Flexibility in autism during unpredictable shifts of socio-emotional stimuli: Investigation of group and sex differences

Considering the mixed nature of reports of flexibility difficulties in autism, we hypothesized that a task that more closely resembles the challenges faced in real life would help to assess these difficulties. Autistic and typically developing adults performed an online Emotional Shifting Task, involving non-explicit unpredictable shifts of complex socio-emotional stimuli, and the Task Switching Task, involving explicit predictable shifts of simple character stimuli. Switch cost (i.e. the difference in performance between Shift and Non Shift conditions) was larger in the autistic group than in the comparison group for the Emotional Shifting Task but not for the Task Switching Task. Females responded faster than males in the Emotional Shifting Task. On the Task Switching Task, typically developing males responded faster than typically developing females, whereas there was a female advantage in the autistic group. Our findings suggest that factors such as predictability, explicitness of the shift rule, stimulus type as well as sex could play a critical role in flexibility difficulties in autism. Lay abstract Flexibility difficulties in autism might be particularly common in complex situations, when shifts (i.e. the switch of attentional resources or strategy according to the situation) are unpredictable, implicit (i.e. not guided by explicit rules) and the stimuli are complex. We analyzed the data of 101 autistic and 145 non-autistic adults, without intellectual deficiency, on two flexibility tasks performed online. The first task involved unpredictable and non-explicit shifts of complex socio-emotional stimuli, whereas the second task involved predictable and explicit shifts of character stimuli. Considering the discrepancies between laboratory results and the real-life flexibility-related challenges faced by autistic individuals, we need to determine which factor could be of particular importance in flexibility difficulties. We point out that the switch cost (i.e. the difference between shift and non-shift condition) was larger for autistic than for non-autistic participants on the complex flexibility task with unpredictable and non-explicit shifts of socio-emotional stimuli, whereas this was not the case when shifts were predictable, explicit and involved less complex stimuli. We also highlight sex differences, suggesting that autistic females have better social skills than autistic males and that they also have a specific cognitive profile, which could contribute to social camouflaging. The findings of this work help us understand which factors could influence flexibility difficulties in autism and are important for designing future studies. They also add to the literature on sex differences in autism which underpin better social skills, executive function, and camouflaging in autistic females.

Flexibility in autism during unpredictable shifts of socio-emotional stimuli. Investigation of group and sex differences.

Considering the mixed nature of reports of flexibility difficulties in autism, we hypothesized that a task that more closely resembles the challenges faced in real life would help to assess these difficulties. Autistic and typically developing (TD) adults performed an online Emotional Shifting Task (EST), involving non-explicit unpredictable shifts of complex socio-emotional stimuli, and the Task Switching Task (TST), involving explicit predictable shifts of simple character stimuli. Switch cost (i.e., the difference in performance between Shift and Non-Shift conditions) was larger in the autistic group than in the comparison group for the EST but not for the TST. Females responded faster than males in the EST. On the TST, TD males responded faster than TD females, whereas there was a female advantage in the autistic group. Our findings suggest that factors such as predictability, explicitness of the shift rule, stimulus type as well as sex could play a critical role in flexibility difficulties in autism.

"I'm trying to reach out, I'm trying to find my people": Loneliness and loneliness distress in autistic adults

Despite the persistent stereotype that autistic individuals are not motivated to seek meaningful social relationships, rates of loneliness among the autistic population are higher than in the non-autistic population. In this two-part, mixed methods study, we sought to 1) quantify the level of distress associated with loneliness in autistic and non-autistic adults and 2) gain qualitative insight into autistic experiences of loneliness. In Study A, 209 participants (encompassing a group of autistic individuals and a group of non-autistic comparison participants) completed questionnaire ratings of their level of loneliness, associated distress, trait anxiety, depression, and sensory sensitivity. Results indicated that the autistic group scored higher levels across all measures. Both groups manifest strong correlations between loneliness and loneliness distress. In the autistic group, but not the non-autistic group, regression analyses showed that loneliness and sensory sensitivity predicted levels of anxiety, wherein the effect of loneliness on anxiety was partially mediated by the level of sensory sensitivity. In Study B, nine autistic adults took part in ten-minute, unstructured dyadic conversations around the topic of loneliness. Inductive and deductive analyses enriched qualitative understanding of the experiences of loneliness of autistic individuals. Our results broadly oppose the social motivation deficit hypothesis and we instead frame our findings within the larger context of ‘ethical loneliness’, concluding that a concerted effort is needed to overcome the fundamental disconnect with the neurotypical world experienced by many autistic people.

