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Maw KJ, Beattie G, Burns EJ. Cognitive strengths in neurodevelopmental disorders, conditions and differences: A critical review. Neuropsychologia 2024; 197:108850. [PMID: 38467371 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108850] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are traditionally characterised by a range of associated cognitive impairments in, for example, sensory processing, facial recognition, visual imagery, attention, and coordination. In this critical review, we propose a major reframing, highlighting the variety of unique cognitive strengths that people with neurodevelopmental differences can exhibit. These include enhanced visual perception, strong spatial, auditory, and semantic memory, superior empathy and theory of mind, along with higher levels of divergent thinking. Whilst we acknowledge the heterogeneity of cognitive profiles in neurodevelopmental conditions, we present a more encouraging and affirmative perspective of these groups, contrasting with the predominant, deficit-based position prevalent throughout both cognitive and neuropsychological research. In addition, we provide a theoretical basis and rationale for these cognitive strengths, arguing for the critical role of hereditability, behavioural adaptation, neuronal-recycling, and we draw on psychopharmacological and social explanations. We present a table of potential strengths across conditions and invite researchers to systematically investigate these in their future work. This should help reduce the stigma around neurodiversity, instead promoting greater social inclusion and significant societal benefits.
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Lee JH, Hwang H, Yun J, Kim HJ, Yoo SK, Chung US, Han DH. Developing an Attention Assessment Tool for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Timbre, Rhythm, and Pitch. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e228. [PMID: 37489717 PMCID: PMC10366410 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Music is regarded as a beneficial tool for assessing the clinical symptoms and communication skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism. The present study developed a music-based attention test (MAT) for individuals with autism using music parameters and the algorithm of the comprehensive attention test (CAT). METHODS We recruited 51 autistic individuals and 50 neurotypical individuals to participate in the CAT, MAT, and social intelligence tests. The reliability and validity of the MAT were assessed using exploratory factor analysis, concurrent validity, and criterion-related validity. RESULTS The MAT had sound internal consistency (high Cronbach's α = 0.948). In addition, the MAT had suitable concurrent validity in the correlation between CAT and MAT, as well as good criterion validity when attention was measured using the MAT and was compared between autistic individuals and neurotypical individuals. Attention evaluated using the MAT was associated with the social quotient in individuals with autism. CONCLUSIONS The MAT could be a relevant tool for gauging attention in individuals with ASD. Furthermore, attention determined using the MAT may be correlated with social quotient in autistic individuals. Future studies should consider that using music in the field of attention could improve the social quotient of individuals with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Hyung Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyunchan Hwang
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juri Yun
- Department of Music Therapy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Jun Kim
- Department of Oncology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seo-Koo Yoo
- School of Social Welfare, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Un Sun Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Doug Hyun Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
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Yao G, Wei L, Jiang T, Dong H, Baeken C, Wu GR. Neural mechanisms underlying empathy during alcohol abstinence: evidence from connectome-based predictive modeling. Brain Imaging Behav 2022; 16:2477-2486. [PMID: 35829876 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-022-00702-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Empathy impairments have been linked to alcohol dependence even during abstinent periods. Nonetheless, the neural underpinnings of abstinence-induced empathy deficits remain unclear. In this study, we employed connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) by using whole brain resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) to predict empathy capability of abstinent alcoholics (n = 47) versus healthy controls (n = 59). In addition, the generalizability of the predictive model (i.e., one group treated as a training dataset and another one treated as a test dataset) was performed to determine whether healthy controls and abstinent alcoholics share common neural fingerprints of empathy. Our results showed that abstinent alcoholics relative to healthy controls had decreased empathy capacity. Although no predictive models were observed in the abstinence group, we found that individual empathy scores in the healthy group can be reliably predicted by functional connectivity from the default mode network (DMN) to the sensorimotor network (SMN), occipital network, and cingulo-opercular network (CON). Moreover, the identified connectivity fingerprints of healthy controls could be generalized to predict empathy in the abstinence group. These findings indicate that neural circuits accounting for empathy may be disrupted by alcohol use and the impaired degree varies greatly among abstinent individuals. The large inter-individual variation may impede identification of the predictive model of empathy in alcohol abstainers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanzhong Yao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Luqing Wei
- School of Psychology, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China.
