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Zhao P, Chen K, Zhu G, Li H, Chen S, Hu J, Huang L, Liu X, Guo L. Effects of aquatic exercise intervention on executive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor of children with autism spectrum disorder. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2024; 150:104759. [PMID: 38795553 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited knowledge exists regarding the effectiveness of aquatic exercise intervention for improving executive function (EF) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Additionally, the impact of aquatic exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in children with ASD requires further investigation. AIMS This study aimed to explore the effects of a 12-week aquatic exercise intervention on core EF and BDNF levels in children with ASD. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Thirty children with ASD were assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent a 12-week aquatic exercise intervention, while the control group engaged in supervised free activities. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured EF and BDNF levels. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS The experimental group showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in inhibition control, cognitive flexibility, and BDNF levels. However, working memory did not significantly improve. The control group exhibited no significant changes in EF or BDNF levels. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Aquatic exercise appears to be a beneficial intervention for cognitive development in children with ASD, as it enhances inhibition control, cognitive flexibility, and BDNF levels in children with ASD. Furthermore, the observed improvements in EF following aquatic exercise intervention in children with ASD may be associated with increased BDNF levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiting Zhao
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Kai Chen
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Gaohui Zhu
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hansen Li
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Sha Chen
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jinge Hu
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Li Huang
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xin Liu
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Liya Guo
- School of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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2
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Norton B, Sheen J, Burns L, Enticott PG, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Kirkovski M. Overlap of eating disorders and neurodivergence: the role of inhibitory control. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:454. [PMID: 38890597 PMCID: PMC11186180 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05837-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Difficulties with inhibitory control have been identified in eating disorders (EDs) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs; including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder), and there appear to be parallels between the expression of these impairments. It is theorised that impairments in inhibitory control within NDs may represent a unique vulnerability for eating disorders (EDs), and this same mechanism may contribute to poorer treatment outcomes. This review seeks to determine the state of the literature concerning the role of inhibitory control in the overlap of EDs and neurodivergence. METHOD A scoping review was conducted to summarise extant research, and to identify gaps in the existing knowledge base. Scopus, Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and ProQuest were systematically searched. Studies were included if the study measured traits of ADHD or autism, and symptoms of ED, and required participants to complete a performance task measure of inhibitory control. Where studies included a cohort with both an ND and ED, these results had to be reported separately from cohorts with a singular diagnosis. Studies were required to be published in English, within the last 10 years. RESULTS No studies explored the relationship between autism and EDs using behavioural measures of inhibitory control. Four studies exploring the relationship between ADHD and EDs using behavioural measures of inhibitory control met selection criteria. These studies showed a multifaceted relationship between these conditions, with differences emerging between domains of inhibitory control. ADHD symptoms predicted poorer performance on measures of response inhibition in a non-clinical sample; this was not replicated in clinical samples, nor was there a significant association with EDs. Both ADHD and ED symptoms are associated with poor performance on attentional control measures; where these diagnoses were combined, performance was worse than for those with a singular diagnosis of ADHD. This was not replicated when compared to those with only ED diagnoses. CONCLUSION Impairments in attentional control may represent a unique vulnerability for the development of an ED and contribute to poor treatment outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the role of inhibitory control in EDs, ADHD and autism, including the use of both self-report and behavioural measures to capture the domains of inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Norton
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Jade Sheen
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Lewis Burns
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | | | | | - Melissa Kirkovski
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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3
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Gray IE, Enticott PG, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Kirkovski M. Cognitive and emotional empathy in acute and remitted anorexia nervosa: a systematic review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1385185. [PMID: 38855647 PMCID: PMC11157095 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1385185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Impairments in empathy are well established in anorexia nervosa (AN). It is unclear, however, whether these deficits only occur in the acute phases of AN due to neurocognitive impacts of starvation (often referred to as context-dependent, or state-like), or if deficits remain once remission has been achieved (trait-like). This debate is commonly referred to as the 'state vs trait' debate. Objective This systematic review aims to summarise existing literature regarding empathy in AN, and to investigate whether empathy deficits in AN are state- or trait-based. Method A total of 1014 articles were identified, and seven articles remained after the screening process. These seven articles, comparing empathy across three groups (acute AN, remission of AN, and non-clinical controls), were evaluated and summarised in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Articles were required to have included all three groups and report on either cognitive empathy and/or emotional empathy. Results The majority of studies were of satisfactory quality. The results identified were inconsistent, with few articles lending some support to the 'state' hypothesis and others producing nonsignificant results. Conclusions There is minimal literature comparing empathy in acute and remission phases of AN. While there were some inconsistencies in included articles, some data indicate that there may be slight improvements to emotional and cognitive empathy following recovery of AN. Further research is needed to better enrich knowledge regarding the role of state vs trait with regard to neurocognitive difficulties experienced by individuals with AN. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=335669, identifier CRD42022335669.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indigo E. Gray
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Melissa Kirkovski
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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4
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Augé P, Maruani A, Humeau E, Ellul P, Cartigny A, Lefebvre A, Dellapiazza F, Delorme R, Peyre H. Global Sensory Features are Linked to Executive and Attentional Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06385-4. [PMID: 38761284 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06385-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Sensory features, executive and attentional impairments are frequently reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, little is known about their complex relationships. In this study, we aim to examine the executive and attentional difficulties related to distinct sensory profiles. We identified sensory profiles with a Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) based on scores on the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) questionnaire in 95 children with ASD aged 6 to 17 years. Executive and attention functions were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF) questionnaire and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). A three-cluster solution based on raw SSP scores identified a "high'', a "medium" and a "low'' SSP profile. We found a significant relationship between executive functions, attentional skills and the global severity of sensory features, reinforcing findings of previous studies in the literature. A two-cluster solution based on normalized SSP (i.e. equalized for the global severity) identified distinct sensory profiles, mainly discriminated by the score of underresponsive/seeks sensation. We found no significant difference between these two clusters for the BRIEF and ADHD-RS related scores. Our study suggests that the heterogeneity of sensory features in ASD may not be explained by differences in executive and attention functions. Future studies are needed to refine the link between sensory features and executive functions in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Augé
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France.
| | - Anna Maruani
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France
- Centre de Référence "Déficiences Intellectuelles", Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Elise Humeau
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France
- Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Pierre Ellul
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Ariane Cartigny
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France
- Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
- Laboratory of Psychopathology and Health Process, Université Paris Cité, F92000, Paris, France
| | - Aline Lefebvre
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Florine Dellapiazza
- Centre de Ressources Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon et Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppement (CeAND), CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Hugo Peyre
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP, Paris-Cité University, Paris, France
- Centre de Ressources Autisme Languedoc-Roussillon et Centre d'Excellence sur l'Autisme et les Troubles Neurodéveloppement (CeAND), CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Rapaport H, Clapham H, Adams J, Lawson W, Porayska-Pomsta K, Pellicano E. 'I live in extremes': A qualitative investigation of Autistic adults' experiences of inertial rest and motion. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:1305-1315. [PMID: 37776056 PMCID: PMC11067417 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231198916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT 'Autistic inertia' is a term used by Autistic people to refer to difficulties with starting and stopping tasks. However, there has not been much research on Autistic inertia. The research that is available on Autistic inertia has mostly focused on the negative aspects of inertia, rather than on the possible benefits of needing to continue tasks. In this research, we wanted to understand more about Autistic people's experiences of inertia and to work out what things might influence these experiences. Autistic and non-Autistic researchers spoke in-depth to 24 Autistic adults. We identified four key ideas from people's responses. Autistic people spoke about their inertial 'difficulties moving from one state to another' and described how these challenges affected them 'every single day'. While they experienced inertia as 'the single most disabling part of being Autistic', people also described the positive aspects of inertia, including the joy they felt when completely immersed in a task. Our Autistic participants emphasised that inertial difficulties are experienced by everyone, the intensity of these task-switching difficulties might be especially challenging for Autistic people. Our findings also reveal how Autistic inertia can be seen both as a disabling and as an enabling condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Rapaport
- Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hayley Clapham
- Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jon Adams
- Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wenn Lawson
- Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Elizabeth Pellicano
- Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK
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All K, Chawarska K, Macari SL. Early executive functioning predicts externalizing problems in neurodiverse preschoolers. Autism Res 2024; 17:1053-1065. [PMID: 38476104 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit externalizing problems, which have been linked with increased anxiety and depression, peer rejection, and parental stress. Identification of early predictors of externalizing behaviors in autism will facilitate identification of vulnerable children and implementation of early preventative interventions. There is ample evidence that executive functioning, social functioning, and temperament are predictive of later externalizing problems in general populations, but less is known about these relations in ASD and other neurodiverse populations, particularly in the early preschool years. To address this gap, we assessed the relations between executive functioning, social functioning, and temperament at age 3 and externalizing problems at age 5 in a sample of neurodiverse children with ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders and delays. Analyses revealed that severity of early executive functioning impairment predicted increased externalizing problems. Severity of social autism symptoms moderated this relationship such that the effect of executive functioning on externalizing problems decreased as autism symptoms increased. These findings suggest that executive functioning is an important target for identifying and developing interventions for vulnerable children and underscore the necessity of considering severity of autism symptoms when researching the development of externalizing problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine All
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Katarzyna Chawarska
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Suzanne L Macari
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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7
