward and feedback mechanisms to sensorimotor dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Impairment of both motor control mechanisms was observed, along with significant variability in the motor response. In this Neuro Forum article we discuss these findings within the conceptual framework of the grasping circuit and within the broader context of clinical and research applications based on motor behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Parma
- Center for Autism Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Ashley B de Marchena
- Center for Autism Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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22
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has a strong genetic basis, and is heterogeneous in its etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation. Neuroimaging studies, in concert with neuropathological and clinical research, have been instrumental in delineating trajectories of development in children with ASD. Structural neuroimaging has revealed ASD to be a disorder with general and regional brain enlargement, especially in the frontotemporal cortices, while functional neuroimaging studies have highlighted diminished connectivity, especially between frontal-posterior regions. The diverse and specific neuroimaging findings may represent potential neuroendophenotypes, and may offer opportunities to further understand the etiopathogenesis of ASD, predict treatment response, and lead to the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajneesh Mahajan
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research (CNIR), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stewart H. Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research (CNIR), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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23
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Alaniz ML, Galit E, Necesito CI, Rosario ER. Hand Strength, Handwriting, and Functional Skills in Children With Autism. Am J Occup Ther 2015; 69:6904220030p1-9. [DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2015.016022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To establish hand strength development trends in children with autism and to investigate correlations between grip and pinch strength, components of handwriting, and functional activities in children with and without autism.
METHOD. Fifty-one children were divided into two groups: typically developing children and children on the autism spectrum. Each child completed testing for pinch and grip strength, handwriting legibility, pencil control, and independence in functional activities.
RESULTS. The children with autism followed the same strength development trends as the typically developing children. Grip strength correlated with pencil control in both groups and with handwriting legibility in the typically developing children but not in the children with autism. Grip and pinch strength correlated with independence with functional activities in both groups.
CONCLUSION. This study provides evidence that grip and pinch strength are important components in developing pencil control, handwriting legibility, and independence with functional fine motor tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele L. Alaniz
- Michele L. Alaniz, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist and Clinical Supervisor, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA
| | - Eleanor Galit
- Eleanor Galit, is Research Assistant, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA
| | - Corina Isabel Necesito
- Corina Isabel Necesito, MS, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA
| | - Emily R. Rosario
- Emily R. Rosario, PhD, is Director of Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA;
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24
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Wang Z, Magnon GC, White SP, Greene RK, Vaillancourt DE, Mosconi MW. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder show abnormalities during initial and subsequent phases of precision gripping. J Neurophysiol 2015; 113:1989-2001. [PMID: 25552638 PMCID: PMC4416549 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00661.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor impairments are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but they are not well understood. Here we examined force control during initial pulses and the subsequent rise, sustained, and relaxation phases of precision gripping in 34 individuals with ASD and 25 healthy control subjects. Participants pressed on opposing load cells with their thumb and index finger while receiving visual feedback regarding their performance. They completed 2- and 8-s trials during which they pressed at 15%, 45%, or 85% of their maximum force. Initial pulses guided by feedforward control mechanisms, sustained force output controlled by visual feedback processes, and force relaxation rates all were examined. Control subjects favored an initial pulse strategy characterized by a rapid increase in and then relaxation of force when the target force was low (Type 1). When the target force level or duration of trials was increased, control subjects transitioned to a strategy in which they more gradually increased their force, paused, and then increased their force again. Individuals with ASD showed a more persistent bias toward the Type 1 strategy at higher force levels and during longer trials, and their initial force output was less accurate than that of control subjects. Patients showed increased force variability compared with control subjects when attempting to sustain a constant force level. During the relaxation phase, they showed reduced rates of force decrease. These findings suggest that both feedforward and feedback motor control mechanisms are compromised in ASD and these deficits may contribute to the dyspraxia and sensorimotor abnormalities often seen in this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Grant C Magnon
