scholarly journals Exploration of human movement processing in autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dewy Nijhof ◽  
Paula Regener ◽  
Naree Kim ◽  
Jussi Tohka ◽  
Jukka-Pekka Kauppi ◽  
...  

Abstract Evidence regarding whether people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show differences in processing human movement is mixed, with recent findings being both in support and in contrast. To provide more clarity, this study utilised inter-subject correlation (ISC) analysis to quantify similarities in human movement processing in fMRI responses to a naturalistic movie paradigm portraying ballet dance between adults with and without ASD. Moreover, similarities within each individuals fMRI responses over repeated viewings were quantified to see if responses were stable and if idiosyncratic patterns could be determined. One group difference found was a cluster in the right posterior cingulate showing significantly lower ISC for the ASD group, corresponding to extensive literature showing atypical activity in the Default Mode Network in ASD. Idiosyncratic brain activation patterns were found only for a subset of ASD individuals, opening up the possibility to subtypes and a possible link to severity in symptoms.

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 2511-2523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Redcay ◽  
David Dodell-Feder ◽  
Penelope L. Mavros ◽  
Mario Kleiner ◽  
Mark J. Pearrow ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mizuho Takayanagi ◽  
Yoko Kawasaki ◽  
Mieko Shinomiya ◽  
Hoshino Hiroshi ◽  
Satoshi Okada ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study was a systematic review of research using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to examine cognitive characteristics of children with ASD beyond the impact of revisions based on WISC and diagnostic criteria changes. The classic “islets of ability” was found in individuals with full-scale IQs < 100. The “right-descending profiles” were observed among high IQ score individuals. High levels on the Block Design and low Coding levels were consistently found regardless of the variation in intellectual functioning or diagnosis. This review identified patterns of cognitive characteristics in ASD individuals using empirical data that researchers may have previously been aware of, based on their experiences, owing to the increased prevalence of ASD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1141-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte M Pretzsch ◽  
Bogdan Voinescu ◽  
Maria A Mendez ◽  
Robert Wichers ◽  
Laura Ajram ◽  
...  

Background: The potential benefits of cannabis and its major non-intoxicating component cannabidiol (CBD) are attracting attention, including as a potential treatment in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the neural action of CBD, and its relevance to ASD, remains unclear. We and others have previously shown that response to drug challenge can be measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but that pharmacological responsivity is atypical in ASD. Aims: We hypothesized that there would be a (different) fMRI response to CBD in ASD. Methods: To test this, task-free fMRI was acquired in 34 healthy men (half with ASD) following oral administration of 600 mg CBD or matched placebo (random order; double-blind administration). The ‘fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations’ (fALFF) was measured across the whole brain, and, where CBD significantly altered fALFF, we tested if functional connectivity (FC) of those regions was also affected by CBD. Results: CBD significantly increased fALFF in the cerebellar vermis and the right fusiform gyrus. However, post-hoc within-group analyses revealed that this effect was primarily driven by the ASD group, with no significant change in controls. Within the ASD group only, CBD also significantly altered vermal FC with several of its subcortical (striatal) and cortical targets, but did not affect fusiform FC with other regions in either group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that, especially in ASD, CBD alters regional fALFF and FC in/between regions consistently implicated in ASD. Future studies should examine if this affects the complex behaviours these regions modulate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 102343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Hyatt ◽  
Vince D. Calhoun ◽  
Brian Pittman ◽  
Silvia Corbera ◽  
Morris D. Bell ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miinyoung Jung ◽  
Hirotaka Kosaka ◽  
Daisuke Saito ◽  
Makoto Ishitobi ◽  
Toshio Munesue ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Matthysen ◽  
Daniele Marinazzo ◽  
Roma Siugzdaite

Background. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, marked by impairment in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Accumulating data suggests that alterations in functional connectivity might contribute to these deficits. Whereas functional connectivity in resting state fMRI is expressed by several resting-state networks, for this study we examined several of them, but our particular interest was in the default mode network (DMN), given its age dependent alteration of functional connectivity and its relation to social communication. Methods. Since the studies investigating young children (6-8 years) with autism have found hypo-connectivity in DMN and studies on adolescents (12-16 years old) with autism have found hyper-connectivity in the DMN, we were interested in connectivity pattern during the age of 8 to 12, so we investigated the role of altered intrinsic connectivity in 16 children (mean age 9.75 ±1.6 years) with autism spectrum disorder compared to 16 typically developing controls in the DMN and other resting-state networks. Results. Results show that, compared to controls, the group with autism spectrum disorder showed signs of both hypo- and hyper-connectivity in different regions of the resting-state networks related to social communication. Conclusion. That suggests that transition period from childhood to adolescence carries the complexity of functional connectivity from both age groups. Regions that showed differences in functional connectivity were discussed in relation to social communication difficulties.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth Mozolic-Staunton ◽  
Michelle Donelly ◽  
Jacqui Yoxall ◽  
Josephine Barbaro

VALID AND RELIABLE TOOLS have recently been developed to accurately detect early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental challenges in children as young as 12 months of age. Translation of research findings to practice and policy through routine implementation of evidence-based tools in the community, particularly early childhood education and childcare settings, is limited. This study establishes that the interrater reliability (IRR) of early childhood educators in administering the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance System (SACS-R) is very high ( k = 0.909). This paper reports the results of the first step in the Right Kids, Right Time, Right Services project—a prospective cohort study that aims to implement and evaluate routine developmental surveillance for early signs of social and communication challenges in young children in childcare settings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navya Bezawada ◽  
Tze Hui Phang ◽  
Georgina L. Hold ◽  
Richard Hansen

Introduction: Differences in microbiota composition in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to unaffected siblings and healthy controls have been reported in various studies. This study aims to systematically review the existing literature concerning the role of the gut microbiota in ASD. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify studies (January 1966 through July 2019). Results: A total of 28 papers were included. The studies ranged from 12 to 104 participants who were aged between 2 and 18 years from various geographical areas. Majority of studies included faecal samples; however, 4 studies examined mucosal biopsies from different sites. The heterogeneity in ASD diagnostic methodology, gut site sampled and laboratory methods used made meta-analysis inappropriate. Species reported to be significantly higher in abundance in autistic children included Clostridium, Sutterella, Desulfovibrio and Lactobacillus. The findings are however inconsistent across studies. In addition, ­potential confounding effects of antimicrobial use, gastrointestinal symptoms and diet on the gut microbiota are unclear due to generally poor assessment of these factors. Conclusion: It is clear that the gut microbiota is altered in ASD, although further exploration is needed on whether this is a cause or an effect of the condition.


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