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Somerville M, MacPherson SE, Fletcher-Watson S. The Associations Between Camouflaging, Autistic Traits, and Mental Health in Nonautistic Adults. AUTISM IN ADULTHOOD 2024; 6:106-113. [PMID: 38435324 PMCID: PMC10902276 DOI: 10.1089/aut.2023.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Camouflaging is frequently reported in autistic people and entails the disguising of autistic traits in social situations. Camouflaging is associated with poor mental health in autistic people. This study examined the manifestation of camouflaging in a nonautistic sample, examining the relationship between autistic traits, self-reported camouflaging, gender, and mental health. Method In total 110 nonautistic adults completed standardized self-report questionnaires that measured autistic traits, mental health symptoms, and camouflaging behaviors. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used to analyze data and examine the unique contributions of autistic traits and camouflaging to mental health. Results Self-reported autistic traits were associated with increased symptoms of poor mental health. However, autistic traits were not associated with mental health symptoms when controlling for self-reported camouflaging, and self-reported camouflaging predicted increased mental health symptoms over and above the effects of autistic traits. Women had poorer mental health than men in our sample, and in women there was a stronger relationship between camouflaging and mental health than in men. Conclusions Camouflaging may contribute to poor mental health outcomes in the general population, just as it does for autistic people, to the extent that camouflaging more clearly relates to mental health profile than self-reported autism traits. This suggests camouflaging is an important construct for understanding mental health in general, and for exploring the complex relationship between autism and autistic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Somerville
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. MacPherson
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Fletcher-Watson
- Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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2
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Ward J, Ren Z, Qiu J. Autistic Traits in the Neurotypical Chinese Population: A Chinese Version of Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire and a Cross-Cultural Difference in Attention-to-Detail. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:669-676. [PMID: 33492539 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04829-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess cross-cultural differences in autistic traits relating to sensory sensitivity/attention-to-detail versus socio-communicative problems in a Chinese sample. A measure of atypical sensory sensitivity (Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire, GSQ) was translated into Chinese and compared against another measure of autistic traits (Chinese version of Autism Quotient, AQ). A second Chinese sample was administered English-language versions. We show that the translated GSQ has: good internal reliability; a similar profile of item responses to the English version; and a significant correlation with the AQ. Secondly we report an unexpected, but replicable, finding amongst the Chinese. Specifically, attention-to-detail was negatively correlated with socio-communicative difficulties (whereas in Western samples it is the reverse).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Ward
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK.
| | | | - Jiang Qiu
- Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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3
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Specific Global-Local Visual Processing Abilities Mediate the Influence of Non-social Autistic-like Traits on Mental Rotation. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:80-88. [PMID: 34984640 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05412-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Inconsistent data are available on mental rotation performance in neurotypicals with high autistic-like traits. Here, we tested whether global-local visual processing abilities mediate the influence of specific autistic-like trait domains (social skill, attention switching, attention-to-detail, communication, and imagination) on mental rotation. Neurotypical participants (N = 128) underwent an assessment of autistic-like traits, a flanker task with hierarchical stimuli, and a mental rotation task. Path analysis showed that Reaction Times on the incongruent/local condition of the flanker task mediated the relationship between attention-to-detail and mental rotation accuracy. These findings indicate that a better capacity of ignoring incongruent global information to identify local information (reduced global interference) in persons with high non-social autistic-like traits, as attention-to-detail, facilitates mental rotation performance.
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4
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The effect of autistic traits on disembedding and mental rotation in neurotypical women and men. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4639. [PMID: 35302087 PMCID: PMC8931084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08497-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent data has revealed dissociations between social and non-social skills in both autistic and neurotypical populations. In the present study, we investigated whether specific visuospatial abilities, such as figure disembedding and mental rotation, are differently related to social and non-social autistic traits, in neurotypical women and men. University students (N = 426) completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), figure disembedding and mental rotation of two-dimensional figures tasks. AQ social skills (AQ-social) and attention-to-details (AQ-attention) subscales were used as measures of social and non-social autistic traits, respectively. Mental rotation was affected by a significant interaction between sex, social and non-social traits. When non-social traits were above the mean (+ 1 SD), no sex differences in mental rotation were found. Instead, below this value, sex differences depended on the social traits, with men on average outperforming women at middle-to-high social traits, and with a comparable performance, and with women on average outperforming men, at lower social traits. A small positive correlation between figure disembedding and social traits was observed in the overall sample. These results are interpreted in terms of the hyper-systemizing theory of autism and contribute to the evidence of individual differences in the cognitive style of autistic people and neurotypical people with autistic traits.