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Stormi P White
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Rachel K Greene
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - David E Vaillancourt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; and
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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25
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Sato W, Kubota Y, Kochiyama T, Uono S, Yoshimura S, Sawada R, Sakihama M, Toichi M. Increased putamen volume in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:957. [PMID: 25505401 PMCID: PMC4243557 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Basal ganglia (BG) abnormalities are implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, studies measuring the volume of the entire BG in individuals with ASD have reported discrepant findings, and no study conducted volume measurement of the entire substructures of the BG (the caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, and globus pallidus) in individuals with ASD. We delineated the BG substructures and measured their volumes in 29 adults with ASD without intellectual disabilities and 29 age- and gender-matched typically developed adult controls. We acquired T1-weighted anatomical images and performed semiautomated delineation and volume measurements of the above-mentioned subregions. Total cerebral volumes, sex, and ages were partialed out. Compared with controls, the putamen was significantly larger in the ASD group. The increased volume of the putamen found in high-functioning adults with ASD suggests that structural or histological abnormalities of the putamen may underlie the pathologies of ASD, such as repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and impaired social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Sato
- The Hakubi Project, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University , Aichi , Japan ; The Organization for Promoting Developmental Disorder Research , Kyoto , Japan
| | - Yasutaka Kubota
- Health and Medical Services Center, Shiga University , Shiga , Japan
| | - Takanori Kochiyama
- The Hakubi Project, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University , Aichi , Japan
| | - Shota Uono
- Faculty of Human Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University , Kyoto , Japan
| | - Sayaka Yoshimura
- Faculty of Human Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University , Kyoto , Japan
| | - Reiko Sawada
- The Hakubi Project, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University , Aichi , Japan
| | | | - Motomi Toichi
- The Organization for Promoting Developmental Disorder Research , Kyoto , Japan ; Faculty of Human Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University , Kyoto , Japan
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Wegiel J, Flory M, Kuchna I, Nowicki K, Ma SY, Imaki H, Wegiel J, Cohen IL, London E, Wisniewski T, Brown WT. Stereological study of the neuronal number and volume of 38 brain subdivisions of subjects diagnosed with autism reveals significant alterations restricted to the striatum, amygdala and cerebellum. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2014; 2:141. [PMID: 25231243 PMCID: PMC4177256 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-014-0141-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction A total of 38 brain cytoarchitectonic subdivisions, representing subcortical and cortical structures, cerebellum, and brainstem, were examined in 4- to 60-year-old subjects diagnosed with autism and control subjects (a) to detect a global pattern of developmental abnormalities and (b) to establish whether the function of developmentally modified structures matches the behavioral alterations that are diagnostic for autism. The volume of cytoarchitectonic subdivisions, neuronal numerical density, and total number of neurons per region of interest were determined in 14 subjects with autism and 14 age-matched controls by using unbiased stereological methods. Results The study revealed that significant differences between the group of subjects with autism and control groups are limited to a few brain regions, including the cerebellum and some striatum and amygdala subdivisions. In the group of individuals with autism, the total number and numerical density of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum were reduced by 25% and 24%, respectively. In the amygdala, significant reduction of neuronal density was limited to the lateral nucleus (by 12%). Another sign of the topographic selectivity of developmental alterations in the brain of individuals with autism was an increase in the volumes of the caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens by 22% and 34%, respectively, and the reduced numerical density of neurons in the nucleus accumbens and putamen by 15% and 13%, respectively. Conclusions The observed pattern of developmental alterations in the cerebellum, amygdala and striatum is consistent with the results of magnetic resonance imaging studies and their clinical correlations, and of some morphometric studies that indicate that detected abnormalities may contribute to the social and communication deficits, and repetitive and stereotypical behaviors observed in individuals with autism.
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Basal ganglia and restricted and repetitive behaviours in Autism Spectrum Disorders: current status and future perspectives. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2014; 23:235-8. [PMID: 24816251 PMCID: PMC6998382 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796014000171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
This editorial offers a concise overview of the recent structural magnetic resonance imaging studies that evaluate the basal ganglia (BG) volumes in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The putative relationship between the repetitive or stereotyped behaviours of ASD and BG volumes is also explored, with a focus on possible translational approaches.
