On Social Feedback Loops and Cascading Effects in Autism

AbstractSocial feedback is a driving force for speech development. A recent study provided a key finding to explain how contingent responses influence developmental change: infant speech-related vocalizations are contingent on responses to prior speech-related vocalizations (Warlaumont et al., 2014). However, the study did not distinguish between different speech-related vocalizations, vowel-like (V) and consonant–vowel (CV) vocalizations, which is important because CV vocalizations are a precursor to words. The present study explored parents’ responses to infants’ vocalizations and infants’ subsequent vocal production at a point when vocalizations become more like adult speech. The relative proportion of CVs following contingent responses to CV did not differ between 10- and 12-months-olds; however, there was only a significant contingent relationship between responses to CV and subsequent CV production in 12-month-olds. Results suggest a developmental transition and a social feedback loop for the production of more developmentally advanced sounds when infants are learning their first words.

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Arousal elevation drives the development of oscillatory vocal output

10.1101/2021.12.13.472498 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yisi S Zhang ◽

John L Alvarez ◽

Asif A Ghazanfar

Keyword(s):

Auditory Feedback ◽

Feedback Loops ◽

Vocal Development ◽

Social Feedback ◽

Vocal Production ◽

Periodic Oscillations ◽

Temporal Regularity ◽

Motor Behaviors ◽

Marmoset Monkey ◽

Plausible Mechanism

Adult behaviors, such as vocal production, often exhibit temporal regularity. In contrast, their immature forms are more irregular. We ask whether the coupling of motor behaviors with arousal changes give rise to temporal regularity and drive the transition from variable to regular motor output over the course of development. We used marmoset monkey vocal production to explore this putative influence of arousal on the nonlinear changes in their developing vocal output patterns. Based on a detailed analysis of vocal and arousal dynamics in marmosets, we put forth a general model incorporating arousal and auditory-feedback loops for spontaneous vocal production. Using this model, we show that a stable oscillation can emerge as the baseline arousal increases, predicting the transition from stochastic to periodic oscillations occurring in marmoset vocal development. We further provide a solution for how this model can explain vocal development as the joint consequence of energetic growth and social feedback. Together, our model offers a plausible mechanism for the development of arousal-mediated adaptive behavior.

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I Like Myself, I Really Do (at Least Right Now)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000501 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 196-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Almut Rudolph ◽

Michela Schröder-Abé ◽

Astrid Schütz

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Performance Feedback ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Social Feedback ◽

Student Sample ◽

Empirically Supported ◽

Good Internal Consistency ◽

And Performance ◽

Induced Changes

Abstract. In five studies, we evaluated the psychometric properties of a revised German version of the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES; Heatherton & Polivy, 1991 ). In Study 1, the results of a confirmatory factor analysis on the original scale revealed poor model fit and poor construct validity in a student sample that resembled those in the literature; thus, a revised 15-item version was developed (i.e., the SSES-R) and thoroughly validated. Study 2 showed a valid three-factor structure (Performance, Social, and Appearance) and good internal consistency of the SSES-R. Correlations between subscales of trait and state SE empirically supported the scale’s construct validity. Temporal stability and intrapersonal sensitivity of the scale to naturally occurring events were investigated in Study 3. Intrapersonal sensitivity of the scale to experimentally induced changes in state SE was uncovered in Study 4 via social feedback (acceptance vs. rejection) and performance feedback (positive vs. negative). In Study 5, the scale’s interpersonal sensitivity was confirmed by comparing depressed and healthy individuals. Finally, the usefulness of the SSES-R was demonstrated by assessing SE instability as calculated from repeated measures of state SE.

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