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5
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Savickaite S, McNaughton K, Gaillard E, Amaya J, McDonnell N, Millington E, Simmons DR. Exploratory study on the use of HMD virtual reality to investigate individual differences in visual processing styles. JOURNAL OF ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/jet-06-2021-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PurposeGlobal and local processing is part of human perceptual organisation, where global processing helps extract the “gist” of the visual information and local processing helps perceive the details. Individual differences in these two types of visual processing have been found in autism and ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Virtual reality (VR) has become a more available method of research in the last few decades. No previous research has investigated perceptual differences using this technology.Design/methodology/approachThe objective of the research is to threefold: (1) identify if there is association between ADHD and autistic traits and the performance on the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) task, (2) investigate practical effects of using VR drawing tools for research on perceptual experiences and (3) explore any perceptual differences brought out by the three-dimensional nature of the VR. The standard ROCF test was used as a baseline task to investigate the practical utility of using VR as an experimental platform. A total of 94 participants were tested.FindingsAttention-to-detail, attention switching and imagination subscales of autism quotient (AQ) questionnaire were found to be predictors of organisational ROCF scores, whereas only the attention-to-detail subscale was predictive of perceptual ROCF scores.Originality/valueThe current study is an example of how classic psychological paradigms can be transferred into the virtual world. Further investigation of the distinct individual preferences in drawing tasks in VR could lead to a better understanding of individual differences in the processing of visuospatial information.
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6
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Dupuis A, Mudiyanselage P, Burton CL, Arnold PD, Crosbie J, Schachar RJ. Hyperfocus or flow? Attentional strengths in autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:886692. [PMID: 36276327 PMCID: PMC9579965 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.886692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses is well established. An ASD diagnosis is associated with elevated ADHD traits and symptoms, as well as strengths in attention. In the ASD literature, attentional strengths have been described as maladaptive (e.g., hyperfocus), in contrast with positive portrayals in the typically developing population (e.g., flow). The objective of this study was to (1) compare profiles of attentional strengths and weaknesses in ASD and ADHD and (2) determine whether attentional strengths in ASD are associated with impairment, poorer cognitive flexibility, and perseveration/perfectionism. In a community sample of 5,744 children and youth, 131 children were reported as having a diagnosis of ASD (mean age 10.3 years) and 346 children were reported as having a diagnosis of ADHD (mean age 10.7 years). We used the Strengths and Weaknesses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity-symptoms and Normal-behaviors (SWAN) rating scale to calculate attentional and hyperactive/impulse control strength and weakness counts and scores. The Autism-Spectrum Quotient Switching factor served as a measure of cognitive flexibility. Impairment was assessed with the Columbia Impairment Scale. We used the symmetry/ordering factor on the Toronto Obsessive-Compulsive Scale as a measure of perseveration/perfectionism. No differences were found between the ADHD and ASD groups in SWAN weakness scores, symptoms, or hyperactive/impulse control strengths; however, autistic children had higher rates of attentional strengths [odds ratio: 5.7, 95% CI (2.8, 11.6), p < 0.0001]. Post-hoc pairwise testing identified four attentional strengths with significantly higher rates in ASD than in ADHD. Attentional strength scores were not associated with impairment or poor cognitive flexibility, but predicted levels of perseveration/perfectionism. The effect of attentional strengths on impairment and cognitive flexibility did not differ between autistic and Control children, but the higher perseveration/perfectionism scores seen in ASD were not found in Control children. ASD is associated with a pattern of attentional strengths that is not found in ADHD Characterizing the full range of attentional abilities in autistic children may explain variability in outcomes such as quality-of-life indicators and identify protective factors, providing targets for strength-based behavioral interventions. The clinical and etiological implications of the subgroup of autistic children with attentional strengths require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Dupuis
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Piyumi Mudiyanselage
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christie L Burton
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul D Arnold
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jennifer Crosbie
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Russell J Schachar
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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7