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A systematic review of the evidence that brain structure is related to muscle structure and their relationship to brain and muscle function in humans over the lifecourse. BMC Geriatr 2014; 14:85. [PMID: 25011478 PMCID: PMC4105796 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2318-14-85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An association between cognition and physical function has been shown to exist but the roles of muscle and brain structure in this relationship are not fully understood. A greater understanding of these relationships may lead to identification of the underlying mechanisms in this important area of research. This systematic review examines the evidence for whether: a) brain structure is related to muscle structure; b) brain structure is related to muscle function; and c) brain function is related to muscle structure in healthy children and adults. METHODS Medline, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched on March 6th 2014. A grey literature search was performed using Google and Google Scholar. Hand searching through citations and references of relevant articles was also undertaken. RESULTS 53 articles were included in the review; mean age of the subjects ranged from 8.8 to 85.5 years old. There is evidence of a positive association between both whole brain volume and white matter (WM) volume and muscle size. Total grey matter (GM) volume was not associated with muscle size but some areas of regional GM volume were associated with muscle size (right temporal pole and bilateral ventromedial prefrontal cortex). No evidence was found of a relationship between grip strength and whole brain volume however there was some evidence of a positive association with WM volume. Conversely, there is evidence that gait speed is positively associated with whole brain volume; this relationship may be driven by total WM volume or regional GM volumes, specifically the hippocampus. Markers of brain ageing, that is brain atrophy and greater accumulation of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), were associated with grip strength and gait speed. The location of WMH is important for gait speed; periventricular hyperintensities and brainstem WMH are associated with gait speed but subcortical WMH play less of a role. Cognitive function does not appear to be associated with muscle size. CONCLUSION There is evidence that brain structure is associated with muscle structure and function. Future studies need to follow these interactions longitudinally to understand potential causal relationships.
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Lenroot RK, Yeung PK. Heterogeneity within Autism Spectrum Disorders: What have We Learned from Neuroimaging Studies? Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:733. [PMID: 24198778 PMCID: PMC3812662 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) display significant heterogeneity. Although most neuroimaging studies in ASD have been designed to identify commonalities among affected individuals, rather than differences, some studies have explored variation within ASD. There have been two general types of approaches used for this in the neuroimaging literature to date: comparison of subgroups within ASD, and analyses using dimensional measures to link clinical variation to brain differences. This review focuses on structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies that have used these approaches to begin to explore heterogeneity between individuals with ASD. Although this type of data is yet sparse, recognition is growing of the limitations of behaviorally defined categorical diagnoses for understanding neurobiology. Study designs that are more informative regarding the sources of heterogeneity in ASD have the potential to improve our understanding of the neurobiological processes underlying ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhoshel K Lenroot
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales , Sydney, NSW , Australia ; Neuroscience Research Australia , Sydney, NSW , Australia
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Abu-Dahab SMN, Skidmore ER, Holm MB, Rogers JC, Minshew NJ. Motor and tactile-perceptual skill differences between individuals with high-functioning autism and typically developing individuals ages 5-21. J Autism Dev Disord 2013; 43:2241-8. [PMID: 22318760 PMCID: PMC3408783 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-011-1439-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
We examined motor and tactile-perceptual skills in individuals with high-functioning autism (IHFA) and matched typically developing individuals (TDI) ages 5-21 years. Grip strength, motor speed and coordination were impaired in IHFA compared to matched TDI, and the differences between groups varied with age. Although tactile-perceptual skills of IHFA were impaired compared to TDI on several measures, impairments were significant only for stereognosis. Motor and tactile-perceptual skills should be assessed in children with IHFA and intervention should begin early because these skills are essential to school performance. Impairments in coordination and stereognosis suggest a broad though selective under-development of the circuitry for higher order abilities regardless of domain that is important in the search for the underlying disturbances in neurological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana M N Abu-Dahab
- Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan,
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Geier DA, Kern JK, Geier MR. A Comparison of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) for the Quantitative Evaluation of Autism. JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2013; 6:255-267. [PMID: 23914277 PMCID: PMC3725669 DOI: 10.1080/19315864.2012.681340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate scores generated from the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), a parent-rated measure, and those derived from professionally completed Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) evaluations. A cohort of 56 participants diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder was used for the study, and each child was evaluated independently by the parent using the ATEC and a health care professional using the CARS. The Spearman's rank correlation statistic ρ was used to evaluate the correlation between ATEC and CARS scores. It was observed that there was a significant correlation between total ATEC and CARS scores (ρ = .71). Specific domains in the ATEC evaluation significantly correlated with CARS scores. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic confirmed the association between CARS and ATEC domains. The results help to validate the utility of the parentally completed ATEC in comparison with an established, professional-related measure of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Janet K. Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
