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Basile GA, Tatti E, Bertino S, Milardi D, Genovese G, Bruno A, Muscatello MRA, Ciurleo R, Cerasa A, Quartarone A, Cacciola A. Neuroanatomical correlates of peripersonal space: bridging the gap between perception, action, emotion and social cognition. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1047-1072. [PMID: 38683211 PMCID: PMC11147881 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02781-9] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Peripersonal space (PPS) is a construct referring to the portion of space immediately surrounding our bodies, where most of the interactions between the subject and the environment, including other individuals, take place. Decades of animal and human neuroscience research have revealed that the brain holds a separate representation of this region of space: this distinct spatial representation has evolved to ensure proper relevance to stimuli that are close to the body and prompt an appropriate behavioral response. The neural underpinnings of such construct have been thoroughly investigated by different generations of studies involving anatomical and electrophysiological investigations in animal models, and, recently, neuroimaging experiments in human subjects. Here, we provide a comprehensive anatomical overview of the anatomical circuitry underlying PPS representation in the human brain. Gathering evidence from multiple areas of research, we identified cortical and subcortical regions that are involved in specific aspects of PPS encoding.We show how these regions are part of segregated, yet integrated functional networks within the brain, which are in turn involved in higher-order integration of information. This wide-scale circuitry accounts for the relevance of PPS encoding in multiple brain functions, including not only motor planning and visuospatial attention but also emotional and social cognitive aspects. A complete characterization of these circuits may clarify the derangements of PPS representation observed in different neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianpaolo Antonio Basile
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
| | - Elisa Tatti
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences, CUNY, School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10031, USA
| | - Salvatore Bertino
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Demetrio Milardi
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Bruno
- Psychiatry Unit, University Hospital "G. Martino", Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello
- Psychiatry Unit, University Hospital "G. Martino", Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Cerasa
- S. Anna Institute, Crotone, Italy
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, Messina, Italy
- Pharmacotechnology Documentation and Transfer Unit, Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health Science and Nutrition, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Cacciola
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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Abuzaid SMO. Autistic traits as a mediator between visual working memory capacity and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks in children with ASD. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38452103 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2024.2324988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The present study aimed to identify autistic traits as a mediator between visual working memory capacity and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks in children with ASD. One hundred-forty children, ages 4-6 years, participated in this study (mean age = 5.34 ± 4.11, 98 males). They were recruited from Taiba Specialized Centers for the Care of People with Special Needs in Saudi Arabia. A correlational design was used to identify the mediating role of autistic traits in the relationship between visual working memory capacity and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks in children with ASD. The present study developed a theoretical model that incorporated autistic traits as a mediator between visual working memory capacity and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks in children with ASD. The study findings indicate that: (1) A significant positive correlation exists between autistic traits and visual working memory capacity; (2) A significant positive correlation exists between autistic traits and enhanced performance in visual-perceptual tasks; (3) The relationship between visual working memory capacity and enhanced performance is mediated by autistic traits.
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Luo X, Dang C, Guo J, Li D, Wang E, Zhu Y, Liu L, Wang Y, Song Y, Sun L. Overactivated contextual visual perception and response to a single dose of methylphenidate in children with ADHD. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:35-44. [PMID: 36725736 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01559-0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of overactivated visual perception in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains unclear, which is interpreted as a cognitive compensation. The existing studies have proposed that perceptual abnormalities in neurodevelopmental disorders are associated with dysfunction of the contextual knowledge system, which influences the development and formation of perception. We hypothesized that alterations in contextual states may also be responsible for inducing perceptual abnormalities in ADHD. Therefore, the present study evaluated the characteristics of pre-stimulus alpha and its response to a single dose of methylphenidate (MPH). A total of 135 Chinese children participated in the first study, including 70 children with ADHD (age = 10.61 ± 1.93 years, female = 17) and 65 age- and sex-matched control children (age = 10.73 ± 1.93 years, female = 20). The second clinical trial included 19 Chinese children with ADHD (age = 11.85 ± 1.72 years, female = 4), with an identical visual spatial search task. Pre-stimulus alpha oscillations and P1 activity were significantly greater in children with ADHD than in the controls. Overactivated pre-stimulus alpha positively predicted P1. Both pre-stimulus alpha and P1 overactivation have beneficial effects on cognitive performance in children with ADHD. No intervening effect of a single dose of MPH on the compensatory activation of pre-stimulus alpha and P1 were observed. Our findings extended the perceptual activation to the contextual knowledge system, suggesting that compensatory perception in children with ADHD is more likely to be a top-down regulated cognitive operational process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangsheng Luo
- Peking University Sixth Hospital & Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University) & National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Chen Dang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital & Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University) & National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Jialiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Encong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital & Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University) & National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital & Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University) & National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital & Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University) & National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Yan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Li Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital & Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University) & National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China.