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Aymerich C, Pacho M, Catalan A, Yousaf N, Pérez-Rodríguez V, Hollocks MJ, Parellada M, Krebs G, Clark B, Salazar de Pablo G. Prevalence and Correlates of the Concurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Brain Sci 2024; 14:379. [PMID: 38672028 PMCID: PMC11048346 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040379] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are two common and impairing neurodevelopmental conditions with partial symptomatic overlap. The aim of this study is to systematically and meta-analytically examine the following: (i) the prevalence of an OCD diagnosis among young people with ASD, (ii) the prevalence of an ASD diagnosis among young people with OCD, and (iii) the clinical and therapeutic implications of such comorbidity. METHOD A multistep literature search was performed from database inception until 17 November 2023. This PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023480543), identified studies reporting on the prevalence, sociodemographic, psychopathologic, prognostic, and therapeutic correlates of OCD and ASD concurrence in children and adolescents. A quantitative meta-analysis with random effects was conducted to analyse the pooled prevalence of OCD among samples with a mean age of < 18 years old with ASD and the prevalence of ASD among individuals under 18 with OCD. Sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the effect of diagnostic criteria and different continents. Meta-regression analyses were conducted to examine the effect of gender, age, IQ, and OCD severity scores. A narrative review of the clinical and therapeutical implications of the comorbidity was provided. RESULTS 42 studies were selected for the systematic review (SR), and 31 of them were also included in one of the meta-analyses. The pooled prevalence of OCD among ASD youth samples (n = 8916, mean age = 10.6 ± 1.6; 16.4% female) was 11.6% (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 6.9%; 18.8%), and the pooled prevalence of ASD among OCD children and adolescent samples (n = 6209, mean age = 14.1 ± 1.4; 45.7% female) was 9.5% (95% CI = 6.0%; 14.7%). Meta-regressions found a statistically higher prevalence of ASD among samples with a lower prevalence of females (β = -4.7; 95%CI = -8.6; -0.8). Children with both OCD and ASD present higher rates of functional impairment, psychopathology, and other comorbidities, compared to youth with either of the disorders alone. CONCLUSIONS OCD and ASD are highly concurrent conditions in youth, with symptomatic, prognostic, severity, and therapeutic implications. Future research should focus on conducting longitudinal cohort studies prospectively to determine development trajectories, along with randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of specific therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Aymerich
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
- Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Basque Country University, Basurto University Hospital, OSI Bilbao-Basurto, Centro de Investigación en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Malein Pacho
- Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Basque Country University, Basurto University Hospital, OSI Bilbao-Basurto, Centro de Investigación en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Ana Catalan
- Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Basque Country University, Basurto University Hospital, OSI Bilbao-Basurto, Centro de Investigación en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Noorulain Yousaf
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Violeta Pérez-Rodríguez
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Matthew J. Hollocks
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
- Service for Complex Autism & Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Mara Parellada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Centro de Investigación en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - Georgina Krebs
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- National & Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorder Clinic, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Bruce Clark
- National & Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorder Clinic, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Gonzalo Salazar de Pablo
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Centro de Investigación en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
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Pereira DJ, Morais S, Sayal A, Pereira J, Meneses S, Areias G, Direito B, Macedo A, Castelo-Branco M. Neurofeedback training of executive function in autism spectrum disorder: distinct effects on brain activity levels and compensatory connectivity changes. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:14. [PMID: 38605323 PMCID: PMC11008042 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09531-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits in executive function (EF) are consistently reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Tailored cognitive training tools, such as neurofeedback, focused on executive function enhancement might have a significant impact on the daily life functioning of individuals with ASD. We report the first real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) study targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in ASD. METHODS Thirteen individuals with autism without intellectual disability and seventeen neurotypical individuals completed a rt-fMRI working memory NF paradigm, consisting of subvocal backward recitation of self-generated numeric sequences. We performed a region-of-interest analysis of the DLPFC, whole-brain comparisons between groups and, DLPFC-based functional connectivity. RESULTS The ASD and control groups were able to modulate DLPFC activity in 84% and 98% of the runs. Activity in the target region was persistently lower in the ASD group, particularly in runs without neurofeedback. Moreover, the ASD group showed lower activity in premotor/motor areas during pre-neurofeedback run than controls, but not in transfer runs, where it was seemingly balanced by higher connectivity between the DLPFC and the motor cortex. Group comparison in the transfer run also showed significant differences in DLPFC-based connectivity between groups, including higher connectivity with areas integrated into the multidemand network (MDN) and the visual cortex. CONCLUSIONS Neurofeedback seems to induce a higher between-group similarity of the whole-brain activity levels (including the target ROI) which might be promoted by changes in connectivity between the DLPFC and both high and low-level areas, including motor, visual and MDN regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Jardim Pereira
- Neurorradiology Functional Area, Imaging Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sofia Morais
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Psychiatry Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Sayal
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Siemens Healthineers Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Pereira
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sofia Meneses
- Psychology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Graça Areias
- Psychology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Bruno Direito
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- IATV-Instituto do Ambiente, Tecnologia e Vida (IATV), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Macedo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Siemens Healthineers Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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9
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Chien YL, Tai YM, Chiu YN, Tsai WC, Gau SSF. The mediators for the link between autism and real-world executive functions in adolescence and young adulthood. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:881-895. [PMID: 37522400 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231184733] [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] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Childhood factors that predict real-world executive function in autism spectrum disorder during the transition into adulthood are largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the predictors for the behavioral and cognitive aspects of real-world executive function in late adolescent and young adult autistic populations. We followed up 289 autistic youth (mean age 11.6 years) and 203 non-autistic controls (10.7 years) to their ages of 16.9 and 15.8, respectively. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function scale was used to measure the real-world executive function at late adolescence and young adulthood at follow-up. Potential predictors such as autistic symptoms, inattention or hyperactivity symptoms, peer relationship, emotional symptoms, and parenting styles were assessed in childhood at first enrollment. The results showed that childhood inattention, withdrawn behaviors, social communication difficulties, and child-reported emotion and inattention/hyperactivity may predict real-world lower executive function in late adolescence and young adults with autism. When separating executive function into behavioral and cognitive aspects, we found that oppositional behaviors and peer problems were specific predictors for behavioral regulation and cognitive function, respectively. Our findings suggested that treating common predictors in childhood, such as inattention, may potentially improve real-world executive function in autism during the transition into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yueh-Ming Tai
- Tri-Service General Hospital of National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan
- National Taiwan University, Taiwan
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10
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van Andel DM, Sprengers JJ, Königs M, de Jonge MV, Bruining H. Effects of Bumetanide on Neurocognitive Functioning in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:894-904. [PMID: 36626004 PMCID: PMC10907457 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05841-3] [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: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We present the secondary-analysis of neurocognitive tests in the 'Bumetanide in Autism Medication and Biomarker' (BAMBI;EUDRA-CT-2014-001560-35) study, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled (1:1) trial testing 3-months bumetanide treatment (≤ 1 mg twice-daily) in unmedicated children 7-15 years with ASD. Children with IQ ≥ 70 were analyzed for baseline deficits and treatment-effects on the intention-to-treat-population with generalized-linear-models, principal component analysis and network analysis. Ninety-two children were allocated to treatment and 83 eligible for analyses. Heterogeneous neurocognitive impairments were found that were unaffected by bumetanide treatment. Network analysis showed higher modularity after treatment (mean difference:-0.165, 95%CI:-0.317 to - 0.013,p = .034) and changes in the relative importance of response inhibition in the neurocognitive network (mean difference:-0.037, 95%CI:-0.073 to - 0.001,p = .042). This study offers perspectives to include neurocognitive tests in ASD trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorinde M van Andel
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan J Sprengers
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marsh Königs
- Department of Paediatrics, Emma Neuroscience Group, Amsterdam UMC Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maretha V de Jonge
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department Education and Child Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hilgo Bruining
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychosocial Care, Emma Children's Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- N=You Neurodevelopmental Precision Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Levvel, Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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11
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Soto-Icaza P, Soto-Fernández P, Kausel L, Márquez-Rodríguez V, Carvajal-Paredes P, Martínez-Molina MP, Figueroa-Vargas A, Billeke P. Oscillatory activity underlying cognitive performance in children and adolescents with autism: a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1320761. [PMID: 38384334 PMCID: PMC10879575 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1320761] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that exhibits a widely heterogeneous range of social and cognitive symptoms. This feature has challenged a broad comprehension of this neurodevelopmental disorder and therapeutic efforts to address its difficulties. Current therapeutic strategies have focused primarily on treating behavioral symptoms rather than on brain psychophysiology. During the past years, the emergence of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) has opened alternatives to the design of potential combined treatments focused on the neurophysiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders like ASD. Such interventions require identifying the key brain mechanisms underlying the symptomatology and cognitive features. Evidence has shown alterations in oscillatory features of the neural ensembles associated with cognitive functions in ASD. In this line, we elaborated a systematic revision of the evidence of alterations in brain oscillations that underlie key cognitive processes that have been shown to be affected in ASD during childhood and adolescence, namely, social cognition, attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. This knowledge could contribute to developing therapies based on NIBS to improve these processes in populations with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Soto-Icaza
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Leonie Kausel
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología (CENHN), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Víctor Márquez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Carvajal-Paredes
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Paz Martínez-Molina
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Figueroa-Vargas
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory for Cognitive and Evolutionary Neuroscience (LaNCE), Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Billeke
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
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12
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Van den Brande A, Bollen B, Boets B, Naulaers G, Ortibus E. Executive Function Assessment in 2-Year-Olds Born Preterm. Neuropediatrics 2024; 55:16-22. [PMID: 36720262 DOI: 10.1055/a-2023-9280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our objective was to investigate the executive function and its relationship with gestational age, sex, maternal education, and neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years corrected age in children born preterm. METHOD Executive function was assessed by means of the Multisearch Multilocation Task (MSML), Reversed Categorization Task (RevCat), and Snack Delay Task (SDT). Infant and maternal characteristics were gathered from the child's record. The developmental outcome was measured by the Bayley Scales and a multidisciplinary risk evaluation for autism. RESULTS The executive function battery was completed by 97 children. The majority were able to successfully complete the MSML and SDT but failed RevCat. The lower the gestational age and the maternal education, the lower the executive function scores. Better cognition and motor function, as well as low autism risk, were associated with better executive function scores. Executive function was not related to sex. INTERPRETATION This cohort study provides evidence that it is feasible to assess executive function in 2-year-olds born preterm. Executive function is related to gestational age and maternal education and is positively correlated with behavioral outcome. Therefore, executive functions can be a valuable target for early intervention, resulting in improvements in neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born preterm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Van den Brande
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bieke Bollen
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- Leuven Autism Research consortium, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gunnar Naulaers
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Els Ortibus
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Holeva V, Nikopoulou VA, Lytridis C, Bazinas C, Kechayas P, Sidiropoulos G, Papadopoulou M, Kerasidou MD, Karatsioras C, Geronikola N, Papakostas GA, Kaburlasos VG, Evangeliou A. Effectiveness of a Robot-Assisted Psychological Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:577-593. [PMID: 36331688 PMCID: PMC9638397 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05796-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Difficulties with social interaction characterise children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and have a negative impact in their everyday life. Integrating a social-humanoid robot within the standard clinical treatment has been proven promising. The main aim of this randomised controlled study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a robot-assisted psychosocial intervention and the secondary aim was to investigate potential differences between a robot-assisted intervention group and a control group receiving intervention by humans only. The analysis of the results showed that robot-assisted intervention could be beneficial by improving children's psychosocial skills. This improvement was highlighted by neuropsychological testing and parent reporting. Group comparison only presented minimal statistically significant differences. The study underpins the potential of robot-assisted interventions to augment standard care.