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Elhami Athar M, Ebrahimi A, Karimi S, Esmailzadeh R, Mousavi Asl E, Azizi M, Heidarzadeh S, Siahkamari E, Sharifi A, Ramezani Farani A. Comparison of Autistic Traits Between Iranian Students With Different Ethnic Backgrounds: A Cross-Cultural Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:744180. [PMID: 34955912 PMCID: PMC8695767 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.744180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autistic traits (ATs) include symptoms associated with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs), which are assumed to be continuously distributed across the general population. Studies have indicated the cultural differences in the expression of ATs. Notwithstanding, our literature review indicated that studies on cross-cultural differences in the expression of ATs included samples from different countries. This is the first study designed to compare the expression of ATs between different ethnicities from the same country. Using the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ-28), we examined the possible cultural differences in the expression of autistic traits from four groups of students with different ethnic backgrounds, including Turkish (n = 262), Persian (n = 290), Kurdish (n = 300), and Luri (n = 307) students. Behaviors associated with autistic traits were reported overall higher for males than females. Also, significant cultural differences in autistic traits were found that were different for males and females. Furthermore, while the medical sciences student group scored significantly higher than the humanities group in the Imagination dimension, the humanities group had significantly higher scores in Number/Pattern dimensions than the engineering and medical sciences groups. Altogether, our results provide further support for the idea that the expression of ATs is significantly influenced by culture. A significant limitation of the current study was that groups were not matched with respect to age, percentage of male participants, and fields of studies and that these variables may influence the AQ scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Elhami Athar
- School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Ebrahimi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Behavior Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sirvan Karimi
- School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roya Esmailzadeh
- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Behavior Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esmaeil Mousavi Asl
- Department of Psychiatry, Golestan Hospital, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Morteza Azizi
- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Sarab Branch, Sarab, Iran
| | - Saman Heidarzadeh
- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Esfandiar Siahkamari
- School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Sharifi
- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Ramezani Farani
- School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Liu F, Scheeren AM, Grove R, Hoekstra RA, Wang K, Guo D, Wang C, Begeer S. Exploring Cultural Differences in Autistic Traits: A Factor Analytic Study of Children with Autism in China and the Netherlands. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:4750-4762. [PMID: 34741233 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed globally, but recognition, interpretation and reporting may vary across cultures. To compare autism across cultures it is important to investigate whether the tools used are conceptually equivalent across cultures. This study evaluated the factor structure of the parent-reported Autism Spectrum Quotient Short Form in autistic children from China (n = 327; 3 to 17 years) and the Netherlands (n = 694; 6 to 16 years). Confirmatory factor analysis did not support the two-factor hierarchical model previously identified. Exploratory factor analysis indicated culturally variant factor structures between China and the Netherlands, which may hamper cross-cultural comparisons. Several items loaded onto different factors in the two samples, indicating substantial variation in parent-reported autistic traits between China and the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyuan Liu
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anke M Scheeren
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rachel Grove
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rosa A Hoekstra
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Social Psychology, Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin, China
| | - Dehua Guo
- Department of Special Education, Guangxi College for Preschool Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Chongying Wang
- Department of Social Psychology, Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin, China.
| | - Sander Begeer
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Jean FA, Jouni A, Bouvard MP, Camelot G, Beggiato A, Scheid I, Gaman A, Bouquet C, Ly-Le Moal M, Houenou J, Delorme R, Leboyer M, Amestoy A. Overlap of anxiety, depression, irritability and aggressiveness in autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory study using cluster analysis. ADVANCES IN AUTISM 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/aia-08-2020-0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the overlap between symptoms of depression, anxiety, irritability and aggressiveness in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to measure specific and idiosyncratic emotional responses.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 42 high functioning adolescents and adults, between 12 and 39 years old, meeting the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders – 5 criteria for ASD were selected from the InFoR Autism cohort. Data were analyzed in an exploratory way using Hill and Smith and K-medoids cluster analysis.
Findings
The authors found an aggregation of anxiety, depression, aggressive behaviors and irritability. Cluster analysis was maximized for two groups with 17 and 25 participants, respectively. The first group was characterized by high levels of symptoms of irritability, aggressiveness, hyperactivity and intermediate levels of anxiety and depression. In the first group, participants had significantly higher levels of autistic symptoms considering the social responsiveness scale and repetitive behavior scale-revised scales (relatives’ reports) suggesting that a particular group of subjects with a high level of ASD specific symptoms may express anxiety and depression in a specific way based on externalizing behaviors in addition to the common mood and anxiety symptoms.
Research limitations/implications
Improved understanding of the aggregation of externalized symptoms with symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders in ASD should lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms related to emotion dysregulation in ASD.
Practical implications
Improved knowledge of the symptoms could lead to enhanced detection of psychiatric comorbidities in ASD.
Originality/value
The study was based on a transdiagnostic approach of psychiatric symptoms in individuals with ASD. Aggregation and clustering analysis was used to explore naive patterns of these psychiatric symptoms.
