scholarly journals ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’: an fMRI study of adolescents with autism and their siblings

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (15) ◽  
pp. 3215-3227 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Holt ◽  
L. R. Chura ◽  
M.-C. Lai ◽  
J. Suckling ◽  
E. von dem Hagen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Multiple Thresholds ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Spectrum Condition ◽  
Sibling Control ◽  
Eyes Task ◽  
The Mind

Background.Mentalizing deficits are a hallmark of the autism spectrum condition (ASC) and a potential endophenotype for atypical social cognition in ASC. Differences in performance and neural activation on the ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’ task (the Eyes task) have been identified in individuals with ASC in previous studies.Method.Performance on the Eyes task along with the associated neural activation was examined in adolescents with ASC (n = 50), their unaffected siblings (n = 40) and typically developing controls (n = 40). Based on prior literature that males and females with ASC display different cognitive and associated neural characteristics, analyses were stratified by sex. Three strategies were applied to test for endophenotypes at the level of neural activation: (1) identifying and locating conjunctions of ASC–control and sibling–control differences; (2) examining whether the sibling group is comparable to the ASC or intermediate between the ASC and control groups; and (3) examining spatial overlaps between ASC–control and sibling–control differences across multiple thresholds.Results.Impaired behavioural performance on the Eyes task was observed in males with ASC compared to controls, but only at trend level in females; and no difference in performance was identified between sibling and same-sex control groups in both sexes. Neural activation showed a substantial endophenotype effect in the female groups but this was only modest in the male groups.Conclusions.Behavioural impairment on complex emotion recognition associated with mental state attribution is a phenotypic, rather than an endophenotypic, marker of ASC. However, the neural response during the Eyes task is a potential endophenotypic marker for ASC, particularly in females.

scholarly journals Familiarity with children improves the ability to recognize children’s mental states: an fMRI study using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task and the Nencki Children Eyes Test

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Szczypiński ◽  
Anna Alińska ◽  
Marek Waligóra ◽  
Maciej Kopera ◽  
Aleksandra Krasowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental States ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Eyes Task ◽  
The Mind

Neural activation in mothers of preterm and full-term infants: Preliminary findings from a 3T fMRI study

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Montirosso ◽  
S. Moriconi ◽  
B. Riccardi ◽  
G. Reni ◽  
F. Arrigoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Full Term ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Term Infants ◽  
Fmri Study

Short Report: Speeded Reasoning Moderates the Inverse Relationship Between Autistic-Like Traits and Emotion Recognition

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Bertrams ◽  
Katja Schlegel
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Short Report ◽  
Reasoning Ability ◽  
Reasoning Test ◽  
The Mind

People high in autistic-like traits have been found to have difficulties with recognizing emotions from nonverbal expressions. However, findings on the autism—emotion recognition relationship are inconsistent. In the present study, we investigated whether speeded reasoning ability (reasoning performance under time pressure) moderates the inverse relationship between autistic-like traits and emotion recognition performance. We expected the negative correlation between autistic-like traits and emotion recognition to be less strong when speeded reasoning ability was high. MTurkers (N = 217) completed the ten item version of the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10), two emotion recognition tests using videos with sound (Geneva Emotion Recognition Test, GERT-S) and pictures (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, RMET), and Baddeley's Grammatical Reasoning test to measure speeded reasoning. As expected, the higher the ability in speeded reasoning, the less were higher autistic-like traits related to lower emotion recognition performance. These results suggest that a high ability in making quick mental inferences may (partly) compensate for difficulties with intuitive emotion recognition related to autistic-like traits.

scholarly journals How Technology Applied to Music-Therapy and Sound-Based Activities Addresses Motor and Social Skills in Autistic Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Grazia Ragone ◽  
Judith Good ◽  
Kate Howland
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Interaction Design ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Motor Functioning ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Spectrum Condition

Autism affects how people perceive and make sense of the world around them. Autism is a spectrum condition which impacts people in different ways. Also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is characterized by challenges in the domains of social, cognitive and motor functioning, which differ in severity. Previous research suggests that music can have cognitive, psychosocial, behavioural, and motor benefits in this population. We systematically review the use of technology in Music-therapy and related sound-based activities to improve the motor and social skills of children. In May 2020 we conducted a systematic search on Music-therapy and musical activities for autistic children in research databases including Science Direct, APA PsycNet, Cochrane, IEE and Web of Science, to collect relevant studies. We initially collected 5179 papers of which only 27 studies were identified as suitable for the scope of this review. In the paper, we analyse and describe key characteristics of each project. We then highlight the commonalities, strengths and limitations of existing work, and identify implications for future interaction design.