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Grants
- Τ1ΕDΚ-00929 Action "RESEARCH - DEVELOP - INNOVATE", cycle A, Intervention II, Operational Programme "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation", NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework) of Greece 2014-2020
- Action “RESEARCH – DEVELOP - INNOVATE”, cycle A, Intervention II, Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation”, NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework) of Greece 2014-2020
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Holeva
- Clinical Psychology Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Periferiaki Odos, Ring Road, N. Efkarpia, 54603, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - V A Nikopoulou
- Clinical Psychology Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Periferiaki Odos, Ring Road, N. Efkarpia, 54603, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - C Lytridis
- HUman-MAchines INteraction Laboratory (HUMAIN-Lab), International Hellenic University, Agios Loukas, Kavala, Greece
| | - C Bazinas
- HUman-MAchines INteraction Laboratory (HUMAIN-Lab), International Hellenic University, Agios Loukas, Kavala, Greece
| | - P Kechayas
- Clinical Psychology Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Periferiaki Odos, Ring Road, N. Efkarpia, 54603, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - G Sidiropoulos
- HUman-MAchines INteraction Laboratory (HUMAIN-Lab), International Hellenic University, Agios Loukas, Kavala, Greece
| | - M Papadopoulou
- Division of Child Neurology and Metabolic Disorders, 4th Department of Paediatrics, AUTH, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Periferiaki Odos, N. Efkarpia, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - M D Kerasidou
- Clinical Psychology Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Periferiaki Odos, Ring Road, N. Efkarpia, 54603, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - C Karatsioras
- "Praxis" Novel Consulting and Therapy Centre for Children, Kavala, Greece
| | | | - G A Papakostas
- HUman-MAchines INteraction Laboratory (HUMAIN-Lab), International Hellenic University, Agios Loukas, Kavala, Greece
| | - V G Kaburlasos
- HUman-MAchines INteraction Laboratory (HUMAIN-Lab), International Hellenic University, Agios Loukas, Kavala, Greece
| | - A Evangeliou
- Division of Child Neurology and Metabolic Disorders, 4th Department of Paediatrics, AUTH, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Periferiaki Odos, N. Efkarpia, Thessaloniki, Greece
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14
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Lage C, Smith ES, Lawson RP. A meta-analysis of cognitive flexibility in autism spectrum disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 157:105511. [PMID: 38104788 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105511] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is a fundamental process that underlies adaptive behaviour in response to environmental change. Studies examining the profile of cognitive flexibility in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reported inconsistent findings. To address whether difficulties with cognitive flexibility are characteristic of autism, we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis and employed subgroup analyses and meta-regression to assess the impact of relevant moderator variables such as task, outcomes, and age. Fifty-nine studies were included and comprised of 2122 autistic individuals without intellectual disabilities and 2036 neurotypical controls, with an age range of 4 to 85 years. The results showed that autistic individuals have greater difficulties with cognitive flexibility, with an overall statistically significant small to moderate effect size. Subgroup analyses revealed a significant difference between task outcomes, with perseverative errors obtaining the largest effect size. In summary, the present meta-analysis highlights the existence of cognitive flexibility difficulties in autistic people, in the absence of learning disabilities, but also that this profile is characterised by substantial heterogeneity. Potential contributing factors are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Lage
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom.
| | - Eleanor S Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca P Lawson
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
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15
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Farkas K, Pesthy O, Janacsek K, Németh D. Interpersonal Distance Theory of Autism and Its Implication for Cognitive Assessment, Therapy, and Daily Life. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2024; 19:126-136. [PMID: 37401721 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231180593] [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] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The interpersonal distance (IPD) theory provides a novel approach to studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this article, we present recent findings on the neurobiological underpinnings of IPD regulation that are distinct in individuals with ASD. We also discuss the potential influence of environmental factors on IPD. We suggest that different IPD regulation may have implications for cognitive performance in experimental and diagnostic settings, may influence the effectiveness of training and therapy, and may play a role in the typical forms of social communication and leisure activities chosen by autistic individuals. We argue that reconsidering the results of ASD research through the lens of IPD would lead to a different interpretation of previous findings. Finally, we propose a methodological approach to study this phenomenon systematically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Farkas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University
- BML-NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Pesthy
- BML-NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
| | - Karolina Janacsek
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
- Centre for Thinking and Learning, Institute for Lifecourse Development, School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich
| | - Dezső Németh
- BML-NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL) U1028 UMR5292, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Bron, France
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16
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Song Y, Nie Z, Shan J. Comprehension of irony in autistic children: The role of theory of mind and executive function. Autism Res 2024; 17:109-124. [PMID: 37950634 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Although previous studies have examined irony comprehension in autistic children and potential impact factors, the relationship between theory of mind (ToM), executive function (EF), symptoms of autism, and comprehension of irony in this population remains largely unknown. This study explored irony comprehension in autistic children and examined the roles of ToM and EF in linking autism symptoms to deficits in irony comprehension. Twenty autistic children were compared with 25 typically developing (TD) children in an irony story picture task, ToM task, and EF task. The results showed that autistic children had impaired comprehension of irony compared with TD children, and performance on ironic stories showed a significant moderate discriminatory effect in predicting autistic children. A ToM deficit has also been proposed for autistic children. Comprehension of irony was significantly correlated with second-order ToM (2nd ToM) but was not significantly correlated with any components of EF. Moreover, 2nd ToM can predict the level of irony comprehension and mediate the relationship between symptoms of autism and irony comprehension. Taken together, these findings suggest that irony comprehension may offer a potential cognitive marker for quantifying syndrome manifestations in autistic children, and 2nd ToM may provide insight into the theoretical mechanism underlying the deficit in irony comprehension in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongning Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics Ministry of Education, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziyun Nie
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics Ministry of Education, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiatong Shan
- Department of Arts and Science, NYU Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
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17
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Farrow A, Al-Jaishi AA, O'Donnell S, Palmeter S, Georgiades S, Chen YJ, McPhee PG, Edjoc R. Functional difficulties in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder: analysis of the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can 2024; 44:9-20. [PMID: 38231089 PMCID: PMC10849611 DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.44.1.02] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study examined the prevalence of functional difficulties and associated factors in Canadian children/youth aged 5 to 17 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS We analyzed data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY), a nationally representative survey of Canadian children/youth that used the Washington Group Short Set on Functioning (WG-SS) to evaluate functioning in six daily tasks. For each functional domain, binary outcomes were derived (no/some difficulty, a lot of difficulty/no ability). We used logistic regression to identify associations between demographic characteristics, educational experiences, and perceived mental and general health and the most common functional difficulties, namely those related to remembering/concentrating, communication and self-care. All estimates were weighted to be representative of the target population. The bootstrap method was used to calculate variance estimates. RESULTS Analysis of the records of 660 children/youth with ASD revealed that the most common functional difficulties were remembering/concentrating (22%; 95% CI: 18-27), communicating (19%; 95% CI: 15-23) and self-care (13%; 95% CI: 10-17). Lower perceived mental health was associated with increased functional difficulties with remembering/concentrating. ASD diagnosis at a lower age and lower perceived general health were associated with increased functional difficulty with communication. Parental expectations for postsecondary education were associated with decreased functional difficulty for self-care. CONCLUSION One or more functional difficulties from the WG-SS was present in 39% of Canadian children/youth aged 5 to 17 years with ASD. Functional difficulties with remembering/concentrating, communication and self-care were most common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Farrow
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Stelios Georgiades
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yun-Ju Chen
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick G McPhee
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Jodra M, García-Villamisar D. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine on Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability: A Longitudinal Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:293-300. [PMID: 36309900 PMCID: PMC9618270 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05792-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The impact of the pandemic is being very significant psychologically, especially for people who were already vulnerable in these aspects, such as adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Intellectual Disability (ID). A longitudinal analysis of motor aspects such as balance and gait, executive functions in daily life, severity of symptoms characteristic of autism, and degree of subjective well-being was performed in 53 adults with ASD and ID. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed and three measures were taken, the first in December 2019, the second in March 2020, and the last in July 2020. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in balance on the latter measure, along with a deterioration in well-being and ASD symptoms in the period of seclusion and an improvement in executive functions after seclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Jodra
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Clinical Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Rector Royo Villanova s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Domingo García-Villamisar
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Clinical Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Rector Royo Villanova s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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19
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Tamm L, Hamik EM, Zoromski AK, Duncan A. Use of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity to Assess Executive Function in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Am J Occup Ther 2024; 78:7801205040. [PMID: 38206796 PMCID: PMC10846385 DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2024.050295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have challenges with executive function (EF). However, there are few measures to objectively assess EF, such as time management and prioritization. The Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA) is a promising performance-based EF measure that has rarely been used with youths with ASD. OBJECTIVE To characterize the performance of youths with ASD on the WCPA and the association of WCPA performance with caregiver-rated EF. DESIGN Observational and summary data obtained during a baseline evaluation for a research study. SETTING Middle school. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-nine adolescents with ASD and without an intellectual disability. METHOD Youth were administered the WCPA; caregivers completed EF ratings. Descriptive statistics characterized WCPA performance. Correlations between WCPA scores and age, IQ, and EF ratings were computed. RESULTS The majority of youth performed poorly on the WCPA and lacked insight into their poor performance. Many struggled to enter appointments. Appointment accuracy was <30%. The most common errors were location errors. Appointment accuracy and planning time were moderately associated with IQ but not with caregiver-rated EF or age. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Overall, the WCPA was cognitively demanding for youths with ASD without an intellectual disability. These results have implications for using evidence-based strategies to teach adolescents with ASD how to manage their time and plan and prioritize homework assignments, upcoming tests or quizzes, and extracurricular activities. Plain-Language Summary: Youths with autism spectrum disorder have significant problems with executive function, particularly organization, prioritization, time management, and planning. There are few objective, performance-based measures of executive function, especially those that can be used with autistic youths. To our knowledge, this study is the first to use the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA) with autistic adolescents who do not have an intellectual disability. The WCPA captured their deficits related to executive function and could be a useful tool for assessment and treatment planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Tamm