- Address correspondence to Janet K. Kern, Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905. E-mail:
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Duffield T, Trontel H, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Travers B, Green RR, Cariello AN, Cooperrider J, Nielsen J, Alexander A, Anderson J, Fletcher PT, Lange N, Zielinski B, Lainhart J. Neuropsychological investigation of motor impairments in autism. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2013; 35:867-81. [PMID: 23985036 PMCID: PMC3907511 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2013.827156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
It is unclear how standardized neuropsychological measures of motor function relate to brain volumes of motor regions in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An all-male sample composed of 59 ASD and 30 controls (ages 5-33 years) completed three measures of motor function: strength of grip (SOG), finger tapping test (FTT), and grooved pegboard test (GPT). Likewise, all participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging with region of interest (ROI) volumes obtained to include the following regions: motor cortex (precentral gyrus), somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus), thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and caudal middle frontal gyrus. These traditional neuropsychological measures of motor function are assumed to differ in motor complexity, with GPT requiring the most followed by FTT and SOG. Performance by ASD participants on the GPT and FTT differed significantly from that of controls, with the largest effect size differences observed on the more complex GPT task. Differences on the SOG task between the two groups were nonsignificant. Since more complex motor tasks tap more complex networks, poorer GPT performance by those with ASD may reflect less efficient motor networks. There was no gross pathology observed in classic motor areas of the brain in ASD, as ROI volumes did not differ, but FTT was negatively related to motor cortex volume in ASD. The results suggest a hierarchical motor disruption in ASD, with difficulties evident only in more complex tasks as well as a potential anomalous size-function relation in motor cortex in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Duffield
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Haley Trontel
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
| | - Erin D. Bigler
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- The Brain Institute of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Molly B. Prigge
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Brittany Travers
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Ryan R. Green
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Annahir N. Cariello
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jason Cooperrider
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jared Nielsen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Andrew Alexander
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jeffrey Anderson
- Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - P. Thomas Fletcher
- The Brain Institute of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- School of Computing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Nicholas Lange
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Neurostatistics Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Brandon Zielinski
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Janet Lainhart
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
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Kern JK, Geier DA, Adams JB, Troutman MR, Davis GA, King PG, Geier MR. Handgrip Strength in Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared With Controls. J Strength Cond Res 2013; 27:2277-81. [DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0b013e31827de068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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KIM JIEUN, SHIN MALSOON, SEO TAEBEOM, JI EUNSANG, BAEK SEONGSOO, LEE SAMJUN, PARK JOONKI, KIM CHANGJU. Treadmill exercise ameliorates motor disturbance through inhibition of apoptosis in the cerebellum of valproic acid-induced autistic rat pups. Mol Med Rep 2013; 8:327-34. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Frazier TW, Keshavan MS, Minshew NJ, Hardan AY. A two-year longitudinal MRI study of the corpus callosum in autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2013; 42:2312-22. [PMID: 22350341 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1478-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of literature has identified size reductions of the corpus callosum (CC) in autism. However, to our knowledge, no published studies have reported on the growth of CC volumes in youth with autism. Volumes of the total CC and its sub-divisions were obtained from 23 male children with autism and 23 age- and gender-matched controls at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Persistent reductions in total CC volume were observed in participants with autism relative to controls. Only the rostral body subdivision showed a normalization of size over time. Persistent reductions are consistent with the diagnostic stability and life-long impairment observed in many individuals with autism. Multi-modal imaging studies are needed to identify specific fiber tracks contributing to CC reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Frazier
- Center for Autism (CRS10) and Pediatric Behavioral Health, Cleveland Clinic, 2801 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cleveland, OH 44104, USA.