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10
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Robertson N, Qureshi A, Monk RL. The relationship between autistic characteristics, social engagement and executive function in a typical sample. ADVANCES IN AUTISM 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/aia-10-2020-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to represent a first attempt to examine in a non-clinical population the interplay between social engagement, executive function (EF) and theory of mind (ToM) within a social motivation theory framework.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 170 participants (135 female; mean age = 19.01 and standard deviation = 1.27) completed measures of ToM (Faux Pas task), autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient), social engagement (reward dependence subscale of the Temperament and Character Inventory), sociability and EF (both subscales of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire).
Findings
Path analyses found that EF, sociability and social engagement were negatively associated with autistic traits both directly and indirectly. Results indicate that EF may impact sociability and social engagement and their interaction may relate to the degree of autistic traits shown in a typical sample. However, ToM (as measured by the Faux Pas test) was not related to any of the other variables.
Originality/value
Sociability, social engagement and effortful control deficits may be linked to higher levels of autistic traits. These factors appear to form a hierarchy of factors underpinning autism spectrum disorder, with EF contributing to all aspects, followed by sociability and social engagement at a higher level. Future research examining in clinical populations the utility of a more integrated model of social motivation that incorporates EF appears warranted.
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11
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Finnemann JJS, Plaisted-Grant K, Moore J, Teufel C, Fletcher PC. Low-level, prediction-based sensory and motor processes are unimpaired in Autism. Neuropsychologia 2021; 156:107835. [PMID: 33794277 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A new promising account of human brain function suggests that sensory cortices try to optimise information processing via predictions that are based on prior experiences. The brain is thus likened to a probabilistic prediction machine. There has been a growing - though inconsistent - literature to suggest that features of autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) are associated with a deficit in modelling the world through such prediction-based inference. However empirical evidence for differences in low-level sensorimotor predictions in autism is still lacking. One approach to examining predictive processing in the sensorimotor domain is in the context of self-generated (predictable) as opposed to externally-generated (less predictable) effects. We employed two complementary tasks - forcematching and intentional binding - which examine self-versus externally-generated action effects in terms of sensory attenuation and intentional binding respectively in adults with and without autism. The results show that autism was associated with normal levels of sensory attenuation of internally-generated force and with unaltered temporal attraction of voluntary actions and their outcomes. Thus, our results do not support a general deficit in predictive processing in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna J S Finnemann
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, United Kingdom.
| | - Kate Plaisted-Grant
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - James Moore
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, SE14 6NW, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph Teufel
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul C Fletcher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, United Kingdom; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB21 5EF, United Kingdom; Wellcome Trust MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
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12
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Tan G, Xu K, Liu J, Liu H. A Trend on Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Eye Tracking-EEG Correlative Analytics. IEEE Trans Cogn Dev Syst 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/tcds.2021.3102646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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13
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Jiang J, von Kriegstein K, Jiang J. Brain mechanisms of eye contact during verbal communication predict autistic traits in neurotypical individuals. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14602. [PMID: 32884087 PMCID: PMC7471895 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71547-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical eye contact in communication is a common characteristic in autism spectrum disorders. Autistic traits vary along a continuum extending into the neurotypical population. The relation between autistic traits and brain mechanisms underlying spontaneous eye contact during verbal communication remains unexplored. Here, we used simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging and eye tracking to investigate this relation in neurotypical people within a naturalistic verbal context. Using multiple regression analyses, we found that brain response in the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) and its connectivity with the fusiform face area (FFA) during eye contact with a speaker predicted the level of autistic traits measured by Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ). Further analyses for different AQ subclusters revealed that these two predictors were negatively associated with attention to detail. The relation between FFA–pSTS connectivity and the attention to detail ability was mediated by individuals’ looking preferences for speaker’s eyes. This study identified the role of an individual eye contact pattern in the relation between brain mechanisms underlying natural eye contact during verbal communication and autistic traits in neurotypical people. The findings may help to increase our understanding of the mechanisms of atypical eye contact behavior during natural communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. .,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. .,Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Katharina von Kriegstein
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12489, Berlin, Germany.,Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01187, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jiefeng Jiang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
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14
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Nagase K. The traits of autism spectrum disorder in the general population influence humor appreciation: Using the autism-spectrum quotient and HSPS-J19. COGENT PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2019.1696000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Nagase