- Leanne Tamm, PhD, is Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH;
| | - Elizabeth M Hamik
- Elizabeth M. Hamik, BA, is Clinical Research Coordinator, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Allison K Zoromski
- Allison K. Zoromski, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Amie Duncan
- Amie Duncan, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
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20
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Mosconi MW, Stevens CJ, Unruh KE, Shafer R, Elison JT. Endophenotype trait domains for advancing gene discovery in autism spectrum disorder. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:41. [PMID: 37993779 PMCID: PMC10664534 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09511-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with a diverse range of etiological processes, including both genetic and non-genetic causes. For a plurality of individuals with ASD, it is likely that the primary causes involve multiple common inherited variants that individually account for only small levels of variation in phenotypic outcomes. This genetic landscape creates a major challenge for detecting small but important pathogenic effects associated with ASD. To address similar challenges, separate fields of medicine have identified endophenotypes, or discrete, quantitative traits that reflect genetic likelihood for a particular clinical condition and leveraged the study of these traits to map polygenic mechanisms and advance more personalized therapeutic strategies for complex diseases. Endophenotypes represent a distinct class of biomarkers useful for understanding genetic contributions to psychiatric and developmental disorders because they are embedded within the causal chain between genotype and clinical phenotype, and they are more proximal to the action of the gene(s) than behavioral traits. Despite their demonstrated power for guiding new understanding of complex genetic structures of clinical conditions, few endophenotypes associated with ASD have been identified and integrated into family genetic studies. In this review, we argue that advancing knowledge of the complex pathogenic processes that contribute to ASD can be accelerated by refocusing attention toward identifying endophenotypic traits reflective of inherited mechanisms. This pivot requires renewed emphasis on study designs with measurement of familial co-variation including infant sibling studies, family trio and quad designs, and analysis of monozygotic and dizygotic twin concordance for select trait dimensions. We also emphasize that clarification of endophenotypic traits necessarily will involve integration of transdiagnostic approaches as candidate traits likely reflect liability for multiple clinical conditions and often are agnostic to diagnostic boundaries. Multiple candidate endophenotypes associated with ASD likelihood are described, and we propose a new focus on the analysis of "endophenotype trait domains" (ETDs), or traits measured across multiple levels (e.g., molecular, cellular, neural system, neuropsychological) along the causal pathway from genes to behavior. To inform our central argument for research efforts toward ETD discovery, we first provide a brief review of the concept of endophenotypes and their application to psychiatry. Next, we highlight key criteria for determining the value of candidate endophenotypes, including unique considerations for the study of ASD. Descriptions of different study designs for assessing endophenotypes in ASD research then are offered, including analysis of how select patterns of results may help prioritize candidate traits in future research. We also present multiple candidate ETDs that collectively cover a breadth of clinical phenomena associated with ASD, including social, language/communication, cognitive control, and sensorimotor processes. These ETDs are described because they represent promising targets for gene discovery related to clinical autistic traits, and they serve as models for analysis of separate candidate domains that may inform understanding of inherited etiological processes associated with ASD as well as overlapping neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Mosconi
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
| | - Cassandra J Stevens
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Kathryn E Unruh
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Robin Shafer
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Jed T Elison
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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21
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Esmaeilzadeh Kanafgourabi SN, Shabani M, Mirchi Z, Aliyari H, Mahdavi P. The impact of ILF neurofeedback on inhibitory control in high-functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Preliminary evidence of a randomized controlled trial. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2023:1-19. [PMID: 37930738 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2023.2258247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit impairments in inhibitory control, which can impact their cognitive functioning. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) neurofeedback in improving inhibitory control among high-functioning adolescents with ASD. METHODS A single-blind, two-armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 24 adolescents with ASD randomly divided into two groups (active and sham; n = 12 per group). Both groups participated in 15 sessions of one-hour ILF neurofeedback, three times per week. The ILF neurofeedback protocol was applied to the active group, while the sham group received an inactive intervention. Outcomes were measured at the pretest, post-test, and follow-up stages. RESULTS ILF neurofeedback significantly improved inhibitory control in adolescents with ASD, as indicated by improvements in behavioral measures and absolute power analysis. The most significant differences were observed in alpha, theta, and gamma waves located in the central areas of the left gyrus. However, no significant effect was observed at the follow-up level on either behavioral measures or absolute power. CONCLUSION The results suggest that ILF neurofeedback is effective in improving inhibitory control in high-functioning adolescents with ASD. This non-invasive intervention has the potential to improve inhibitory control in this population. However, future research is needed to determine the long-term effects of ILF neurofeedback.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohsen Shabani
- Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Mirchi
- Faculty of Education and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamed Aliyari
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Parisa Mahdavi
- Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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22
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Schröder SS, Danner UN, Spek AA, van Elburg AA. Exploring the intersection of autism spectrum disorder and eating disorders: understanding the unique challenges and treatment considerations for autistic women with eating disorders. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2023; 36:419-426. [PMID: 37781983 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Autistic women struggle with high levels of both autistic eating behaviours and disordered eating behaviours , which might make them particularly vulnerable to develop eating disorders. Research investigating the presence and characteristics of eating disorders in autistic women is however limited, as is research examining the role of autism in the treatment and recovery of an eating disorder in autistic women. RECENT FINDINGS The link between autism and eating disorders has mainly been investigated from the field of eating disorder research, with studies finding an overrepresentation of autism or autistic traits in eating disorders populations. Findings also suggest that autism or autistic traits are associated with a more serious presentation of the eating disorders, including a higher chance of a chronic course of the eating disorders. Most studies however lack comprehensive autism assessments, making it difficult to determine the actual prevalence of autism and its role in women with eating disorders. SUMMARY Autistic women with an eating disorder seem to suffer from more complex eating disorders and seem to not benefit from current treatment modalities. This could be partly related to specific autism characteristics such as sensory sensitivities, which are not being considered by current treatment protocols. Future research needs to shed light on what underlies the eating behaviours of autistic women with an eating disorder, in order to help to adapt current treatment modalities to meet the unique needs of these women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina S Schröder
- Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld, Zeist
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht
| | - Unna N Danner
- Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld, Zeist
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht
| | - Annelies A Spek
- Autism Expert Center, Goyergracht Zuid 39, Eemnes, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie A van Elburg
- Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld, Zeist
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht
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23
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Arnatkeviciute A, Lemire M, Morrison C, Mooney M, Ryabinin P, Roslin NM, Nikolas M, Coxon J, Tiego J, Hawi Z, Fornito A, Henrik W, Martinot JL, Martinot MLP, Artiges E, Garavan H, Nigg J, Friedman NP, Burton C, Schachar R, Crosbie J, Bellgrove MA. Trans-ancestry meta-analysis of genome wide association studies of inhibitory control. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4175-4184. [PMID: 37500827 PMCID: PMC10827666 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02187-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in effective executive function, including inhibitory control are associated with risk for a number of psychiatric disorders and significantly impact everyday functioning. These complex traits have been proposed to serve as endophenotypes, however, their genetic architecture is not yet well understood. To identify the common genetic variation associated with inhibitory control in the general population we performed the first trans-ancestry genome wide association study (GWAS) combining data across 8 sites and four ancestries (N = 14,877) using cognitive traits derived from the stop-signal task, namely - go reaction time (GoRT), go reaction time variability (GoRT SD) and stop signal reaction time (SSRT). Although we did not identify genome wide significant associations for any of the three traits, GoRT SD and SSRT demonstrated significant and similar SNP heritability of 8.2%, indicative of an influence of genetic factors. Power analyses demonstrated that the number of common causal variants contributing to the heritability of these phenotypes is relatively high and larger sample sizes are necessary to robustly identify associations. In Europeans, the polygenic risk for ADHD was significantly associated with GoRT SD and the polygenic risk for schizophrenia was associated with GoRT, while in East Asians polygenic risk for schizophrenia was associated with SSRT. These results support the potential of executive function measures as endophenotypes of neuropsychiatric disorders. Together these findings provide the first evidence indicating the influence of common genetic variation in the genetic architecture of inhibitory control quantified using objective behavioural traits derived from the stop-signal task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurina Arnatkeviciute
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mathieu Lemire
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Claire Morrison
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Institute for Behavioural Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael Mooney
- Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Peter Ryabinin
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Nicole M Roslin
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Molly Nikolas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - James Coxon
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeggan Tiego
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ziarih Hawi
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alex Fornito
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Walter Henrik
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Luc Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U1299 "Developmental trajectories & psychiatry" Université Paris-Saclay, Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie-Laure Paillère Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U1299 "Developmental trajectories & psychiatry" Université Paris-Saclay, Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Eric Artiges
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U1299 "Developmental trajectories & psychiatry" Université Paris-Saclay, Ecole Normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre Borelli, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Etablissement Public de Santé (EPS) Barthélemy Durand, 91700, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, France
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Vermont, 05405, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Joel Nigg
- Division of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Naomi P Friedman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Institute for Behavioural Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Christie Burton
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Russell Schachar
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer Crosbie
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark A Bellgrove
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Nicoli G, Pavon G, Grayson A, Emerson A, Mitra S. Touch may reduce cognitive load during assisted typing by individuals with developmental disabilities. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1181025. [PMID: 37600233 PMCID: PMC10434793 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1181025] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Many techniques have attempted to provide physical support to ease the execution of a typing task by individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). These techniques have been controversial due to concerns that the support provider's touch can influence the typed content. The most common interpretation of assisted typing as an ideomotor phenomenon has been qualified recently by studies showing that users with DD make identifiable contributions to the process. This paper suggests a neurophysiological pathway by which touch could lower the cognitive load of seated typing by people with DD. The required sensorimotor processes (stabilizing posture and planning and executing manual reaching movements) and cognitive operations (generating and transcribing linguistic material) place concurrent demands on cognitive resources, particularly executive function (EF). A range of developmental disabilities are characterized by deficits in sensorimotor and EF capacity. As light touch has been shown to facilitate postural coordination, it is proposed that a facilitator's touch could assist the seated typist with sensorimotor and EF deficits by reducing their sensorimotor workload and thereby freeing up shared cognitive resources for the linguistic elements of the task. This is the first theoretical framework for understanding how a facilitator's touch may assist individuals with DD to contribute linguistic content during touch-assisted typing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Nicoli