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Chukoskie L, Townsend J, Westerfield M. Motor Skill in Autism Spectrum Disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2013; 113:207-49. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-418700-9.00007-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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Goldman S, O’Brien LM, Filipek PA, Rapin I, Herbert MR. Motor stereotypies and volumetric brain alterations in children with Autistic Disorder. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2013; 7:82-92. [PMID: 23637709 PMCID: PMC3639008 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2012.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Motor stereotypies are defined as patterned, repetitive, purposeless movements. These stigmatizing motor behaviors represent one manifestation of the third core criterion for an Autistic Disorder (AD) diagnosis, and are becoming viewed as potential early markers of autism. Moreover, motor stereotypies might be a tangible expression of the underlying neurobiology of this neurodevelopmental disorder. In this study, we videoscored stereotypies recorded during semi-structured play sessions from school age children with AD. We examined the effect of severity and persistence over time of stereotypies on brain volumetric changes. Our findings confirmed that the brain volume of school age children with AD is, on average, larger than that of age-matched typically developing children. However, we have failed to detect any sign of volumetric differences in brain regions thought to be particularly linked to the pathophysiology of stereotypies. This negative finding may suggest that, at least with respect to motor stereotypies, functional rather than structural alterations might be the underpinning of these disruptive motor manifestations of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Goldman
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
- Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
| | - Liam M. O’Brien
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Colby College, 5838 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, United States
- College of Graduate Programs in Public Health, University of New England, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME, United States
| | - Pauline A. Filipek
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Learning Institute, and the Division of Child and Adolescent Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7000 Fannin, Suite 2478, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Isabelle Rapin
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
- Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, United States
| | - Martha R. Herbert
- Pediatric Neurology, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, 149 13th Street, 10th Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
- TRANSCEND Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, 10th Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
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David FJ, Baranek GT, Wiesen C, Miao AF, Thorpe DE. Coordination of precision grip in 2-6 years-old children with autism spectrum disorders compared to children developing typically and children with developmental disabilities. Front Integr Neurosci 2012; 6:122. [PMID: 23293589 PMCID: PMC3533230 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2012.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Accepted: 12/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired motor coordination is prevalent in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and affects adaptive skills. Little is known about the development of motor patterns in young children with ASD between 2 and 6 years of age. The purpose of the current study was threefold: (1) to describe developmental correlates of motor coordination in children with ASD, (2) to identify the extent to which motor coordination deficits are unique to ASD by using a control group of children with other developmental disabilities (DD), and (3) to determine the association between motor coordination variables and functional fine motor skills. Twenty-four children with ASD were compared to 30 children with typical development (TD) and 11 children with DD. A precision grip task was used to quantify and analyze motor coordination. The motor coordination variables were two temporal variables (grip to load force onset latency and time to peak grip force) and two force variables (grip force at onset of load force and peak grip force). Functional motor skills were assessed using the Fine Motor Age Equivalents of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale and the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Mixed regression models were used for all analyses. Children with ASD presented with significant motor coordination deficits only on the two temporal variables, and these variables differentiated children with ASD from the children with TD, but not from children with DD. Fine motor functional skills had no statistically significant associations with any of the motor coordination variables. These findings suggest that subtle problems in the timing of motor actions, possibly related to maturational delays in anticipatory feed-forward mechanisms, may underlie some motor deficits reported in children with ASD, but that these issues are not unique to this population. Further research is needed to investigate how children with ASD or DD compensate for motor control deficits to establish functional skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian J. David
- Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, Motor Control and Movement Disorders Group, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL, USA
| | - Grace T. Baranek
- Division of Occupational Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Chris Wiesen
- The Odum Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Adrienne F. Miao
- Division of Occupational Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Deborah E. Thorpe
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Allied Health Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC, USA
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Kleinhans NM, Pauley G, Richards T, Neuhaus E, Martin N, Corrigan NM, Shaw DW, Estes A, Dager SR. Age-related abnormalities in white matter microstructure in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Res 2012; 1479:1-16. [PMID: 22902768 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Revised: 07/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/27/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity have been reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across a wide age range. However, developmental changes in white matter microstructure are poorly understood. We used a cross-sectional design to determine whether white matter abnormalities measured using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were present in adolescents and adults with ASD and whether age-related changes in white matter microstructure differed between ASD and typically developing (TD) individuals. Participants included 28 individuals with ASD and 33 TD controls matched on age and IQ and assessed at one time point. Widespread decreased fractional anisotropy (FA), and increased radial diffusivity (RaD) and mean diffusivity (MD) were observed in the ASD group compared to the TD group. In addition, significant group-by-age interactions were observed in FA, RaD, and MD in all major tracts except the brain stem, indicating that age-related changes in white matter microstructure differed between the groups. We propose that white matter microstructural changes in ASD may reflect myelination and/or other structural differences including differences in axonal density/arborization. In addition, we suggest that white matter microstuctural impairments may be normalizing during young adulthood in ASD. Future longitudinal studies that include a wider range of ages and more extensive clinical characterization will be critical for further uncovering the neurodevelopmental processes unfolding during this dynamic time in development.