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Steigerwald AJ, Ferguson BJ, Nuraini N, Barnett JC, Takahashi N, Zamzow R, Heilman KM, Beversdorf DQ. Altered Allocation of Vertical Attention in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cogn Behav Neurol 2023; 36:159-165. [PMID: 37067989 DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0000000000000342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Typical adults most frequently orient their attention to other people's eyes, whereas individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) orient their attention to other people's mouths. Typical adults also reveal visuospatial biases on tasks such as vertical and horizontal line bisections. Therefore, the difference in face viewing might be related to a more general group difference in the allocation of vertical attention. OBJECTIVE To use vertical line bisection and quadrisection tasks to evaluate whether individuals with ASD have a more downward-oriented vertical attentional bias than do typical individuals. METHOD We recruited 20 individuals with ASD and 20 control participants matched for age (6-23 years), IQ, and sex. We asked the individuals to bisect and quadrisect lines on the top and bottom when the vertical lines were placed at the intersection of their right, left, and center egocentric sagittal planes and their coronal plane. The distances from the true midpoint and quadripoint were measured, and between-group performances were compared. RESULTS No significant difference was found between the ASD and control groups for vertical line bisections or lower line quadrisections. However, when the ASD group was compared with the control group for higher line quadrisections, the ASD group exhibited a greater upward deviation. CONCLUSION There is no downward vertical attentional spatial bias associated with ASD that could help to explain these individuals' attentional bias toward the mouth. However, additional studies are required to learn if this atypical upward vertical attentional bias might account for some of the symptoms and signs associated with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bradley J Ferguson
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Columbia, Missouri
- Departments of Health Psychology and Radiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Nanan Nuraini
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Nicole Takahashi
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Rachel Zamzow
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Kenneth M Heilman
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, and NF/SG Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida
| | - David Q Beversdorf
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Columbia, Missouri
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
- Departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Radiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
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Thérien VD, Degré-Pelletier J, Barbeau EB, Samson F, Soulières I. Different levels of visuospatial abilities linked to differential brain correlates underlying visual mental segmentation processes in autism. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9186-9211. [PMID: 37317036 PMCID: PMC10350832 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad195] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural underpinnings of enhanced locally oriented visual processing that are specific to autistics with a Wechsler's Block Design (BD) peak are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the brain correlates underlying visual segmentation associated with the well-established autistic superior visuospatial abilities in distinct subgroups using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This study included 31 male autistic adults (15 with (AUTp) and 16 without (AUTnp) a BD peak) and 28 male adults with typical development (TYP). Participants completed a computerized adapted BD task with models having low and high perceptual cohesiveness (PC). Despite similar behavioral performances, AUTp and AUTnp showed generally higher occipital activation compared with TYP participants. Compared with both AUTnp and TYP participants, the AUTp group showed enhanced task-related functional connectivity within posterior visuoperceptual regions and decreased functional connectivity between frontal and occipital-temporal regions. A diminished modulation in frontal and parietal regions in response to increased PC was also found in AUTp participants, suggesting heavier reliance on low-level processing of global figures. This study demonstrates that enhanced visual functioning is specific to a cognitive phenotypic subgroup of autistics with superior visuospatial abilities and reinforces the need to address autistic heterogeneity by good cognitive characterization of samples in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique D Thérien
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal (Québec) H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Janie Degré-Pelletier
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal (Québec) H1E 1A4, Canada
| | - Elise B Barbeau
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Fabienne Samson
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Isabelle Soulières
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, 7070, Boulevard Perras, Montréal (Québec) H1E 1A4, Canada
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Venegas JP, Navarrete M, Orellana-Garcia L, Rojas M, Avello-Duarte F, Nunez-Parra A. Basal Forebrain Modulation of Olfactory Coding In Vivo. Int J Psychol Res (Medellin) 2023; 16:62-86. [PMID: 38106956 PMCID: PMC10723750 DOI: 10.21500/20112084.6486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory perception is one of the most fundamental brain functions, allowing individuals to properly interact and adapt to a constantly changing environment. This process requires the integration of bottom-up and topdown neuronal activity, which is centrally mediated by the basal forebrain, a brain region that has been linked to a series of cognitive processes such as attention and alertness. Here, we review the latest research using optogenetic approaches in rodents and in vivo electrophysiological recordings that are shedding light on the role of this region, in regulating olfactory processing and decisionmaking. Moreover, we summarize evidence highlighting the anatomical and physiological differences in the basal forebrain of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, which could underpin the sensory perception abnormalities they exhibit, and propose this research line as a potential opportunity to understand the neurobiological basis of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Venegas
- Physiology Laboratory, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Chile.Universidad de ChileUniversity of ChileChile