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Pavon
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Grayson
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Emerson
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Suvobrata Mitra
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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25
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Wolff B, Franco VR, Magiati I, Pestell CF, Glasson EJ. Neurocognitive and self-reported psychosocial and behavioral functioning in siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: a study using remote self-administered testing. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2023; 45:513-536. [PMID: 37779193 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2023.2259042] [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: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study compared and explored the neurocognitive profiles of siblings of persons with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) and associations between objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning. METHODS Siblings of persons with and without NDCs (64 NDC and 64 control siblings; mean age 19.88 years, range 11-27 years, 73.44% female, 75.78% White Caucasian) completed self-report questionnaires and self-administered computerized neurocognitive tests of executive functioning (EF). Using Bayesian analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between self-reported psychosocial functioning and cognitive test performance, and predictors of EF over 15 months. RESULTS NDC siblings had poorer working memory, inhibition, attention, and shifting compared to controls, as measured by experimental paradigms on the backward Corsi span, N-Back 2-back task, Stop Signal Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (effect size δ ranging 0.49 to 0.64). Bayesian cross-sectional networks revealed negative emotion reactivity and working memory difficulties were central to the NDC sibling network. Over 15 months, poorer EF (k low test scores) was predicted by negative emotion reactivity, sleep problems, and anxiety, over and above effects of age and subclinical autistic and ADHD traits. Siblings of autistic individuals and persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder had higher rates of neurocognitive and psychiatric difficulties than other NDCs and controls (Bayes factors >20). CONCLUSIONS Neurocognitive difficulties were associated with transdiagnostic vulnerability to poorer wellbeing in NDC siblings. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote online cognitive testing and highlight the importance of individualized prevention and intervention for NDC siblings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Wolff
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Iliana Magiati
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Carmela F Pestell
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Emma J Glasson
- Telethon Kids Institute, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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26
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Vegni N, D'Ardia C, Di Filippo G, Melchiori FM. The impact of Lego® Therapy on cognitive skills in Autism Spectrum Disorders: a brief discussion. AIMS Neurosci 2023; 10:190-199. [PMID: 37426776 PMCID: PMC10323259 DOI: 10.3934/neuroscience.2023016] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the years, several interventions have been implemented, including Lego® Therapy, with the aim of supporting and implementing social and communication skills impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Although recent studies have shown that the ability to learn implicitly is preserved in ASDs, no study related to Lego® Therapy has analyzed whether and how this training can also affect aspects not directly treated. In this study, we report a first attempt of assessment of Lego® Therapy's effect on the specific area of cognitive skills in an ASD child. Over a period of 12 months, a child with ASD had weekly meetings with an expert operator of Lego® aiming to improve the child's ability to communicate, reduce impulsiveness and hyper verbalism, and encourage pro-social behavior. The intervention resulted in positive outcomes that were assessed after 12 months.
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27
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Chan SC, Ormandy S, Stockwell A, Rehfeldt RA. The Application of Relational Frame Theory to Teaching Early Piano Skills to Children on the Autism Spectrum. Anal Verbal Behav 2023; 39:1-29. [PMID: 37397135 PMCID: PMC10313595 DOI: 10.1007/s40616-022-00175-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Music is a unique form of verbal stimuli (Reynolds & Hayes, The Psychological Record, 67(3), 413-421, 2017) and the literature has indicated some success in using procedures involving the frame of coordination or stimulus equivalence to teach early piano skills to learners with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Hill et al., Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53(1), 188-208, 2020). However, these studies only targeted narrow skills rather than a complete repertoire. Also, whether such teaching procedure is effective for young children with ASD at different ages, with different needs, and with common accompanied diagnosis, is unknown. The current study (a) explored the possibility of applying relational frame theory (RFT; Hayes, Barnes-Holmes, & Roche, 2001) in piano program development that aims to teach a complete early piano repertoire, and (b) confirmed the effectiveness of an adjusted teaching procedure using the frame of coordination on teaching early piano skills to six young children on the autism spectrum. A multiple probe across participants design was used. After direct training of two relations (AC & AE), post-instructional tests were conducted on eight relations. The results showed that with remedial training, five out of six participants demonstrated mutual entailment, combinatorial entailment, and transformation of stimulus function in these relations. All participants could read and play the song on keyboard without extra training. The study provided practical guidance on applying the procedure to these young learners. Implications of RFT in piano curriculum development were also discussed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40616-022-00175-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C. Chan
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 325 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 USA
| | - Shannon Ormandy
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 325 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 USA
| | - August Stockwell
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 325 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 USA
| | - Ruth Anne Rehfeldt
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 325 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 USA
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28
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Bahri J, Abbes ZS, Ben Yahia H, Halayem S, Jelili S, Hajri M, Amado I, Medalia A, Bouden A. Toward an integrative socio-cognitive approach in autism spectrum disorder: NEAR method adaptation-study protocol. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:940066. [PMID: 37293399 PMCID: PMC10244578 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.940066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe cognitive impairments exhibited by people with ASD, threaten the development of social skills that are essential for establishing and maintaining harmonious social relationships. Cognitive remediation and social skills training are now considered as crucial therapeutic approaches in the management of these disorders. Several programs have already been validated and have shown improvements in social skills or cognitive performance. However, the effects of these training methods seem to be difficult to generalize to other everyday life. The aim of our study is to alleviate cognitive and social deficiencies by using a socio-cognitive framework to adapt the Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) method for adolescents with ASD.Methods/designAdolescents meeting the DSM-5 criteria for ASD, older than 13 years, and following a regular school curriculum will be recruited from clinical population at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Razi University Hospital-Manouba- Tunisia. Our study is an open and non-randomized controlled trial including 30 patients: NEAR group / control group. The NEAR method combines computerized cognitive exercises and bridging groups inspired from cognitive behavioral therapy. NEAR group will be divided into three groups of five patients each. The duration of the sessions will vary according to the capacities of the participants and the exchanges between them (about 60–120 min). In our study, bridging groups will be amended by adding other tasks including planning role plays and scenarios of problematic social situations in autism, taking into account cultural particularities in order to promote social skills. Computerized exercises will be enriched by adding other tasks aiming to improve the recognition and expression of facial emotions by using digital videos and photographs expressing the six basic emotions. The duration of the program will be about 6 months. All selected patients will have an assessment of cognitive function: social cognition, neurocognition and pragmatic skills, social skills, self-esteem and global functioning at baseline, 1 week after the end of the NEAR program and 6 months later.ConclusionThis adaptive program is a promising socio-cognitive intervention that create new perspectives for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihene Bahri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Zeineb S. Abbes
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Houda Ben Yahia
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Soumeyya Halayem
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Selima Jelili
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Melek Hajri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Isabelle Amado
- CH Sainte-Anne, C3RP & Services de Psychiatrie d'adultes HU & 75G17, Paris, France
| | - Alice Medalia
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
| | - Asma Bouden
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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Zhao Q, Luo Y, Mei X, Shao Z. Resting-state EEG patterns of preschool-aged boys with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37172019 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2023.2211702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Defective cognition development during preschool years is believed to be linked with core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurophysiological research on mechanisms underly the cognitive disabilities of preschool-aged children with ASD is scarce currently. This pilot study aimed to compare the resting spectral EEG power of preschool-aged boys with ASD with their matched typically developing peers. Children in the ASD group demonstrated reduced central and posterior absolute delta (1-4 Hz) and enhanced frontal absolute beta (12-30 Hz) and gamma (30-45 Hz). The relative power of the ASD group was elevated in delta, theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), beta, and gamma bands as compared to the controls. The theta/beta ratio decreased in the frontal regions and enhanced at Cz and Pz electrodes in the ASD group. Correlations between the inhibition and metacognition indices of the behavior rating inventory of executive function-preschool version (BRIEF-P) and the theta/beta ratio for children of both groups were significant. In conclusion, the present study revealed atypical resting spectral characteristics of boys with ASD at preschool ages. Future large-sampled studies for the generalization of our findings and a better understanding of the relationships between brain oscillations and phenotypes of ASD are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Zhao
- Rehabilitation Center for Children with Autism of Chongqing, Department of Child Health Care, Ninth People's Hospital of Chongqing, Beibei, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Luo
- Department of Child Health Care, Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Xinjie Mei
- Department of Child Health Care, Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhi Shao
- Rehabilitation Center for Children with Autism of Chongqing, Department of Child Health Care, Ninth People's Hospital of Chongqing, Beibei, Chongqing, China
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30
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Kiep M, Spek A, Ceulemans E, Noens I. Sensory Processing and Executive Functioning in Autistic Adults. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06008-4. [PMID: 37171766 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06008-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE One of the core features that can be experienced by adults on the autism spectrum is hyper- and hyporeactivity to sensory stimuli. Research suggests that executive functioning (EF) impairments are related to sensory issues. In this study the relationship between sensory processing issues and EF was investigated. We expected sensory processing issues to predict EF impairments. METHODS Thirty men and 30 women on the autism spectrum, 20 men and 24 women without autism were included and matched on intelligence and age. Group comparisons were conducted to determine if groups differed regarding self-reported sensory processing issues (GSQ-NL) and self-reports on EF (BRIEF-A). Correlational and regression analyses were carried out to investigate the relationship between self-reports on GSQ-NL and BRIEF-A. RESULTS We found significant differences between men and women on the spectrum with regard to sensory processing issues and EF. Hyporeactivity to sensory information explained most of the EF problems. CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of differences in sensory experiences between adults on the spectrum and non-autistic adults and differences between men and women during assessment and subsequent counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Kiep
- Autisme Expertise Centrum, Eemnes, Netherlands.