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Handwriting difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorders: a scoping review. J Autism Dev Disord 2012; 41:1706-16. [PMID: 21350917 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-011-1206-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Functional handwriting involves complex interactions among physical, cognitive and sensory systems. Impairments in many aspects of these systems are associated with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), suggesting a heightened risk of handwriting difficulties in children with ASD. This scoping review aimed to: (1) survey the existing evidence about potential contributions to compromised handwriting function in children with ASD, and (2) map out the existing studies documenting handwriting difficulties in children with ASD. The current evidence implicates impairments in fine motor control and visual-motor integration as likely contributors to handwriting difficulties in children with ASD, though the role of the latter is not well-understood. Moreover, diminished overall legibility and compromised letter formation are emerging points of convergence among existing studies of handwriting quality in children with ASD.
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Uddin LQ, Menon V, Young CB, Ryali S, Chen T, Khouzam A, Minshew NJ, Hardan AY. Multivariate searchlight classification of structural magnetic resonance imaging in children and adolescents with autism. Biol Psychiatry 2011; 70:833-41. [PMID: 21890111 PMCID: PMC3191298 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Revised: 07/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders with a prevalence of nearly 1:100. Structural imaging studies point to disruptions in multiple brain areas, yet the precise neuroanatomical nature of these disruptions remains unclear. Characterization of brain structural differences in children with ASD is critical for development of biomarkers that may eventually be used to improve diagnosis and monitor response to treatment. METHODS We use voxel-based morphometry along with a novel multivariate pattern analysis approach and searchlight algorithm to classify structural magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from 24 children and adolescents with autism and 24 age-, gender-, and IQ-matched neurotypical participants. RESULTS Despite modest voxel-based morphometry differences, multivariate pattern analysis revealed that the groups could be distinguished with accuracies of approximately 90% based on gray matter in the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and bilateral medial temporal lobes-regions within the default mode network. Abnormalities in the posterior cingulate cortex were associated with impaired Autism Diagnostic Interview communication scores. Gray matter in additional prefrontal, lateral temporal, and subcortical structures also discriminated between groups with accuracies between 81% and 90%. White matter in the inferior fronto-occipital and superior longitudinal fasciculi, and the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, achieved up to 85% classification accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Multiple brain regions, including those belonging to the default mode network, exhibit aberrant structural organization in children with autism. Brain-based biomarkers derived from structural magnetic resonance imaging data may contribute to identification of the neuroanatomical basis of symptom heterogeneity and to the development of targeted early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucina Q. Uddin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
,Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
,Program in Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
,Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation & Translational Neurosciences
,Correspondence should be addressed to: Vinod Menon, Ph.D., 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305, , Phone: (650) 498-6737, Fax: (650) 736-7200
| | - Christina B. Young
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Srikanth Ryali
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Tianwen Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Amirah Khouzam
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Nancy J. Minshew
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Antonio Y. Hardan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
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Nickl-Jockschat T, Habel U, Michel TM, Manning J, Laird AR, Fox PT, Schneider F, Eickhoff SB. Brain structure anomalies in autism spectrum disorder--a meta-analysis of VBM studies using anatomic likelihood estimation. Hum Brain Mapp 2011; 33:1470-89. [PMID: 21692142 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2010] [Revised: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive developmental disorders with characteristic core symptoms such as impairments in social interaction, deviance in communication, repetitive and stereotyped behavior, and impaired motor skills. Anomalies of brain structure have repeatedly been hypothesized to play a major role in the etiopathogenesis of the disorder. Our objective was to perform unbiased meta-analysis on brain structure changes as reported in the current ASD literature. We thus conducted a comprehensive search for morphometric studies by Pubmed query and literature review. We used a revised version of the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) approach for coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging results. Probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps were applied to compare the localization of the obtained significant effects to histological areas. Each of the significant ALE clusters was analyzed separately for age effects on gray and white matter density changes. We found six significant clusters of convergence indicating disturbances in the brain structure of ASD patients, including the lateral occipital lobe, the pericentral region, the medial temporal lobe, the basal ganglia, and proximate to the right parietal operculum. Our study provides the first quantitative summary of brain structure changes reported in literature on autism spectrum disorders. In contrast to the rather small sample sizes of the original studies, our meta-analysis encompasses data of 277 ASD patients and 303 healthy controls. This unbiased summary provided evidence for consistent structural abnormalities in spite of heterogeneous diagnostic criteria and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methodology, but also hinted at a dependency of VBM findings on the age of the patients.