| | - Marcela Navarrete
- Physiology Laboratory, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Chile.Universidad de ChileUniversity of ChileChile
| | - Laura Orellana-Garcia
- Physiology Laboratory, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Chile.Universidad de ChileUniversity of ChileChile
| | - Marcelo Rojas
- Physiology Laboratory, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Chile.Universidad de ChileUniversity of ChileChile
| | - Felipe Avello-Duarte
- Physiology Laboratory, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Chile.Universidad de ChileUniversity of ChileChile
| | - Alexia Nunez-Parra
- Physiology Laboratory, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Chile, Chile.Universidad de ChileUniversity of ChileChile
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Cundari M, Vestberg S, Gustafsson P, Gorcenco S, Rasmussen A. Neurocognitive and cerebellar function in ADHD, autism and spinocerebellar ataxia. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1168666. [PMID: 37415926 PMCID: PMC10321758 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1168666] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum plays a major role in balance, motor control and sensorimotor integration, but also in cognition, language, and emotional regulation. Several neuropsychiatric disorders such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as neurological diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) are associated with differences in cerebellar function. Morphological abnormalities in different cerebellar subregions produce distinct behavioral symptoms related to the functional disruption of specific cerebro-cerebellar circuits. The specific contribution of the cerebellum to typical development may therefore involve the optimization of the structure and function of cerebro-cerebellar circuits underlying skill acquisition in multiple domains. Here, we review cerebellar structural and functional differences between healthy and patients with ADHD, ASD, and SCA3, and explore how disruption of cerebellar networks affects the neurocognitive functions in these conditions. We discuss how cerebellar computations contribute to performance on cognitive and motor tasks and how cerebellar signals are interfaced with signals from other brain regions during normal and dysfunctional behavior. We conclude that the cerebellum plays a role in many cognitive functions. Still, more clinical studies with the support of neuroimaging are needed to clarify the cerebellum's role in normal and dysfunctional behavior and cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Cundari
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Unit of Neuropsychiatry, Hospital of Helsingborg, Helsingborg, Sweden
- Unit of Neurology, Hospital of Helsingborg, Helsingborg, Sweden
| | - Susanna Vestberg
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Peik Gustafsson
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Medical Faculty, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sorina Gorcenco
- Department for Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Rasmussen
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Zeisel A, Thiel T, Gaigg SB, Roessner V, Ring M. Validation of the German Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire and replication of sensory processing differences in students with higher and lower Autism-Spectrum Quotient. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:426. [PMID: 37316778 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04903-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ) gives insight into sensory processing differences (hypo- and hyper-sensitivity across modalities), which is a clinically defining characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because there is no validated German version of this instrument, this study aimed at validating the German GSQ. Further, a replication of the GSQ's sensory processing differences was intended. METHODS University students of Technische Universität or Universitätsklinikum in Dresden, Germany, were recruited via email distribution or the university homepage and 297 German-speaking students completed the online survey, comprising the German GSQ, Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Symptom-Checklist (SCL-90). For validation of the German GSQ, confirmatory factor analyses followed by exploratory factor analyses were applied. RESULTS The German GSQ has moderate to low validity, good to acceptable reliability, and a different internal structure from the original GSQ. Replicating the sensory processing differences in students with higher and lower AQ was not successful. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that the GSQ, developed especially for individuals with ASD, is less informative for the general population if there are not enough individuals with higher AQ scores in the sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalena Zeisel
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tobias Thiel
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian B Gaigg
- Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, London, UK
| | - Veit Roessner
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Melanie Ring
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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Chung S, Son JW. How Well Do We Understand Autistic Savant Artists: A Review of Various Hypotheses and Research Findings to Date. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2023; 34:93-111. [PMID: 37035790 PMCID: PMC10080252 DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.230004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The authors investigated the artistic characteristics of autistic savant artists, hypotheses on the proximate and ultimate causes of their emergence, recent psychological and other studies about them, and psychological and neuroaesthetic studies about non-savant autistic individuals. The artistic features of autistic savant artists were significantly similar to those of outsider artists. Furthermore, the authors investigated the explanatory power of the paradoxical functional facilitation theory, the superior visual perception hypothesis, the "Hmmmmm" hypothesis, and the Neanderthal theory of autism regarding the emergence of autistic savant artists. In addition, we investigated whether an increase in savant characteristics was related to a decrease in the ability for social communication. The authors suggested that in studies on the aesthetic experience of non-savant autistic individuals, their aesthetic experience ability is never lower than that of neurotypical individuals and that some non-savant autistic individuals may potentially have artistic talent. Finally, the authors reviewed the effectiveness of the "autism savant spectrum syndromic disorder" proposed by some researchers. More scientific and systematic studies on autistic savant artists from a multidisciplinary perspective are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungwon Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Autism and Developmental Disorder Treatment Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jung-Woo Son
- Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Autism and Developmental Disorder Treatment Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
- Address for correspondence: Jung-Woo Son, Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju 28644, Korea Tel: +82-43-269-6187, Fax: +82-43-267-7951, E-mail:
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Park HO. Autism Spectrum Disorder and Savant Syndrome: A Systematic Literature Review. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2023; 34:76-92. [PMID: 37035789 PMCID: PMC10080257 DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.230003] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to analyze research trends in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and savant syndrome and their cognitive characteristics through a systematic literature review. The objectives of this study were to establish an overview of research trends in ASD and savant syndrome, analyze the overall characteristics of individuals with ASD and savant syndrome, and examine their cognitive characteristics. Methods For the systematic literature review, three criteria were used to select review articles: 1) literature from peer-reviewed journals, published in the past 15 years, from 2008 to 2022; 2) subjects with ASD and savant syndrome; 3) study objectives focused on the basic phenomenon and cognitive characteristics of ASD and savant syndrome. Finally, based on the selection criteria, a total of 40 articles were included. Results Five themes and nine subthemes were derived from the analysis of 40 studies. The five main themes were as follows: 1) What is savant syndrome? 2) Demographic characteristics of savant syndrome; 3) Spectra of savant syndrome; 4) Savant syndrome and ASD; and 5) Cognitive characteristics of ASD with savant syndrome. The subthemes of the cognitive characteristics were weak central coherence, detail-focused cognitive processing, enhanced perceptual functioning, and hyper-systemizing. Conclusion Several studies have been conducted to understand ASD and savant syndrome; however, no single theory can specify the cognitive characteristics of people with ASD and savant syndrome. Therefore, further systematic and multi-layered research on ASD and savant syndrome are required for more comprehensive results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Ok Park
- Department of Early Childhood Special Education, Baekseok University, Cheonan, Korea
- Address for correspondence: Hyun Ok Park, Department of Early Childhood Special Education, 1 Baekseokdaehak-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31065, Korea Tel: +82-41-550-2467, Fax: +82-41-550-9089, E-mail:
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Dapor C, Sperandio I, Meconi F. Fading boundaries between the physical and the social world: Insights and novel techniques from the intersection of these two fields. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1028150. [PMID: 36861005 PMCID: PMC9969107 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1028150] [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: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the subtle interactions between sensory input and social cognition in visual perception. We suggest that body indices, such as gait and posture, can mediate such interactions. Recent trends in cognitive research are trying to overcome approaches that define perception as stimulus-centered and are pointing toward a more embodied agent-dependent perspective. According to this view, perception is a constructive process in which sensory inputs and motivational systems contribute to building an image of the external world. A key notion emerging from new theories on perception is that the body plays a critical role in shaping our perception. Depending on our arm's length, height and capacity of movement, we create our own image of the world based on a continuous compromise between sensory inputs and expected behavior. We use our bodies as natural "rulers" to measure both the physical and the social world around us. We point out the necessity of an integrative approach in cognitive research that takes into account the interplay between social and perceptual dimensions. To this end, we review long-established and novel techniques aimed at measuring bodily states and movements, and their perception, with the assumption that only by combining the study of visual perception and social cognition can we deepen our understanding of both fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Dapor
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
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Krishnamurthy K, Chan MMY, Han YMY. Neural substrates underlying effortful control deficit in autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis of fMRI studies. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20603. [PMID: 36446840 PMCID: PMC9708641 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25051-2] [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: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Effortful control comprises attentional control, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility subprocesses. Effortful control is impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, yet its neural underpinnings remain elusive. By conducting a coordinate-based meta-analysis, this study compared the brain activation patterns between autism and typically developing individuals and examined the effect of age on brain activation in each effortful control subprocesses. Meta-analytic results from 22 studies revealed that, individuals with autism showed hypoactivation in the default mode network for tasks tapping inhibitory control functioning (threshold-free cluster enhancement p < 0.001). When these individuals perform tasks tapping attentional control and cognitive flexibility, they exhibited aberrant activation in various brain networks including default mode network, dorsal attention, frontoparietal, visual and somatomotor networks (uncorrected ps < 0.005). Meta-regression analyses revealed that brain regions within the default mode network showed a significant decreasing trend in activation with increasing age (uncorrected p < 0.05). In summary, individuals with autism showed aberrant activation patterns across multiple brain functional networks during all cognitive tasks supporting effortful control, with some regions showing a decrease in activation with increasing age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthikeyan Krishnamurthy
- grid.16890.360000 0004 1764 6123Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China ,Brain & Cognitive Behaviour Research Foundation, Chennai, India