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Autism Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | | | - Eva Ceulemans
- Quantative Psychology and Inaffiliationidual Differences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Noens
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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31
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Rabot J, Rødgaard EM, Joober R, Dumas G, Bzdok D, Bernhardt B, Jacquemont S, Mottron L. Genesis, modelling and methodological remedies to autism heterogeneity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105201. [PMID: 37116771 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Diagnostic criteria used in autism research have undergone a shift towards the inclusion of a larger population, paralleled by increasing, but variable, estimates of autism prevalence across clinical settings and continents. A categorical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is now consistent with large variations in language, intelligence, comorbidity, and severity, leading to a heterogeneous sample of individuals, increasingly distant from the initial prototypical descriptions. We review the history of autism diagnosis and subtyping, and the evidence of heterogeneity in autism at the cognitive, neurological, and genetic levels. We describe two strategies to address the problem of heterogeneity: clustering, and truncated-compartmentalized enrollment strategy based on prototype recognition. The advances made using clustering methods have been modest. We present an alternative, new strategy for dissecting autism heterogeneity, emphasizing incorporation of prototypical samples in research cohorts, comparison of subgroups defined by specific ranges of values for the clinical specifiers, and retesting the generality of neurobiological results considered to be acquired from the entire autism spectrum on prototypical cohorts defined by narrow specifiers values.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eya-Mist Rødgaard
- Department of Psychology, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark,.
| | - Ridha Joober
- Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H4H 1R3, Canada,.
| | - Guillaume Dumas
- Department of Psychiatry & Addictology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada, Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada,.
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, Canada, Department of Biomedical Engineering, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada,.
| | - Boris Bernhardt
- Multimodal Imaging and Connectome Analysis Laboratory, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada,.
| | - Sebastien Jacquemont
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, H3T 1C5, Canada,.
| | - Laurent Mottron
- Department of Psychiatry & Addictology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada, CIUSSS-NIM, Research Center, Montréal, QC, H1E 1A4, Canada,.
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Kourtesis P, Kouklari EC, Roussos P, Mantas V, Papanikolaou K, Skaloumbakas C, Pehlivanidis A. Virtual Reality Training of Social Skills in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Examination of Acceptability, Usability, User Experience, Social Skills, and Executive Functions. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13040336. [PMID: 37102850 PMCID: PMC10136366 DOI: 10.3390/bs13040336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor social skills in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are associated with reduced independence in daily life. Current interventions for improving the social skills of individuals with ASD fail to represent the complexity of real-life social settings and situations. Virtual reality (VR) may facilitate social skills training in social environments and situations similar to those in real life; however, more research is needed to elucidate aspects such as the acceptability, usability, and user experience of VR systems in ASD. Twenty-five participants with ASD attended a neuropsychological evaluation and three sessions of VR social skills training, which incorporated five social scenarios with three difficulty levels. Participants reported high acceptability, system usability, and user experience. Significant correlations were observed between performance in social scenarios, self-reports, and executive functions. Working memory and planning ability were significant predictors of the functionality level in ASD and the VR system's perceived usability, respectively. Yet, performance in social scenarios was the best predictor of usability, acceptability, and functionality level. Planning ability substantially predicted performance in social scenarios, suggesting an implication in social skills. Immersive VR social skills training in individuals with ASD appears to be an appropriate service, but an errorless approach that is adaptive to the individual's needs should be preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kourtesis
- Department of Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 84 Athens, Greece
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AD, UK
| | - Evangelia-Chrysanthi Kouklari
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
| | - Petros Roussos
- Department of Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 84 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Mantas
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Papanikolaou
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Skaloumbakas
- Department of Child Psychiatry, P. & A. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, 115 28 Athens, Greece
- Habilis, R&D Team, 141 22 Athens, Greece
| | - Artemios Pehlivanidis
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece
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Chemogenetic rectification of the inhibitory tone onto hippocampal neurons reverts autistic-like traits and normalizes local expression of estrogen receptors in the Ambra1+/- mouse model of female autism. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:63. [PMID: 36804922 PMCID: PMC9941573 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02357-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Female, but not male, mice with haploinsufficiency for the proautophagic Ambra1 gene show an autistic-like phenotype associated with hippocampal circuits dysfunctions which include loss of parvalbuminergic interneurons (PV-IN), decrease in the inhibition/excitation ratio, and abundance of immature dendritic spines on CA1 pyramidal neurons. Given the paucity of data relating to female autism, we exploit the Ambra1+/- female model to investigate whether rectifying the inhibitory input onto hippocampal principal neurons (PN) rescues their ASD-like phenotype at both the systems and circuits level. Moreover, being the autistic phenotype exclusively observed in the female mice, we control the effect of the mutation and treatment on hippocampal expression of estrogen receptors (ER). Here we show that excitatory DREADDs injected in PV_Cre Ambra1+/- females augment the inhibitory input onto CA1 principal neurons (PN), rescue their social and attentional impairments, and normalize dendritic spine abnormalities and ER expression in the hippocampus. By providing the first evidence that hippocampal excitability jointly controls autistic-like traits and ER in a model of female autism, our findings identify an autophagy deficiency-related mechanism of hippocampal neural and hormonal dysregulation which opens novel perspectives for treatments specifically designed for autistic females.
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Spackman E, Smillie LD, Frazier TW, Hardan AY, Alvares GA, Whitehouse A, Uljarević M. Profiles of circumscribed interests in autistic youth. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1037967. [PMID: 36844650 PMCID: PMC9947294 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1037967] [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: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Circumscribed interests (CI) encompass a range of different interests and related behaviors that can be characterized by either a high intensity but otherwise usual topic [referred to as restricted interests (RI)] or by a focus on topics that are not salient outside of autism [referred to as unusual interests (UI)]. Previous research has suggested that there is pronounced variability across individuals in terms of the endorsement of different interests, however, this variability has not been quantified using formal subtyping approaches. Therefore, using Latent Profile Analysis in a sample of 1,892 autistic youth (Mage = 10.82, SDage = 4.14; 420 females), this study aimed to identify subgroups based on the RU and UI profiles. Three profiles of autistic individuals were identified. They were characterized as Low CI, Predominantly RI, and Predominantly UI. Importantly, profiles differed on several key demographic and clinical variables, including age, sex composition, IQ, language level, social and communication abilities, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Although replication across other samples is needed, the profiles identified in this study are potentially promising for future research given their distinct profiles of RI and UI and unique patterns of associations with key cognitive and clinical variables. Therefore, this study represents an important initial step towards more individualized assessment and support for diverse presentations of CI in autistic youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Spackman
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,*Correspondence: Emily Spackman
| | - Luke D. Smillie
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Antonio Y. Hardan
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Gail A. Alvares
- UWA Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Andrew Whitehouse
- UWA Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Mirko Uljarević
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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Godfrey M, Casnar C, Stolz E, Ailion A, Moore T, Gioia G. [Formula: see text] A review of procedural and declarative metamemory development across childhood. Child Neuropsychol 2023; 29:183-212. [PMID: 35343879 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2022.2055751] [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] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Metamemory is a component of metacognition that includes both the knowledge of factors that affect memory (i.e. declarative metamemory) and knowledge and application of factors in one's own learning and recall performance (i.e. procedural metamemory). The current paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of studies examining metamemory ability development from preschool into adolescence in order to improve the understanding of metamemory, its developmental course, and the available assessment methods. We examined the developmental trajectory of procedural and declarative metamemory abilities for both typically developing children and clinical populations. We found procedural metamemory abilities emerge around 4 to 5 years old, and significantly improve across childhood and into adulthood, although less is known about metamemory development across adolescence in typically developing children. Additionally, metamemory abilities vary significantly based on clinical pathology, although relatively fewer studies have examined these abilities in children with neurodevelopmental disorders or other neurologic conditions, such as acquired brain injury. The methods of metamemory assessment varied significantly across studies as well, indicating a need for a standardized metamemory measure, which would have high utility for clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Godfrey
- Division of Neuropsychology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christy Casnar
- Division of Neuropsychology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Erin Stolz
- Division of Neuropsychology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alyssa Ailion
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Trey Moore
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gerard Gioia
- Division of Neuropsychology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
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Wang M, Jeon M. Assistive technology for adults on the autism spectrum: A systematic survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION 2023; 40:2433-2452. [PMID: 38784821 PMCID: PMC11114460 DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2022.2163568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
While the needs and care for children on the autism spectrum have been widely investigated, the intervention and services available to autistic adults have been overlooked for a long time. This survey paper reviewed 32 articles that described and evaluated assistive technologies that have been developed and evaluated through a complete circle of interactive product design from ideation, prototype, and user evaluation. These assistive technologies aim to improve independence and living quality in autistic adults. We extracted information from the perspective of requirement gathering, technology designing, and effectiveness of evaluation in the design cycle. We found a general lack of requirements-driven design, and the evaluation process was not standardized either. The lack of requirement gathering results in designs purely based on existing literature without targeting actual user needs. Our synthesis of included paper contributes to developing iterative design considerations in assistive technologies for autistic adults. We also suggest that assistive technologies for autistic adults shift some attention from assisting only autistic adults who require at least substantial support to embracing also those who have been living independently but rather have difficulties in social interaction. Assistive technologies for them have the potentials to help them consolidate and enhance their experiences in independent living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhua Wang
- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
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37
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Autism traits and real-world executive functioning in parents of children with disabilities and undergraduates. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04097-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Innovations of the ICD-11 in the Field of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Psychological Approach. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN EUROPE 2022; 4:e10005. [PMID: 36760320 PMCID: PMC9881114 DOI: 10.32872/cpe.10005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This article aims to explain and elaborate upon the recently released ICD-11 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD, World Health Organization), which endorse a medical model. Method We integrate insights from several disciplines (e.g., psychology, linguistics, sociology and lived experiences) to reflect the scientific and ethical insights derived from the biopsychosocial, neurodiversity perspective on autism. Results First, we describe the core domains of ASD's behavioural characteristics and then the lifetime, developmental perspective on the manifestations of these behaviours. Subsequently, we discuss potential underlying neuropsychology, related behaviours (i.e. associated features/conditions) and we consider some similarities and differences with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM 5, American Psychological Association). Conclusions Recommendations for clinical application are provided. For instance, diagnostic classification in clinical practise should be a means to provide proper, suitable care, and therefore all diagnostic assessments should be used to tailor interventions and/or care to the capacities and genuine needs of the people that ask for professional help.