Dental Trauma in Children with Autistic Disorder: A Retrospective Study

Background. The oral health care of autistic children is elaborated; they often fail to define dental problems, and a family-centered approach can be useful to improve and intercept these disorders. Aim. To assess the oral status of autistic children, comparing it with no autistic patients. Materials and Methods. A retrospective study analyzed the oral health status of 70 children, 35 with autism and 35 without the disorder. Conditions assessed were dental trauma type, periodontal tissue injuries, soft tissue lip injuries, different treatments carried out, associated soft tissue findings and disorders, and the long-term management. All patients (≤15 years of age) were chosen consecutively. Results. Females (57%) suffered more traumatic injuries than males (43%) in the autistic group, whereas males affected by dental trauma (54%) are predominant in the control group. The enamel fracture was the main finding among the dental trauma types in both groups followed by enamel/dentin/pulp fracture (31%), root fracture (11%), and avulsions (3%) in the autistic group and by avulsions (20%), root fracture (11%), and enamel/dentin/pulp fracture (6%) in the control group. The comparison of all variables of the two groups showed a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.012 ). The lower lip was statistically more injured than the upper lip ( P < 0.005 ). Conclusions. The composite restorative technique was the most common approach carried out; the long-term evaluation, when possible, was predominantly managed through root canal therapy in the control group (81%), and root canal therapy (50%) and tooth extraction (50%) in the sample group.

Overcoming the Double Empathy Problem Within Pairs of Autistic and Non-autistic Adults Through the Contemplation of Serious Literature

Recent research based on the needs of the autistic community has explored the frequent social misunderstandings that arise between autistic and non-autistic people, known as the double empathy problem. Double empathy understandings require both groups to respect neurodiversity by focussing on individuality across groups. This study aimed to explore how literature, through its ability to uncover nuanced emotional response differences between readers, could facilitate double empathy understandings within pairs of autistic and non-autistic adults. A longitudinal, qualitative design was used, with 4 gender-matched pairs. Participants read Of Mice and Men for 1 week, whilst completing a structured, reflective diary. This was followed by 4 one-hour paired reading sessions, where pairs discussed the book and their reflections in depth. Participants were then invited to a final one-on-one interview to discuss their thoughts and experiences of the paired reading sessions. Thematic and literary analysis of the session and interview data revealed four themes (1) The Book as Social Oil; (2) From a World of Difference to a World of Affinity; (3) Emotional Intelligence: From Thinking About to Feeling with; and (4) From Overwhelming to Overcoming. All participants reported having achieved an individualised view of one another to explore their nuanced differences. The non-autistic group reported a more sensitive understanding of what it means to be autistic, while the autistic group overcame concerns about non-autistic people stereotyping autism, and instead reported feeling valued and accommodated by their non-autistic partners.

Quantification of Hypoperfusion in Autism Assessed by Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy and Frequency Domain Near Infrared Spectroscopy

There is a need for quantitative biomarkers for early diagnosis of autism. We showed previously that hemoglobin concentrations show contrast between autistic group vs control group in humans. Cerebral blood flow can provide additional sensitivity for improved characterization. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) has been shown to be reliable method to obtain blood flow contrast in animals and humans. Thus, in this study we evaluated DCS in an established autism model. Our results indicate that autistic group had significantly lower blood flow compared to control group. These results confirm the previous results obtained from humans by positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

INF-γ Plasma Level and Polymorphism Significance in Autastic Spectrum Disorder, A Controlled Study in Basrah

ASD are particularly heterogeneous developmental conditions. Many arguments clarified a central function for dysregulation of immune system in ASD and many ASD hazard genes encode the immune system elements along with other risk factors. There is also evidence of continuing dysregulation of immune system in people with ASD and in animal models of this condition. Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between the IFN-γ + 874 gene polymorphism and INF - γ plasma level with susceptibility to ASD Methods: Polymorphism detection analysis was performed on 194 subjects from Basra south Iraq. 94 patients with ASD, (78 (83%) males and 16 (17%) females), their age ranging from 2 to 13 years, and 100 children apparently healthy control group matching for the same age and sex The IFN-γ gene polymorphism (+874A/T) was genotyped through a specific sequence primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR). For all participant the plasma level of INF-γ was determined by ELISA KIT (Elabscience, USA, Catalog No: E-EL-H0108), followed the manufacturer instructions Results: showed sufficient differences in the plasma concentration of INF between children with autism and the none group: 24.87 pg/mm2 18.86 pg/ mm respectively, with significant increase in plasma concentration of IFN of male and female of autistic group as compare to control group. Results of iterative distribution of INF-γ+874 gene polymorphism showed heterogeneous results between autistic group and control group, as the T allele was scored in autistic group 23.4% in compared with A allele which scored 79.7%, while in control group the T allele was scored 67% in compared with A allele which was scored 85%. AA genotypes of IFN-γ+874 showed higher recurrence among autistic group in compared to control group,(76.5% vs 33% respectively), while TA genotypes of IFN-γ+874 showed lower recurrence in autistic group when compared to control group,(3.2% vs 52% respectively),and IFN-γ+874 TT genotypes scored 20.2% in autistic patients and 15% was scored in control group ASD susceptibility is associated with the T allele of +874 rs2430561 with increase plasma level of IFN-γ which may have role in the severity of behavioural changes.

