The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST): Spanish adaptation and validation

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1491-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Morales-Hidalgo ◽  
Joana Roigé-Castellví ◽  
Andreu Vigil-Colet ◽  
Josefa Canals Sans
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Svenja Espenhahn ◽  
Kate J. Godfrey ◽  
Sakshi Kaur ◽  
Maia Ross ◽  
Niloy Nath ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Unusual behavioral reactions to sensory stimuli are frequently reported in individuals on the autism spectrum (AS). Despite the early emergence of sensory features (< age 3) and their potential impact on development and quality of life, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying sensory reactivity in early childhood autism. Methods Here, we used electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate tactile cortical processing in young children aged 3–6 years with autism and in neurotypical (NT) children. Scalp EEG was recorded from 33 children with autism, including those with low cognitive and/or verbal abilities, and 45 age- and sex-matched NT children during passive tactile fingertip stimulation. We compared properties of early and later somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) and their adaptation with repetitive stimulation between autistic and NT children and assessed whether these neural measures are linked to “real-world” parent-reported tactile reactivity. Results As expected, we found elevated tactile reactivity in children on the autism spectrum. Our findings indicated no differences in amplitude or latency of early and mid-latency somatosensory-evoked potentials (P50, N80, P100), nor adaptation between autistic and NT children. However, latency of later processing of tactile information (N140) was shorter in young children with autism compared to NT children, suggesting faster processing speed in young autistic children. Further, correlational analyses and exploratory analyses using tactile reactivity as a grouping variable found that enhanced early neural responses were associated with greater tactile reactivity in autism. Limitations The relatively small sample size and the inclusion of a broad range of autistic children (e.g., with low cognitive and/or verbal abilities) may have limited our power to detect subtle group differences and associations. Hence, replications are needed to verify these results. Conclusions Our findings suggest that electrophysiological somatosensory cortex processing measures may be indices of “real-world” tactile reactivity in early childhood autism. Together, these findings advance our understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying tactile reactivity in early childhood autism and, in the clinical context, may have therapeutic implications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 626-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Ormstad ◽  
Vesna Bryn ◽  
Robert Verkerk ◽  
Ola H. Skjeldal ◽  
Bente Halvorsen ◽  
...  

Background: There is evidence that changes in neuro-immune responses coupled with dysfunctions in serotonin metabolism underpin the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Objective: This study aimed to delineate whether ASD subgroups or characteristics show aberrations in tryptophan and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) metabolism. Methods: 65 individuals with ASD (diagnosed according to ICD criteria) and 30 healthy control patients were included. Measured were serum levels of tryptophan, kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KA), quinolinic acid (QA), BDNF and PRO-BDNF and total blood 5-HT and 5-OH-tryptophan (5-HTP). Results: Elevated BDNF levels and lower tryptophan and KA levels were characteristics of both childhood autism and intellectual disability disorder, whilst elevated tryptophan and lower 5-HT synthesis were hallmarks of Asperger syndrome. A pathological MRI was associated with elevated tryptophan and lowered KA. Abnormal EEG results and dysmorphology were both associated with an elevated BDNF/ PRO-BDNF ratio. Any brain pathology and gastro-intestinal symptoms were accompanied by lowered KA. Conclusions: Increased BDNF production and changes in the metabolism of tryptophan are associated with many ASD characteristics, showing particularly strong associations with childhood autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Peripheral BDNF and tryptophan metabolism appear to take part in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders and their phenotypes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 3267-3275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Sun ◽  
Carrie Allison ◽  
Bonnie Auyeung ◽  
Fiona E. Matthews ◽  
Simon Baron-Cohen ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric R. Murphy ◽  
Megan Norr ◽  
John F. Strang ◽  
Lauren Kenworthy ◽  
William D. Gaillard ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Yuan Wang ◽  
Ya-Yun Cheng ◽  
Shao-Wei Yang ◽  
Yen-Cheng Tseng ◽  
How-Ran Guo*

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-48
Author(s):  
G. V. Kuzmich ◽  
A. N. Sinelnikova ◽  
K. Yu. Mukhin

Early childhood autism, or autism spectrum disorders, is an extremely heterogeneous group of conditions that share similar symptoms of dysontogenesis. The most significant comorbidity in patients with autism is epilepsy, which is still associated with a variety of controversies. The present article covers the most controversial aspects of comorbidity between autism and epilepsy, including the impact of psychopharmacotherapy on the risk of epilepsy, clinical significance of epileptiform activity on the electroencephalogram in patients without epilepsy, and criteria for and prevalence of autistic epileptiform regression syndrome. We found that there is still a lack of reliable evidence for the majority of issues related to the combination of autism and epilepsy. We emphasize the need for further studies. We also provide a detailed description of the history, criteria, prevalence, and clinical examples of autistic epileptiform regression syndrome.


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