| | - Melody M. Y. Chan
- grid.16890.360000 0004 1764 6123Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yvonne M. Y. Han
- grid.16890.360000 0004 1764 6123Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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13
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Thérien VD, Degré-Pelletier J, Barbeau EB, Samson F, Soulières I. Differential neural correlates underlying mental rotation processes in two distinct cognitive profiles in autism. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103221. [PMID: 36228483 PMCID: PMC9668634 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103221] [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: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Enhanced visuospatial abilities characterize the cognitive profile of a subgroup of autistics. However, the neural correlates underlying such cognitive strengths are largely unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated the neural underpinnings of superior visuospatial functioning in different autistic subgroups. Twenty-seven autistic adults, including 13 with a Wechsler's Block Design peak (AUTp) and 14 without (AUTnp), and 23 typically developed adults (TYP) performed a classic mental rotation task. As expected, AUTp participants were faster at the task compared to TYP. At the neural level, AUTp participants showed enhanced bilateral parietal and occipital activation, stronger occipito-parietal and fronto-occipital connectivity, and diminished fronto-parietal connectivity compared to TYP. On the other hand, AUTnp participants presented greater activation in right and anterior regions compared to AUTp. In addition, reduced connectivity between occipital and parietal regions was observed in AUTnp compared to AUTp and TYP participants. A greater reliance on posterior regions is typically reported in the autism literature. Our results suggest that this commonly reported finding may be specific to a subgroup of autistic individuals with enhanced visuospatial functioning. Moreover, this study demonstrated that increased occipito-frontal synchronization was associated with superior visuospatial abilities in autism. This finding contradicts the long-range under-connectivity hypothesis in autism. Finally, given the relationship between distinct cognitive profiles in autism and our observed differences in brain functioning, future studies should provide an adequate characterization of the autistic subgroups in their research. The main limitations are small sample sizes and the inclusion of male-only participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique D. Thérien
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Janie Degré-Pelletier
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elise B. Barbeau
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fabienne Samson
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Soulières
- Laboratory on Intelligence and Development in Autism, Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Montreal Cognitive Neuroscience Autism Research Group, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Corresponding author at: Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 succursale Centre-ville, Montréal (Québec) H3C 3P8, Canada.
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14
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A Mini-Review Regarding the Modalities to Study Neurodevelopmental Disorders-Like Impairments in Zebrafish—Focussing on Neurobehavioural and Psychological Responses. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091147. [PMID: 36138883 PMCID: PMC9496774 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are complex disorders which can be associated with many comorbidities and exhibit multifactorial-dependent phenotypes. An important characteristic is represented by the early onset of the symptoms, during childhood or young adulthood, with a great impact on the socio-cognitive functioning of the affected individuals. Thus, the aim of our review is to describe and to argue the necessity of early developmental stages zebrafish models, focusing on NDDs, especially autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and also on schizophrenia. The utility of the animal models in NDDs or schizophrenia research remains quite controversial. Relevant discussions can be opened regarding the specific characteristics of the animal models and the relationship with the etiologies, physiopathology, and development of these disorders. The zebrafish models behaviors displayed as early as during the pre-hatching embryo stage (locomotor activity prone to repetitive behavior), and post-hatching embryo stage, such as memory, perception, affective-like, and social behaviors can be relevant in ASD and schizophrenia research. The neurophysiological processes impaired in both ASD and schizophrenia are generally highly conserved across all vertebrates. However, the relatively late individual development and conscious social behavior exhibited later in the larval stage are some of the most important limitations of these model animal species.
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15
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Altered EEG variability on different time scales in participants with autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13068. [PMID: 35906301 PMCID: PMC9338240 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17304-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the great challenges in psychiatry is finding reliable biomarkers that may allow for more accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients. Neural variability received increasing attention in recent years as a potential biomarker. In the present explorative study we investigated temporal variability in visually evoked EEG activity in a cohort of 16 adult participants with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and 19 neurotypical (NT) controls. Participants performed a visual oddball task using fine and coarse checkerboard stimuli. We investigated various measures of neural variability and found effects on multiple time scales. (1) As opposed to the previous studies, we found reduced inter-trial variability in the AS group compared to NT. (2) This effect builds up over the entire course of a 5-min experiment and (3) seems to be based on smaller variability of neural background activity in AS compared to NTs. The here reported variability effects come with considerably large effect sizes, making them promising candidates for potentially reliable biomarkers in psychiatric diagnostics. The observed pattern of universality across different time scales and stimulation conditions indicates trait-like effects. Further research with a new and larger set of participants are thus needed to verify or falsify our findings.