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Solomon M, Smith AC, Frank MJ, Ly S, Carter CS. Probabilistic reinforcement learning in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Res 2011; 4:109-20. [PMID: 21425243 DOI: 10.1002/aur.177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can be conceptualized as disorders of learning, however there have been few experimental studies taking this perspective. METHODS We examined the probabilistic reinforcement learning performance of 28 adults with ASDs and 30 typically developing adults on a task requiring learning relationships between three stimulus pairs consisting of Japanese characters with feedback that was valid with different probabilities (80%, 70%, and 60%). Both univariate and Bayesian state-space data analytic methods were employed. Hypotheses were based on the extant literature as well as on neurobiological and computational models of reinforcement learning. RESULTS Both groups learned the task after training. However, there were group differences in early learning in the first task block where individuals with ASDs acquired the most frequently accurately reinforced stimulus pair (80%) comparably to typically developing individuals; exhibited poorer acquisition of the less frequently reinforced 70% pair as assessed by state-space learning curves; and outperformed typically developing individuals on the near chance (60%) pair. Individuals with ASDs also demonstrated deficits in using positive feedback to exploit rewarded choices. CONCLUSIONS Results support the contention that individuals with ASDs are slower learners. Based on neurobiology and on the results of computational modeling, one interpretation of this pattern of findings is that impairments are related to deficits in flexible updating of reinforcement history as mediated by the orbito-frontal cortex, with spared functioning of the basal ganglia. This hypothesis about the pathophysiology of learning in ASDs can be tested using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Solomon
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, USA.
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Fournier KA, Hass CJ, Naik SK, Lodha N, Cauraugh JH. Motor coordination in autism spectrum disorders: a synthesis and meta-analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2011; 40:1227-40. [PMID: 20195737 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-0981-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 637] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Are motor coordination deficits an underlying cardinal feature of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? Database searches identified 83 ASD studies focused on motor coordination, arm movements, gait, or postural stability deficits. Data extraction involved between-group comparisons for ASD and typically developing controls (N = 51). Rigorous meta-analysis techniques including random effects models, forest and funnel plots, I (2), publication bias, fail-safe analysis, and moderator variable analyses determined a significant standardized mean difference effect equal to 1.20 (SE = 0.144; p <0.0001; Z = 10.49). This large effect indicated substantial motor coordination deficits in the ASD groups across a wide range of behaviors. The current overall findings portray motor coordination deficits as pervasive across diagnoses, thus, a cardinal feature of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Fournier
- Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Griebling J, Minshew NJ, Bodner K, Libove R, Bansal R, Konasale P, Keshavan MS, Hardan A. Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex magnetic resonance imaging measurements and cognitive performance in autism. J Child Neurol 2010; 25:856-63. [PMID: 20097663 PMCID: PMC3428128 DOI: 10.1177/0883073809351313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the relationships between volumetric measurements of frontal lobe structures and performance on executive function tasks in individuals with autism. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained from 38 individuals with autism and 40 matched controls between the ages of 8 and 45 years. Executive function was assessed using neuropsychological measures including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Tower of Hanoi. Differences in performance on the neuropsychological tests were found between the 2 groups. However, no differences in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volumes were observed between groups. No correlations between volumetric measurements and performance on the neuropsychological tests were found. Findings from this study suggest that executive function deficits observed in autism are related to functional but not anatomical abnormalities of the frontal lobe. The absence of correlations suggests that executive dysfunction is not the result of focal brain alterations but, rather, is the result of a distributed neural network dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Griebling
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
| | - Nancy J. Minshew
- Departments of Psychiatry & Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic,
| | - Kimberly Bodner
- University of Pittsburgh Autism Center of Excellence, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,
| | - Robin Libove
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine,
| | - Rahul Bansal
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University,
| | - Prasad Konasale
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
| | - Matcheri S. Keshavan
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel and Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School,
| | - Antonio Hardan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine,