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Wilkinson M, Keehn RJ, Linke A, You Y, Gao Y, Alemu K, Correas A, Rosen B, Kohli J, Wagner L, Sridhar A, Marinkovic K, Müller RA. fMRI BOLD and MEG theta power reflect complementary aspects of activity during lexicosemantic decision in adolescents with ASD. NEUROIMAGE. REPORTS 2022; 2:100134. [PMID: 36438080 PMCID: PMC9683354 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2022.100134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been predominantly unimodal. While many fMRI studies have reported atypical activity patterns for diverse tasks, the MEG literature in ASD remains comparatively small. Our group recently reported atypically increased event-related theta power in individuals with ASD during lexicosemantic processing. The current multimodal study examined the relationship between fMRI BOLD signal and anatomically-constrained MEG (aMEG) theta power. Thirty-three adolescents with ASD and 23 typically developing (TD) peers took part in both fMRI and MEG scans, during which they distinguished between standard words (SW), animal words (AW), and pseudowords (PW). Regions-of-interest (ROIs) were derived based on task effects detected in BOLD signal and aMEG theta power. BOLD signal and theta power were extracted for each ROI and word condition. Compared to TD participants, increased theta power in the ASD group was found across several time windows and regions including left fusiform and inferior frontal, as well as right angular and anterior cingulate gyri, whereas BOLD signal was significantly increased in the ASD group only in right anterior cingulate gyrus. No significant correlations were observed between BOLD signal and theta power. Findings suggest that the common interpretation of increases in BOLD signal and theta power as 'activation' require careful differentiation, as these reflect largely distinct aspects of regional brain activity. Some group differences in dynamic neural processing detected with aMEG that are likely relevant for lexical processing may be obscured by the hemodynamic signal source and low temporal resolution of fMRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Wilkinson
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States,Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - R.J. Jao Keehn
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - A.C. Linke
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Y. You
- Spatiotemporal Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Y. Gao
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States,Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - K. Alemu
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - A. Correas
- Spatiotemporal Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - B.Q. Rosen
- Spatiotemporal Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - J.S. Kohli
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States,Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - L. Wagner
- Spatiotemporal Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - A. Sridhar
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - K. Marinkovic
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States,Spatiotemporal Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States,Radiology Department, University of California at San Diego, CA, United States
| | - R.-A. Müller
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, United States,Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States,Corresponding author. San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado Ct., Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92120, United States. (R.-A. Müller)
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Lei J, Charman T, Leigh E, Russell A, Mohamed Z, Hollocks MJ. Examining the relationship between cognitive inflexibility and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in autistic children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Autism Res 2022; 15:2265-2295. [PMID: 36196666 PMCID: PMC10092776 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2826] [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: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Compared to neurotypical peers, autistic adolescents show greater cognitive inflexibility (CI) which manifests at the behavioral and cognitive level and potentially increases vulnerability for the development of internalizing (INT) and externalizing (EXT) symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the association between CI and INT/EXT in autistic adolescents. PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant studies until April 2022 (PROSPERO protocol: CRD42021277294). Systematic review included 21 studies (n = 1608) of CI and INT, and 15 studies (n = 1115) of CI and EXT. A pooled effect size using Pearson's correlation between CI and INT/EXT was calculated and the moderating effects of age, sex, IQ and study quality were investigated using meta-regressions. Sensitivity analyses were completed to investigate the impact of measure variance for CI and co-occurring ADHD on the overall effects. Greater CI is associated with increased INT (nine studies; n = 833; r = 0.39 (moderate effect), 95% confidence interval [0.32, 0.46]) and EXT (six studies; n = 295; r = 0.48 (large effect), 95% confidence interval [0.38, 0.58]). Results withheld when only using parental reports of CI and excluding autistic adolescents with co-occurring ADHD. Increased CI may be a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor that can increase autistic adolescents' rigid or perseverative patterns of unhelpful cognition and behaviors and reduce their ability to access psychological interventions. Addressing CI may improve autistic children and adolescents' engagement with psychological therapy for co-occurring mental health difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiedi Lei
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Eleanor Leigh
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ailsa Russell
- Centre for Applied Autism Research, Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Zameer Mohamed
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Matthew J Hollocks
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
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Khadem-Reza ZK, Zare H. Evaluation of brain structure abnormalities in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using structural magnetic resonance imaging. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-022-00576-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disorders of the nervous system. Since the core cause of many of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder is due to changes in the structure of the brain, the importance of examining the structural abnormalities of the brain in these disorder becomes apparent. The aim of this study is evaluation of brain structure abnormalities in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). sMRI images of 26 autistic and 26 Healthy control subjects in the range of 5–10 years are selected from the ABIDE database. For a better assessment of structural abnormalities, the surface and volume features are extracted together from this images. Then, the extracted features from both groups were compared with the sample t test and the features with significant differences between the two groups were identified.
Results
The results of volume-based features indicate an increase in total brain volume and white matter and a change in white and gray matter volume in brain regions of Hammers atlas in the autism group. In addition, the results of surface-based features indicate an increase in mean and standard deviation of cerebral cortex thickness and changes in cerebral cortex thickness, sulcus depth, surface complexity and gyrification index in the brain regions of the Desikan–Killany cortical atlas.
Conclusions
Identifying structurally abnormal areas of the brain and examining their relationship to the clinical features of Autism Spectrum Disorder can pave the way for the correct and early detection of this disorder using structural magnetic resonance imaging. It is also possible to design treatment for autistic people based on the abnormal areas of the brain, and to see the effectiveness of the treatment using imaging.
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van Dam K, Gielissen M, Reijnders R, van der Poel A, Boon B. Experiences of Persons With Executive Dysfunction in Disability Care Using a Social Robot to Execute Daily Tasks and Increase the Feeling of Independence: Multiple-Case Study. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2022; 9:e41313. [PMID: 36326800 PMCID: PMC9672999 DOI: 10.2196/41313] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Executive functions are essential for independently navigating nearly all of our daily activities. Executive dysfunction often occurs as a result of a neurodevelopmental disorder. Persons with executive dysfunction experience challenges regarding independent execution of daily tasks. Social robots might support persons with executive dysfunction to execute daily tasks and promote their feeling of independence. Objective This study aimed to study the impact of interacting with social robot Tessa on goal attainment in the execution of daily tasks and perceived independence of persons with executive dysfunction. Methods In this multiple-case study, 18 participant–caregiver couples were followed up while using Tessa in the home environment for 3 months. Goal attainment on independently performing a self-determined goal was measured by the Goal Attainment Scale, and participant–caregiver couples were interviewed about their experience with their interaction with Tessa and how they perceived Tessa’s impact on their independence. Results In total, 11 (61%) participants reached their goal after 6 weeks and maintained their goal after 3 months. During the study period, 2 participant–caregiver couples withdrew because of mismatch with Tessa. Participants set goals in the following domains: execution of household tasks; intake of food, water, or medication; being ready in time for an appointment; going to bed or getting out of bed on time; personal care; and exercise. Participants perceived that Tessa increased the feeling of independence by generating more structure, stimulation, and self-direction. Participant–caregiver couples reported that the auditive information provided by Tessa was more effective in coping with executive dysfunction compared to their initial approaches using visual information, and the use of Tessa had a positive impact on their relationship. Conclusions This study paid ample time and attention to the implementation of a social robot in daily care practice. The encouraging findings support the use of social robot Tessa for the execution of daily tasks and increasing independence of persons with executive dysfunction in disability care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Brigitte Boon
- Academy Het Dorp, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Siza, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Tranzo, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
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Chien YL, Chen YJ, Tseng WL, Hsu YC, Wu CS, Tseng WYI, Gau SSF. Differences in white matter segments in autistic males, non-autistic siblings, and non-autistic participants: An intermediate phenotype approach. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 27:1036-1052. [PMID: 36254873 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221125620] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT White matter is the neural pathway that connects neurons in different brain regions. Although research has shown white matter differences between autistic and non-autistic people, little is known about the properties of white matter in non-autistic siblings. In addition, past studies often focused on the whole neural tracts; it is unclear where differences exist in specific segments of the tracts. This study identified neural segments that differed between autistic people, their non-autistic siblings, and the age- and non-autistic people. We found altered segments within the tracts connected to anterior brain regions corresponding to several higher cognitive functions (e.g. executive functions) in autistic people and non-autistic siblings. Segments connecting to regions for social cognition and Theory of Mind were altered only in autistic people, explaining a large portion of autistic traits and may serve as neuroimaging markers. Segments within the tracts associated with fewer autistic traits or connecting brain regions for diverse highly integrated functions showed compensatory increases in the microstructural properties in non-autistic siblings. Our findings suggest that differential white matter segments that are shared between autistic people and non-autistic siblings may serve as potential "intermediate phenotypes"-biological or neuropsychological characteristics in the causal link between genetics and symptoms-of autism. These findings shed light on a promising neuroimaging model to refine the intermediate phenotype of autism which may facilitate further identification of the genetic and biological bases of autism. Future research exploring links between compensatory segments and neurocognitive strengths in non-autistic siblings may help understand brain adaptation to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ling Chien
- National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taiwan.,National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | - Chi-Shin Wu
- National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taiwan
| | | | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taiwan.,National Taiwan University, Taiwan
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Menu I, Rezende G, Le Stanc L, Borst G, Cachia A. Inhibitory control training on executive functions of children and adolescents: A latent change score model approach. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2022.101231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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45
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Mednicoff SD, Barashy S, Gonzales D, Benning SD, Snyder JS, Hannon EE. Auditory affective processing, musicality, and the development of misophonic reactions. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:924806. [PMID: 36213735 PMCID: PMC9537735 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.924806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Misophonia can be characterized both as a condition and as a negative affective experience. Misophonia is described as feeling irritation or disgust in response to hearing certain sounds, such as eating, drinking, gulping, and breathing. Although the earliest misophonic experiences are often described as occurring during childhood, relatively little is known about the developmental pathways that lead to individual variation in these experiences. This literature review discusses evidence of misophonic reactions during childhood and explores the possibility that early heightened sensitivities to both positive and negative sounds, such as to music, might indicate a vulnerability for misophonia and misophonic reactions. We will review when misophonia may develop, how it is distinguished from other auditory conditions (e.g., hyperacusis, phonophobia, or tinnitus), and how it relates to developmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder or Williams syndrome). Finally, we explore the possibility that children with heightened musicality could be more likely to experience misophonic reactions and develop misophonia.