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16
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Park S, Zikopoulos B, Yazdanbakhsh A. Visual illusion susceptibility in autism: A neural model. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4246-4265. [PMID: 35701859 PMCID: PMC9541695 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
While atypical sensory perception is reported among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the underlying neural mechanisms of autism that give rise to disruptions in sensory perception remain unclear. We developed a neural model with key physiological, functional and neuroanatomical parameters to investigate mechanisms underlying the range of representations of visual illusions related to orientation perception in typically developed subjects compared to individuals with ASD. Our results showed that two theorized autistic traits, excitation/inhibition imbalance and weakening of top‐down modulation, could be potential candidates for reduced susceptibility to some visual illusions. Parametric correlation between cortical suppression, balance of excitation/inhibition, feedback from higher visual areas on one hand and susceptibility to a class of visual illusions related to orientation perception on the other hand provide the opportunity to investigate the contribution and complex interactions of distinct sensory processing mechanisms in ASD. The novel approach used in this study can be used to link behavioural, functional and neuropathological studies; estimate and predict perceptual and cognitive heterogeneity in ASD; and form a basis for the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangwook Park
- Computational Neuroscience and Vision Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Basilis Zikopoulos
- Human Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arash Yazdanbakhsh
- Computational Neuroscience and Vision Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Ahmmed AU, Asif A, Winterburn S. Visual Processing Impairment in Children With Suspected Auditory Processing Disorder: A Transdisciplinary Dimensional Approach to Diagnosis. Am J Audiol 2022; 31:268-283. [PMID: 35290100 DOI: 10.1044/2021_aja-21-00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to explore the utility of impairment(s) in language (LI), manual dexterity (IMD), and visual perceptual skills (IVPS) as a reference standard for diagnosing auditory processing disorder (APD). METHOD Data from 104 participants with suspected APD (males = 57, females = 47; 6-16 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Index auditory processing (AP) tests included Auditory Figure Ground 0 dB, Competing Words-Directed Ear (CW-DE), and Time-Compressed Sentences (TCS). General Communication Composite (GCC) of the Children's Communication Checklist-2, manual dexterity (MD) component of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition, and Test for Visual Perceptual Skills-Third Edition (TVPS-3) were used to identify LI, IMD, and IVPS, respectively. RESULTS Eighty-one (77.8%), 58 (55.8%), and 37 (35.6%) participants had LI, IVPS, and IMD, respectively. Four factors explaining 67.69% of the variance were extracted. TVPS-3 (except visual closure [VClo]) represented the first; AFG 0, VClo, and MD the second; CW-DE and GCC the third; and TCS the fourth. APD diagnosed by combining AP tests and comorbidities had better accuracy compared to AP tests alone. The combined approach had overall diagnostic accuracy of 92.2%, 88.4%, and 81.7% for the 9th, 5th, and 2nd percentile AP test cutoffs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS First-order AP tests in this study were related to language, MD, and visual perceptual skills. Given the overlap of LI, IMD, and IVPS with impaired AP, these comorbidities are an effective reference standard for APD. APD can be diagnosed following failing one AP test if one or more comorbidities exist. Ninth percentile AP test cutoff had better diagnostic accuracy compared to the currently used 2nd percentile cutoff.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansar U. Ahmmed
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Aysha Asif
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, United Kingdom
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18
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Carreira LD, Matias FC, Campos MG. Clinical Data on Canabinoids: Translational Research in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040796. [PMID: 35453548 PMCID: PMC9024565 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040796] [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: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Translational research made with Cannabis sativa L. and its biocompounds provides data for some targeted diseases, as also symptoms associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The main compounds ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are capable of modulating the endocannabinoid system since its dysregulation interferes with the pathophysiology of ASDs there are clinical evidence for its potential use in the treatment of the disease. Conventional therapy still has limitations, as it does not always treat the central symptoms, and there are many patients who do not respond to treatment, which demands more research on new therapies. Through the analysis of published literature on this topic, it is verified that cannabinoids, in particular CBD, improves symptoms associated with common comorbidities in ASDs. Some studies also demonstrate the therapeutic potential of these compounds in the treatment of central symptoms of autism. In addition, cannabinoid therapy to ASDs is associated with low adverse effects and a reduction in concomitant medication. Although it appears to be promising, it is essential to do the translation of this data into clinical research and some of its potential and critical gaps are discussed in this review pointing to large-scale and long-term clinical trials that should include more patients and homogeneous samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D. Carreira
- Observatory of Drug-Herb Interactions, Faculty of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Campus, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Francisca C. Matias
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Health Sciences Campus, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Maria G. Campos
- Observatory of Drug-Herb Interactions, Faculty of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Campus, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Coimbra Chemistry Centre (CQC, FCT Unit 313) (FCTUC), University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-239-488-400
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19
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Ide-Okochi A, Matsunaga N, Sato H. A Preliminary Study of Assessing Gaze, Interoception and School Performance among Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: The Feasibility of VR Classroom. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9020250. [PMID: 35204970 PMCID: PMC8870434 DOI: 10.3390/children9020250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Children with developmental disabilities (DDs) have sensory modulation disorders that interrelate school performance. Virtual reality (VR) has demonstrated the potential to become a neuropsychological assessment modality. This study was conducted to explore the feasibility of the VR classroom for assessing their characteristics of gaze, school performance, and interoception. School-aged children were assigned to the DD group or control group. A VR classroom was designed to evaluate their gaze patterns to distracting events. Interoception was assessed using the Heart Rate Perception test and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). The DD group had a significantly longer gaze duration on the virtual teacher during 30–45 s of the VR classroom event (p < 0.05). The mean score of the quiz and the Heart Rate Perception test showed a significant tendency to be lower than the children of the control group. The DD group scored significantly lower in six of eight subscales of the MAIA. These results showed the potential of VR classroom to evaluate the difference of sensory modulation between school-aged children with DDs and typically developed children. Future research is necessary to investigate the validity of the VR environment used in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Ide-Okochi
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto City 862-0976, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-96-373-5518
| | - Nobutomo Matsunaga
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto City 860-0862, Japan; (N.M.); (H.S.)
| | - Hiro Sato
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto City 860-0862, Japan; (N.M.); (H.S.)