- Faculty of Social Welfare, Yamaguchi Prefectural University, Yamaguchi, Japan
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15
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Duffy FH, Als H. Autism, spectrum or clusters? An EEG coherence study. BMC Neurol 2019; 19:27. [PMID: 30764794 PMCID: PMC6375153 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-019-1254-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism prevalence continues to grow, yet a universally agreed upon etiology is lacking despite manifold evidence of abnormalities especially in terms of genetics and epigenetics. The authors postulate that the broad definition of an omnibus 'spectrum disorder' may inhibit delineation of meaningful clinical correlations. This paper presents evidence that an objectively defined, EEG based brain measure may be helpful in illuminating the autism spectrum versus subgroups (clusters) question. METHODS Forty objectively defined EEG coherence factors created in prior studies demonstrated reliable separation of neuro-typical controls from subjects with autism, and reliable separation of subjects with Asperger's syndrome from all other subjects within the autism spectrum and from neurotypical controls. In the current study, these forty previously defined EEG coherence factors were used prospectively within a large (N = 430) population of subjects with autism in order to determine quantitatively the potential existence of separate clusters within this population. RESULTS By use of a recently published software package, NbClust, the current investigation determined that the 40 EEG coherence factors reliably identified two distinct clusters within the larger population of subjects with autism. These two clusters demonstrated highly significant differences. Of interest, many more subjects with Asperger's syndrome fell into one rather than the other cluster. CONCLUSIONS EEG coherence factors provide evidence of two highly significant separate clusters within the subject population with autism. The establishment of a unitary "Autism Spectrum Disorder" does a disservice to patients and clinicians, hinders much needed scientific exploration, and likely leads to less than optimal educational and/or interventional efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank H Duffy
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Heidelise Als
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Enders 107, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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16
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Morales-Hidalgo P, Ferrando PJ, Canals J. Assessing the heterogeneity of autism spectrum symptoms in a school population. Autism Res 2018; 11:979-988. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.1964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Morales-Hidalgo
- Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology; Universitat Rovira i Virgili; Tarragona Spain
- Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Department of Psychology; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Ctra. Valls s/n; Tarragona 43007 Spain
| | - Pere J. Ferrando
- Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology; Universitat Rovira i Virgili; Tarragona Spain
| | - Josefa Canals
- Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology; Universitat Rovira i Virgili; Tarragona Spain
- Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Department of Psychology; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Ctra. Valls s/n; Tarragona 43007 Spain
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17
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Cohen S, Fulcher BD, Rajaratnam SMW, Conduit R, Sullivan JP, Hilaire MAS, Phillips AJ, Loddenkemper T, Kothare SV, McConnell K, Ahearn W, Braga-Kenyon P, Shlesinger A, Potter J, Bird F, Cornish KM, Lockley SW. Behaviorally-determined sleep phenotypes are robustly associated with adaptive functioning in individuals with low functioning autism. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14228. [PMID: 29079761 PMCID: PMC5660229 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14611-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite sleep disturbance being a common complaint in individuals with autism, specific sleep phenotypes and their relationship to adaptive functioning have yet to be identified. This study used cluster analysis to find distinct sleep patterns and relate them to independent measures of adaptive functioning in individuals with autism. Approximately 50,000 nights of care-giver sleep/wake logs were collected on school-days for 106 individuals with low functioning autism (87 boys, 14.77 ± 3.11 years) for 0.5-6 years (2.2 ± 1.5 years) from two residential schools. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, performed on summary statistics of each individual across their recording duration, two clusters of individuals with clearly distinguishable sleep phenotypes were found. The groups were summarized as 'unstable' sleepers (cluster 1, n = 41) and 'stable' sleepers (cluster 2, n = 65), with the former exhibiting reduced sleep duration, earlier sleep offset, and less stability in sleep timing. The sleep clusters displayed significant differences in properties that were not used for clustering, such as intellectual functioning, communication, and socialization, demonstrating that sleep phenotypes are associated with symptom severity in individuals with autism. This study provides foundational evidence for profiling and targeting sleep as a standard part of therapeutic intervention in individuals with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simonne Cohen
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ben D Fulcher
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shantha M W Rajaratnam
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Russell Conduit
- School of Health Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jason P Sullivan
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Melissa A St Hilaire
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Andrew J Phillips
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Tobias Loddenkemper
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Sanjeev V Kothare
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
- New York University Langone Medical School, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Paula Braga-Kenyon
- New England Center for Children, Southborough, USA
- Melmark New England, Andover, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kim M Cornish
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Steven W Lockley
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA.
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
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18
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Psychometric Properties of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient for Assessing Low and High Levels of Autistic Traits in College Students. J Autism Dev Disord 2017; 47:1838-1853. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3109-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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