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Miot S, Chancel R, Peries M, Crepiat S, Couderc S, Pernon E, Picot MC, Gonnier V, Jeandel C, Blain H, Baghdadli A. Multimorbidity patterns and subgroups among autistic adults with intellectual disability: Results from the EFAAR study. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2022; 27:762-777. [PMID: 36056616 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221121623] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Multimorbidity relates to having multiple chronic health conditions. It is a risk factor for poor health and reduces life expectancy. Autistic people have multiple chronic health conditions and die prematurely, especially if they have an intellectual disability (autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability). Certain pathophysiological processes observed in autism spectrum disorder are common to those related to the genesis and/or maintenance of multimorbidity. Furthermore, multimorbidity could be helpful in better identifying patient subgroups in autism spectrum disorder. It is therefore essential to better characterize multimorbidity and its consequences in the subgroup of autism spectrum disorder + intellectual disability individuals to offer them personalized care. We conducted a preliminary study of 63 autism spectrum disorder + intellectual disability adults to classify them according to their multimorbidity and search for a specific combination of chronic health conditions. We observed high and early multimorbidity in this sample and identified four classes of participants, distinguished by their multimorbidity status, independence and number of treatments. In addition, we observed a dominant combination of multimorbidity in our sample, combining immune dysfunction and gastrointestinal disorders, neurological and joint diseases. These findings support the hypothesis that an altered gut-brain relationship is involved in the risk of autism spectrum disorder, its outcome, and its association with chronic health conditions. Although larger studies are needed, our results suggest that subgroups of autism spectrum disorder + intellectual disability individuals can be identified based on their multimorbidity and potentially different ageing trajectories. A more comprehensive and personalized approach is needed to reduce the burden of multimorbidity and increase the quality of life and life expectancy in autism spectrum disorder/ intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Miot
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France.,CESP, INSERM U1178, Centre de recherche en Epidemiologie et Santé des Populations, Villejuif, France
| | - Raphaël Chancel
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France.,Autism Reference Centre of Languedoc-Roussillon CRA-LR, Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders CeAND, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, France
| | - Marianne Peries
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France.,Autism Reference Centre of Languedoc-Roussillon CRA-LR, Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders CeAND, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, France
| | - Sophie Crepiat
- Autism Reference Centre of Languedoc-Roussillon CRA-LR, Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders CeAND, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, France
| | - Sylvie Couderc
- Autism Reference Centre of Languedoc-Roussillon CRA-LR, Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders CeAND, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, France
| | - Eric Pernon
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France.,Autism Reference Centre of Languedoc-Roussillon CRA-LR, Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders CeAND, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, France
| | - Marie-Christine Picot
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France.,CESP, INSERM U1178, Centre de recherche en Epidemiologie et Santé des Populations, Villejuif, France
| | - Véronique Gonnier
- Autism Reference Centre of Languedoc-Roussillon CRA-LR, Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders CeAND, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, France
| | - Claude Jeandel
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France
| | - Hubert Blain
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France
| | - Amaria Baghdadli
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, Montpellier, France.,CESP, INSERM U1178, Centre de recherche en Epidemiologie et Santé des Populations, Villejuif, France.,Autism Reference Centre of Languedoc-Roussillon CRA-LR, Excellence Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders CeAND, Montpellier University Hospital, MUSE University, France
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Southon C. The relationship between executive function, neurodevelopmental disorder traits, and academic achievement in university students. Front Psychol 2022; 13:958013. [PMID: 36118426 PMCID: PMC9478894 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.958013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Difficulties with executive function have often been identified in individuals with various neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD). Additionally, in childhood and adolescence, executive functioning is an important predictor of academic achievement. However, less research has explored these relationships in adult students, and those with a high level of neurodevelopmental disorder traits but no clinical diagnosis. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess whether ASD, ADHD, and DCD traits can predict academic achievement in university students, and whether traits of these neurodevelopmental conditions moderate the relationship between executive function and academic achievement. Both neurotypical students and those with a clinical diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder were able to participate, with the majority being neurotypical. Participants completed four self-report questionnaires and provided a measure of academic achievement based on their university assignment results. Traits of ASD, ADHD, and DCD alone did not predict achievement, however, traits of ADHD and DCD significantly moderated the relationship between executive function and academic achievement. ASD traits did not significantly moderate this relationship. Implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
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Wang X, Song X, Jin Y, Zhan X, Cao M, Guo X, Liu S, Ou X, Gu T, Jing J, Cai L, Li X. Association between dietary quality and executive functions in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder. Front Nutr 2022; 9:940246. [PMID: 35990364 PMCID: PMC9386179 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.940246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It is well known that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had executive functions deficit. However, it is still unclear whether the poor dietary quality is related to the impairment of executive functions. The current study aimed to explore the association between dietary quality and executive functions in children with ASD. Methods A total of 106 children with ASD (7.7 ± 1.3 years) and 207 typically developing (TD) children (7.8 ± 1.3 years) were enrolled from Guangzhou, China. The Chinese version of Behavior Rating Scale of Executive function (BRIEF), the working memory subscales of the Chinese version of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), and the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) were used to measure the participant's executive functions. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect the dietary intake information, and the Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI_16) was used to evaluate the dietary quality. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the association between dietary quality and executive functions. Results In children with ASD, Low Bound Score (LBS) was positively correlated with the working memory subscale score of BRIEF (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.02–0.44, P < 0.05), while High Bound Score (HBS) and LBS were positively correlated with the organizable subscale score of BRIEF (β = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.11–0.77, P < 0.01; β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.01–0.37, P < 0.05). Compared to TD children, children with ASD had a higher proportion of moderate and high levels of insufficient dietary intake (moderate level, 37.7% vs. 23.2%, high level, 4.7% vs. 1.4%) and moderate level of unbalanced dietary intake (36.8% vs.21.3%), higher scores on all subscales of BRIEF (P < 0.01), and lower score on the working memory (81.3 ± 32.3 vs. 104.6 ± 12.5, P < 0.01), while there was no difference on the SCWT. Conclusion Poor dietary quality was associated with the impairment of working memory and organizational capacity in children with ASD. This study emphasized the importance of dietary quality in executive functions among children with ASD, and attention should be paid to improving their dietary quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojing Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuying Jin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muqing Cao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuning Guo
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siyu Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Ou
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingfeng Gu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Jing
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Cai
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuhong Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Chen M, Kreibich S. Reducing perseverative requesting and other problem behavior in a young girl with autism: a sequentially implemented intervention package. ADVANCES IN AUTISM 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/aia-09-2020-0055] [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 use a sequentially implemented intervention package to reduce the occurrence of perseverative requesting and other problem behavior in a young girl with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Design/methodology/approach
In this single-case study, subsequent to a functional analysis and a preference assessment, an intervention package consisting of three components (i.e. a tolerance for delay to reinforcement, choice-making and visual schedule) was implemented sequentially to address perseverative requesting and other problem behavior maintained by access to preferred items/activities in a young girl with ASD.
Findings
Via the intervention package, the girl demonstrated higher self-control skills (i.e. delaying access to preferred items/activities, choosing more preferred items/activities with delayed access over less preferred ones with immediate access, completing tasks before having access to preferred items/activities) with a reduction of perseverative requesting or other problem behavior.
Originality/value
The current case study presents concrete steps that could be applied to address tangible-maintained perseverative requesting using more natural and educationally relevant signals while improving the child’s appropriate skills (e.g. delay to reinforcement, self-control and task engagement).
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Förstner BR, Tschorn M, Reinoso-Schiller N, Maričić LM, Röcher E, Kalman JL, Stroth S, Mayer AV, Schwarz K, Kaiser A, Pfennig A, Manook A, Ising M, Heinig I, Pittig A, Heinz A, Mathiak K, Schulze TG, Schneider F, Kamp-Becker I, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Padberg F, Banaschewski T, Bauer M, Rupprecht R, Wittchen HU, Rapp MA. Mapping Research Domain Criteria using a transdiagnostic mini-RDoC assessment in mental disorders: a confirmatory factor analysis. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 273:527-539. [PMID: 35778521 PMCID: PMC10085934 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01440-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to build on the relationship of well-established self-report and behavioral assessments to the latent constructs positive (PVS) and negative valence systems (NVS), cognitive systems (CS), and social processes (SP) of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework in a large transnosological population which cuts across DSM/ICD-10 disorder criteria categories. One thousand four hundred and thirty one participants (42.1% suffering from anxiety/fear-related, 18.2% from depressive, 7.9% from schizophrenia spectrum, 7.5% from bipolar, 3.4% from autism spectrum, 2.2% from other disorders, 18.4% healthy controls, and 0.2% with no diagnosis specified) recruited in studies within the German research network for mental disorders for the Phenotypic, Diagnostic and Clinical Domain Assessment Network Germany (PD-CAN) were examined with a Mini-RDoC-Assessment including behavioral and self-report measures. The respective data was analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to delineate the underlying latent RDoC-structure. A revised four-factor model reflecting the core domains positive and negative valence systems as well as cognitive systems and social processes showed a good fit across this sample and showed significantly better fit compared to a one factor solution. The connections between the domains PVS, NVS and SP could be substantiated, indicating a universal latent structure spanning across known nosological entities. This study is the first to give an impression on the latent structure and intercorrelations between four core Research Domain Criteria in a transnosological sample. We emphasize the possibility of using already existing and well validated self-report and behavioral measurements to capture aspects of the latent structure informed by the RDoC matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd R Förstner
- Social and Preventive Medicine, Department of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mira Tschorn
- Social and Preventive Medicine, Department of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Nicolas Reinoso-Schiller
- Social and Preventive Medicine, Department of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lea Mascarell Maričić
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erik Röcher
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Janos L Kalman
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sanna Stroth
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Annalina V Mayer
- Social Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Center of Brain, Behavior, and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Kristina Schwarz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anna Kaiser
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andrea Pfennig
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - André Manook
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Ising
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingmar Heinig
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andre Pittig
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Translational Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Mathiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-Brain, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas G Schulze
- Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical School, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Inge Kamp-Becker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rainer Rupprecht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Wittchen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael A Rapp
- Social and Preventive Medicine, Department of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469, Potsdam, Germany.
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