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20
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Structure, Function, and Genetics of the Cerebellum in Autism. JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND BRAIN SCIENCE 2022; 7:e220008. [PMID: 36425354 PMCID: PMC9683352 DOI: 10.20900/jpbs.20220008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders are common neurodevelopmental disorders that are defined by core behavioral symptoms but have diverse genetic and environmental risk factors. Despite its etiological heterogeneity, several unifying theories of autism have been proposed, including a central role for cerebellar dysfunction. The cerebellum follows a protracted course of development that culminates in an exquisitely crafted brain structure containing over half of the neurons in the entire brain densely packed into a highly organized structure. Through its complex network of connections with cortical and subcortical brain regions, the cerebellum acts as a sensorimotor regulator and affects changes in executive and limbic processing. In this review, we summarize the structural, functional, and genetic contributions of the cerebellum to autism.
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21
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Spiteri S, Crewther D. Neural Mechanisms of Visual Motion Anomalies in Autism: A Two-Decade Update and Novel Aetiology. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:756841. [PMID: 34790092 PMCID: PMC8591069 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.756841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The 21st century has seen dramatic changes in our understanding of the visual physio-perceptual anomalies of autism and also in the structure and development of the primate visual system. This review covers the past 20 years of research into motion perceptual/dorsal stream anomalies in autism, as well as new understanding of the development of primate vision. The convergence of this literature allows a novel developmental hypothesis to explain the physiological and perceptual differences of the broad autistic spectrum. Central to these observations is the development of motion areas MT+, the seat of the dorsal cortical stream, central area of pre-attentional processing as well as being an anchor of binocular vision for 3D action. Such development normally occurs via a transfer of thalamic drive from the inferior pulvinar → MT to the anatomically stronger but later-developing LGN → V1 → MT connection. We propose that autistic variation arises from a slowing in the normal developmental attenuation of the pulvinar → MT pathway. We suggest that this is caused by a hyperactive amygdala → thalamic reticular nucleus circuit increasing activity in the PIm → MT via response gain modulation of the pulvinar and hence altering synaptic competition in area MT. We explore the probable timing of transfer in dominance of human MT from pulvinar to LGN/V1 driving circuitry and discuss the implications of the main hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Spiteri
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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22
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Lacroix A, Nalborczyk L, Dutheil F, Kovarski K, Chokron S, Garrido M, Gomot M, Mermillod M. High spatial frequency filtered primes hastens happy faces categorization in autistic adults. Brain Cogn 2021; 155:105811. [PMID: 34737127 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2021.105811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Coarse information of a visual stimulus is conveyed by Low Spatial Frequencies (LSF) and is thought to be rapidly extracted to generate predictions. This may guide fast recognition with the subsequent integration of fine information, conveyed by High Spatial Frequencies (HSF). In autism, emotional face recognition is challenging, and might be related to alterations in LSF predictive processes. We analyzed the data of 27 autistic and 34 non autistic (NA) adults on an emotional Stroop task (i.e., emotional face with congruent or incongruent emotional word) with spatially filtered primes (HSF vs.LSF). We hypothesized that LSF primes would generate predictions leading to faster categorization of the target face compared to HSF primes, in the NA group but not in autism. Surprisingly, HSF primes led to faster categorization than LSF primes in both groups. Moreover, the advantage of HSF vs.LSF primes was stronger for angry than happy faces in NA, but was stronger for happy than angry faces in autistic participants. Drift diffusion modelling confirmed HSF advantage and showed a longer non-decision time (e.g., encoding) in autism. Despite LSF predictive impairments in autism was not corroborated, our analyses suggest low level processing specificities in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Lacroix
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LPNC, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Ladislas Nalborczyk
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LPC, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LNC, Marseille, France
| | - Frédéric Dutheil
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, WittyFit, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Klara Kovarski
- Hôpital Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild, Paris, France; Université de Paris, INCC UMR 8002, CNRS, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Chokron
- Hôpital Fondation Ophtalmologique A. de Rothschild, Paris, France; Université de Paris, INCC UMR 8002, CNRS, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Marta Garrido
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Computational Psychiatry Lab, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Australia
| | - Marie Gomot
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Martial Mermillod
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LPNC, 38000 Grenoble, France
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23