scholarly journals Working memory task induced neural activation: a simultaneous PET/fMRI study

NeuroImage ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 118131
Author(s):  
Isabelle KD Ripp ◽  
Lara A Wallenwein ◽  
Qiong Wu ◽  
Monica Emch ◽  
Kathrin Koch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Fmri Study

‘You don’t look autistic’: A qualitative exploration of women’s experiences of being the ‘autistic other’

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132199372
Author(s):  
Kate Seers ◽  
Rachel C Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Social Expectations ◽  
Autism Spectrum Condition ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Spectrum Condition ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experiences Of Women

There is currently a paucity of literature exploring the experiences of women on the autism spectrum. It is imperative research is conducted to capture the experiences of women on the autism spectrum and ensure appropriate support is provided to this cohort. Drawing upon a social constructionist framework, this qualitative research study sought to understand how psychological and socio-cultural constructions of autism spectrum condition and gender influence the well-being of women on the autism spectrum. Eight participants engaged in a semi-structured interview, with thematic analysis conducted to demonstrate the impact of gender roles and social expectations on the women’s identity and autism spectrum condition expression. The research highlighted the changing understandings of autism spectrum condition across a woman’s lifespan and the process and impact of resisting hegemonic autism spectrum condition categorisation. The findings demonstrate that social constructions of gender and stereotypical understandings of autism spectrum condition, which prioritise a deficit, medical model, have significant consequences for women’s well-being and subjectivity. The women experienced challenging formative years, but with diagnosis and the evolution and acceptance of their identities, they were able to resist negative narratives of autism spectrum condition, embrace their strengths and develop adaptive coping strategies. It is hoped this article generates insights for societal and clinical recognition to better support women on the autism spectrum. Lay abstract Most autism spectrum condition research addresses the neurological and biological causes of autism spectrum condition, focusing upon deficits associated with autism spectrum condition and behavioural interventions designed to minimise these deficits. Little is known about the lived experiences of adult women on the autism spectrum and how they navigate social expectations around gender, autism spectrum condition and gendered understandings of autism spectrum condition. The lived experiences of eight women on the AS will be shared here, with attention to how gendered expectations influence women’s experiences of autism spectrum condition, their sense of self and well-being. Findings showed these women struggled to reconcile the expectations of others, particularly early in life. The women had difficultly conforming to stereotypical ideals of femininity, yet as they aged, they felt less need to conform, valuing their unique style and behaviours. The women also rejected deficit-oriented descriptions of autism spectrum condition generated by the medical community, preferring to focus on their strengths and unique characteristics. It is hoped this article helps psychologists and the wider community to understand and meet the needs of women on the AS.

scholarly journals Should Autism Spectrum Conditions Be Characterised in a More Positive Way in Our Modern World?

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Barry Wright ◽  
Penny Spikins ◽  
Hannah Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
World Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Diagnostic Systems ◽  
Spectrum Condition ◽  
The Media

In a special issue that focuses on complex presentations related to Autism, we ask the question in this editorial whether an Autism Spectrum Condition without complexity is a disorder, or whether it represents human diversity? Much research into Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) over the years has focused on comparisons between neuro-typical people and people with Autism Spectrum Conditions. These comparisons have tended to draw attention to ‘deficits’ in cognitive abilities and descriptions of behaviours that are characterised as unwanted. Not surprisingly, this is reflected in the classification systems from the World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association. Public opinion about ASC may be influenced by presentations in the media of those with ASC who also have intellectual disability. Given that diagnostic systems are intended to help us better understand conditions in order to seek improved outcomes, we propose a more constructive approach to descriptions that uses more positive language, and balances descriptions of deficits with research finding of strengths and differences. We propose that this will be more helpful to individuals on the Autism Spectrum, both in terms of individual self-view, but also in terms of how society views Autism Spectrum Conditions more positively. Commentary has also been made on guidance that has been adjusted for people with ASC in relation to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

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