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Qiu A, Adler M, Crocetti D, Miller MI, Mostofsky SH. Basal ganglia shapes predict social, communication, and motor dysfunctions in boys with autism spectrum disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2010; 49:539-51, 551.e1-4. [PMID: 20494264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2010.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2009] [Revised: 02/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Basal ganglia abnormalities have been suggested as contributing to motor, social, and communicative impairments in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Volumetric analyses offer limited ability to detect localized differences in basal ganglia structure. Our objective was to investigate basal ganglia shape abnormalities and their association with behavioral features of ASD, which may involve multiple frontal-subcortical circuits. METHOD Basal ganglia were manually delineated from MR images of 32 boys with ASD and 45 typically developing (TD) boys. Large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM) was used to assess between-group differences in basal ganglia shape and to examine associations with motor, praxis, and reciprocal social and communicative impairments in ASD. RESULTS Boys with ASD showed changes in right basal ganglia shape as compared with TD boys; surface deformation was present in the caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus but did not stand up to correction for multiple comparisons. Brain-behavior correlation findings were more robust; analyses accounting for multiple comparisons revealed, in boys with ASD, surface inward deformation of the right posterior putamen predicted poorer motor skill, whereas surface inward deformation of the bilateral anterior and posterior putamen predicted poorer praxis. Surface outward deformation in the bilateral medial caudate head predicted greater reciprocal social and communicative impairment. CONCLUSIONS Motor, social, and communicative impairments in boys with ASD are associated with shape abnormalities in the basal ganglia. The findings suggest abnormalities within parallel frontal-subcortical circuits are differentially associated with impaired acquisition of motor and reciprocal social and communicative skills in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Qiu
- Division of Bioengineering and Clinical Imaging Research Center, National University of Singapore and Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore.
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Fournier KA, Hass CJ, Naik SK, Lodha N, Cauraugh JH. Motor coordination in autism spectrum disorders: a synthesis and meta-analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2010. [PMID: 20195737 DOI: 10.1007/s10803‐010‐0981‐3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Are motor coordination deficits an underlying cardinal feature of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? Database searches identified 83 ASD studies focused on motor coordination, arm movements, gait, or postural stability deficits. Data extraction involved between-group comparisons for ASD and typically developing controls (N = 51). Rigorous meta-analysis techniques including random effects models, forest and funnel plots, I (2), publication bias, fail-safe analysis, and moderator variable analyses determined a significant standardized mean difference effect equal to 1.20 (SE = 0.144; p <0.0001; Z = 10.49). This large effect indicated substantial motor coordination deficits in the ASD groups across a wide range of behaviors. The current overall findings portray motor coordination deficits as pervasive across diagnoses, thus, a cardinal feature of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Fournier
- Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Frazier TW, Hardan AY. A meta-analysis of the corpus callosum in autism. Biol Psychiatry 2009; 66:935-41. [PMID: 19748080 PMCID: PMC2783565 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2009] [Revised: 07/15/2009] [Accepted: 07/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have reported reductions in corpus callosum (CC) total area and CC regions in individuals with autism. However, studies have differed concerning the magnitude and/or region contributing to CC reductions. The present study determined the significance and magnitude of reductions in CC total and regional area measures in autism. METHOD PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched to identify MRI studies examining corpus callosum area in autism. Ten studies contributed data from 253 patients with autism (mean age = 14.58, SD = 6.00) and 250 healthy control subjects (mean age = 14.47, SD = 5.31). Of these 10 studies, 8 reported area measurements for corpus callosum regions (anterior, mid/body, and posterior), and 6 reported area for Witelson subdivisions. Meta-analytic procedures were used to quantify differences in total and region CC area measurements. RESULTS Total CC area was reduced in autism and the magnitude of the reduction was medium (weighted mean d = .48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .30-.66). All regions showed reductions in size with the magnitude of the effect decreasing caudally (anterior d = .49, mid/body d = .43, posterior d = .37). Witelson subdivision 3 (rostral body) showed the largest effect, indicating greatest reduction in the region containing premotor/supplementary motor neurons. CONCLUSIONS Corpus callosum reductions are present in autism and support the aberrant connectivity hypothesis. Future diffusion tensor imaging studies examining specific fiber tracts connecting the hemispheres are needed to identify the cortical regions most affected by CC reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. Frazier
- Center for Autism and Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health, Cleveland Clinic
| | - Antonio Y. Hardan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University
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