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Djerassi M, Ophir S, Atzil S. What Is Social about Autism? The Role of Allostasis-Driven Learning. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1269. [PMID: 34679334 PMCID: PMC8534207 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientific research on neuro-cognitive mechanisms of autism often focuses on circuits that support social functioning. However, autism is a heterogeneous developmental variation in multiple domains, including social communication, but also language, cognition, and sensory-motor control. This suggests that the underlying mechanisms of autism share a domain-general foundation that impacts all of these processes. In this Perspective Review, we propose that autism is not a social deficit that results from an atypical "social brain". Instead, typical social development relies on learning. In social animals, infants depend on their caregivers for survival, which makes social information vitally salient. The infant must learn to socially interact in order to survive and develop, and the most prominent learning in early life is crafted by social interactions. Therefore, the most prominent outcome of a learning variation is atypical social development. To support the hypothesis that autism results from a variation in learning, we first review evidence from neuroscience and developmental science, demonstrating that typical social development depends on two domain-general processes that determine learning: (a) motivation, guided by allostatic regulation of the internal milieu; and (b) multi-modal associations, determined by the statistical regularities of the external milieu. These two processes are basic ingredients of typical development because they determine allostasis-driven learning of the social environment. We then review evidence showing that allostasis and learning are affected among individuals with autism, both neurally and behaviorally. We conclude by proposing a novel domain-general framework that emphasizes allostasis-driven learning as a key process underlying autism. Guided by allostasis, humans learn to become social, therefore, the atypical social profile seen in autism can reflect a domain-general variation in allostasis-driven learning. This domain-general view raises novel research questions in both basic and clinical research and points to targets for clinical intervention that can lower the age of diagnosis and improve the well-being of individuals with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shir Atzil
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel; (M.D.); (S.O.)
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24
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Lebreton K, Malvy J, Bon L, Hamel-Desbruères A, Marcaggi G, Clochon P, Guénolé F, Moussaoui E, Bowler DM, Bonnet-Brilhault F, Eustache F, Baleyte JM, Guillery-Girard B. Local Processing Bias Impacts Implicit and Explicit Memory in Autism. Front Psychol 2021; 12:622462. [PMID: 33967890 PMCID: PMC8104079 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.622462] [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: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypical perception, including processing that is biased toward local details rather than global configurations. This bias may impact on memory. The present study examined the effect of this perception on both implicit (Experiment 1) and explicit (Experiment 2) memory in conditions that promote either local or global processing. The first experiment consisted of an object identification priming task using two distinct encoding conditions: one favoring local processing (Local condition) and the other favoring global processing (Global condition) of drawings. The second experiment focused on episodic (explicit) memory with two different cartoon recognition tasks that favored either local (i.e., processing specific details) or a global processing (i.e., processing each cartoon as a whole). In addition, all the participants underwent a general clinical cognitive assessment aimed at documenting their cognitive profile and enabling correlational analyses with experimental memory tasks. Seventeen participants with ASD and 17 typically developing (TD) controls aged from 10 to 16 years participated to the first experiment and 13 ASD matched with 13 TD participants were included for the second experiment. Experiment 1 confirmed the preservation of priming effects in ASD but, unlike the Comparison group, the ASD group did not increase his performance as controls after a globally oriented processing. Experiment 2 revealed that local processing led to difficulties in discriminating lures from targets in a recognition task when both lures and targets shared common details. The correlation analysis revealed that these difficulties were associated with processing speed and inhibition. These preliminary results suggest that natural perceptual processes oriented toward local information in ASD may impact upon their implicit memory by preventing globally oriented processing in time-limited conditions and induce confusion between explicit memories that share common details.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Lebreton
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Joëlle Malvy
- UMR 1253, iBrain, INSERM, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Laetitia Bon
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Alice Hamel-Desbruères
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Geoffrey Marcaggi
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Patrice Clochon
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Fabian Guénolé
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Edgar Moussaoui
- Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, CHU de Caen, Caen, France
| | - Dermot M Bowler
- Autism Research Group, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Francis Eustache
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
| | - Jean-Marc Baleyte
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France.,Service de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Bérengère Guillery-Girard
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, PSL Université Paris, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, Caen, France
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25
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Weber S, Falter-Wagner C, Stöttinger E. Brief Report: Typical Visual Updating in Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:4711-4716. [PMID: 33566229 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04895-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can struggle with visual updating. In a previous picture morphing study (Burnett and Jellema 2012) adults with ASD recognized the second picture significantly later when seeing one picture gradually changing into another. The aim of the current study was to test whether this previously reported perceptual atypicality may be due to general perceptual deficits. We therefore employed a modified picture morphing task. Against expectations, people with ASD showed typical performance in the task and no general perceptual deficits in relation to the picture morphing paradigm. Our results suggest that reported difficulties with visual updating in ASD may be due to temporal task restrictions and do not reflect a genuine problem with visual updating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Weber
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Christine Falter-Wagner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstraße 7, Munich, Germany.
| | - Elisabeth Stöttinger
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, Salzburg, Austria
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