| | - Ting Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chris Baeken
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Guo-Rong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. .,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Bui TA, Shatto J, Cuppens T, Droit A, Bolduc FV. Phenotypic Trade-Offs: Deciphering the Impact of Neurodiversity on Drug Development in Fragile X Syndrome. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:730987. [PMID: 34733188 PMCID: PMC8558248 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.730987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common single-gene cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Individuals with FXS present with a wide range of severity in multiple phenotypes including cognitive delay, behavioral challenges, sleep issues, epilepsy, and anxiety. These symptoms are also shared by many individuals with other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Since the discovery of the FXS gene, FMR1, FXS has been the focus of intense preclinical investigation and is placed at the forefront of clinical trials in the field of NDDs. So far, most studies have aimed to translate the rescue of specific phenotypes in animal models, for example, learning, or improving general cognitive or behavioral functioning in individuals with FXS. Trial design, selection of outcome measures, and interpretation of results of recent trials have shown limitations in this type of approach. We propose a new paradigm in which all phenotypes involved in individuals with FXS would be considered and, more importantly, the possible interactions between these phenotypes. This approach would be implemented both at the baseline, meaning when entering a trial or when studying a patient population, and also after the intervention when the study subjects have been exposed to the investigational product. This approach would allow us to further understand potential trade-offs underlying the varying effects of the treatment on different individuals in clinical trials, and to connect the results to individual genetic differences. To better understand the interplay between different phenotypes, we emphasize the need for preclinical studies to investigate various interrelated biological and behavioral outcomes when assessing a specific treatment. In this paper, we present how such a conceptual shift in preclinical design could shed new light on clinical trial results. Future clinical studies should take into account the rich neurodiversity of individuals with FXS specifically and NDDs in general, and incorporate the idea of trade-offs in their designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truong An Bui
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Julie Shatto
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Tania Cuppens
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval et Département de Médecine Moléculaire de l'Université Laval, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Arnaud Droit
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval et Département de Médecine Moléculaire de l'Université Laval, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - François V. Bolduc
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Wada S, Honma M, Masaoka Y, Yoshida M, Koiwa N, Sugiyama H, Iizuka N, Kubota S, Kokudai Y, Yoshikawa A, Kamijo S, Kamimura S, Ida M, Ono K, Onda H, Izumizaki M. Volume of the right supramarginal gyrus is associated with a maintenance of emotion recognition ability. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254623. [PMID: 34293003 PMCID: PMC8297759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotion recognition is known to change with age, but associations between the change and brain atrophy are not well understood. In the current study atrophied brain regions associated with emotion recognition were investigated in elderly and younger participants. Group comparison showed no difference in emotion recognition score, while the score was associated with years of education, not age. We measured the gray matter volume of 18 regions of interest including the bilateral precuneus, supramarginal gyrus, orbital gyrus, straight gyrus, superior temporal sulcus, inferior frontal gyrus, insular cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, which have been associated with social function and emotion recognition. Brain reductions were observed in elderly group except left inferior frontal gyrus, left straight gyrus, right orbital gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and right supramarginal gyrus. Path analysis was performed using the following variables: age, years of education, emotion recognition score, and the 5 regions that were not different between the groups. The analysis revealed that years of education were associated with volumes of the right orbital gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and right supramarginal gyrus. Furthermore, the right supramarginal gyrus volume was associated with the emotion recognition score. These results suggest that the amount of education received contributes to maintain the right supramarginal gyrus volume, and indirectly affects emotion recognition ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Wada
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoyasu Honma
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Yuri Masaoka
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Yoshida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuyoshi Koiwa
- Human Arts and Sciences Research Center, University of Human Arts and Sciences, Saitama, Japan
| | | | - Natsuko Iizuka
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satomi Kubota
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yumika Kokudai
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Yoshikawa
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shotaro Kamijo
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sawa Kamimura
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ida
- Department of Radiology, Stroke Center, Ebara Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenjiro Ono
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Onda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiko Izumizaki
- Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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