Stress System Activation in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The mission of the human stress system is the maintenance of homeostasis in the presence of real or perceived, acute or chronic stressors. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are the stress system-related neuroendocrine pathways. There is abundant evidence that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may exhibit atypical function within the HPA axis and the ANS both at the resting state and during the presence of social and/or non-social stressors. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the findings regarding stress system alterations in children and adolescents with ASD. We focus on the variations of stress hormones circadian rhythms, specifically cortisol and alpha-amylase (i.e., a surrogate index of epinephrine/norepinephrine secretion), and on the alterations of stress system responsivity to different stressors. Also, we present imaging and immunological findings that have been associated with stress system dysregulation in children and adolescents with ASD. Finally, we review the pivotal role of HPA axis-ANS coordination, the developmental trajectory of the stress system in ASD, and the possible role of early life stress in the dysregulation of the stress system demonstrated in children and adolescents with ASD. This synthesis will hopefully provide researchers with a foundation for an integrated approach to future research into stress system variations in children and adolescents with ASD.

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Gaming Disorder and Computer-Mediated Communication in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie ◽

10.1024/1422-4917/a000674 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 113-122

Author(s):

Frank W. Paulus ◽

Charlotte S. Sander ◽

Monika Nitze ◽

Anne-Rose Kramatschek-Pfahler ◽

Anette Voran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

Adolescents With Autism ◽

Adolescents With Asd

Abstract. Background: This study investigates how children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make use of computer gaming and computer-mediated communication (CMC) in comparison to their nonautistic peers. Method: Parents filled out a standardized questionnaire on media use, gaming disorder (GD), and CMC. Sixty-two boys with a diagnosis of ASD aged 4 to 17 years (mean = 11.5; SD = 3.2) were compared to 31 healthy control boys (mean = 11.5; SD = 3.7). Results: Children and adolescents with ASD used CMC less frequently than their nonautistic peers but played video games for longer times than the controls. They preferred playing alone rather than in company of others and less frequently in multiplayer mode. Levels of GD symptoms were higher in boys with ASD. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ASD seem to be an especially vulnerable subpopulation for GD. For them, the gaming situation (alone and in single-player mode) and CMC behavior seem to correspond to social patterns in real life. Our findings also provide support for the inclusion of offline gaming in the GD definition.

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Intention Attribution in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An EEG Study

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s10803-021-05358-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Magdalena Schütz ◽

Sara Boxhoorn ◽

Andreas M. Mühlherr ◽

Hannah Mössinger ◽

Christine M. Freitag ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Predictive Coding ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Neural Processes ◽

Adolescents With Autism ◽

Neural Signature ◽

Adolescents With Asd ◽

Observed Behavior

AbstractThe ability to infer intentions from observed behavior and predict actions based on this inference, known as intention attribution (IA), has been hypothesized to be impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The underlying neural processes, however, have not been conclusively determined. The aim of this study was to examine the neural signature of IA in children and adolescents with ASD, and to elucidate potential links to contextual updating processes using electroencephalography. Results did not indicate that IA or early contextual updating was impaired in ASD. However, there was evidence of aberrant processing of expectation violations in ASD, particularly if the expectation was based on IA. Results are discussed within the context of impaired predictive coding in ASD.

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Everyday executive function and adaptive skills in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Cross-sectional developmental trajectories

Autism & Developmental Language Impairments ◽

10.1177/2396941518800775 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 239694151880077 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Evangelia-Chrysanthi Kouklari ◽

Stella Tsermentseli ◽

Claire P Monks

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Executive Function ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Developmental Trajectory ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Adaptive Skills ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Developmental Patterns ◽

Adolescents With Autism

Background and aims The development of Executive Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder has been investigated using mainly performance-based executive function measures. Less is known about the development of everyday executive function skills. The present study aimed to identify the developmental patterns of everyday executive function of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared to neurotypical controls. The association between executive function and adaptive skills was also investigated. Methods The present study used a cross-sectional developmental trajectory approach and data were collected from 57 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, matched to 63 controls of the same age (7–15 years). Results Results showed age-related performance declines in most everyday executive function domains (e.g. inhibition, working memory, planning) in autism spectrum disorder, whereas for executive function emotional control and shift, non-significant differences emerged across age in autism spectrum disorder. Everyday executive function predicted adaptive skills over and above age and IQ, in participants overall. Conclusions and implications These results suggest that several everyday executive function problems increase in adolescence in autism spectrum disorder and that these everyday executive function developmental patterns deviate to a great extent from those of typical development. Shedding more light on the developmental course of all types of executive function processes as well as their association with crucial social outcomes in autism spectrum disorder could contribute to a better theoretical understanding of the heterogeneity of the neurocognitive development in autism spectrum disorder.

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