Resveratrol alone and its Combination with Pterostilbene amends Valproic Acid-Induced Autism in Swiss Albino Mice: Postnatal Model

Objective: The present study was aimed to determine the therapeutic role of resveratrol and pterostilbene alone and combination in reversing the behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in valproic acid (VPA) induced oxidative stress and neuron damage in a postnatal model of autism. Method: 13 days old Swiss albino mice pups were randomly divided into five groups of six each, vehicle-treated group (1 mg/mL CMC), autistic group (VPA 400 mg/kg, sc), resveratrol (20 mg/kg, po), pterostilbene (10 mg/kg, po), and combination of resveratrol (10 mg/kg, po) + pterostilbene (5 mg/kg, po) group. On postnatal day (PND) 14, valproic acid (VPA) 400 mg/kg, sc, was administered to all except vehicle treated group. Resveratrol and/or pterostilbene was administered daily from PND 14 to 40. During the treatment, period various behavioural parameters were analysed. At the end of study, animals were sacrificed for biochemical estimations and histopathological study. Results: Single time administration of VPA at 400 mg/kg, sc, effectively induced autism. Treatment with resveratrol, pterostilbene, and the combination gave significant recovery in behavioral activity, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in mice when compared with the autistic group. Conclusion: Resveratrol and pterostilbene are good nutraceuticals in reversing the valproic acid-induced autistic deficits, in this study combination of resveratrol and pterostilbene provide superior results on recovery over individual therapy, it is suggested that this combination therapy potentiates the benefits and is more suitable for autism therapy.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of quality of life in autistic individuals from adolescence to adulthood: The role of mental health and sleep quality

Autistic adults experience a higher rate of physical and mental health conditions and lower rates of employment and post-secondary education participation than their non-autistic counterparts, which may affect negatively quality of life. Limited information exists on predictors of quality of life for autistic individuals, or how quality of life compares to non-autistic individuals. Our aims were to (a) examine and compare indicators of physical (e.g. sleep quality) and mental health (e.g. anxiety) on quality of life among a sample of 244 autistic and 165 non-autistic individuals aged 15–80 years and (b) examine factors contributing to quality of life 2 years later among the autistic sample ( n = 93). Participants were from two Australian longitudinal studies. The pattern of results for quality of life was similar across the autistic and non-autistic groups, with depression symptomatology, psychological well-being, sleep quality and autonomic symptoms all significantly predicting quality of life. In addition, among the autistic group, baseline quality of life had the greatest influence on quality of life 2 years later. These findings have implications for support services for autistic individuals, implying that in order to improve quality of life, mental health, particularly depression, needs addressing. Given known relationships between sleep and mental health, an intervention addressing these may have greatest clinical impact on quality of life among autistic individuals. Lay Abstract Research shows that autistic adults are at risk of a range of physical (e.g. sleep difficulties) and mental health (e.g. anxiety) conditions, as well as lower employment and post-secondary education participation; these all can affect one’s quality of life. However, we have little information about what affects quality of life for autistic individuals across the lifespan and whether this differs from non-autistic people. We determined what factors (e.g. mental or physical health challenges) affected quality of life in a large group of autistic individuals aged 15–80 years compared with similar age non-autistic individuals. We also examined what factors affected quality of life of the autistic group 2 years later. We found a similar pattern of results for the autistic and non-autistic groups; depression symptoms, psychological well-being, sleep quality and autonomic symptoms (e.g. sweating) were all significant predictors of quality of life. In addition, among the autistic group, baseline quality of life had the most influence on quality of life 2 years later. These results have implications for support services, as they highlight the relationship between mental health (especially depression) and quality of life. Given that sleep challenges (e.g. insomnia) are related to mental health, an intervention addressing both insomnia and mental health may be most useful in helping autistic individuals improve their quality of life.

Heightened sensitivity to low-level visual information in autism during an emotional attentional blink task

Background Impairments in facial emotion recognition have been a hallmark of autism, which may contribute to the difficulty in social engagement and interpersonal interaction. Impaired facial emotion recognition in autism could be partly due to the asymmetrical perceptual bias to High Spatial Frequencies (HSF) information observed during visual perception. While Low Spatial Frequencies (LSF) convey coarse information, which would be critical for a fast analysis and categorization of emotional faces, HSF convey local information, which may serve a critical role in visual consciousness. However, to our knowledge, the effect of HSF on visual consciousness in autism has not been specifically studied so far. Methods Thirty-three adult autistic participants and 35 typically developing (TD) control participants performed an emotional attentional blink paradigm. Participants had to identify and report two targets (happy faces, T1 and T2) embedded in a stream of distractors (angry faces). The distractors between T1 and T2 were unfiltered or filtered in HSF or LSF. We used ANOVA to compare the impact of spatial frequency information on visual consciousness in the two groups of participants. Results TD control participants showed significantly reduced T2 accuracy (i.e., accuracy for the second target given the correct report of the first target T1) after unfiltered and HSF distractors compared to LSF distractors. As predicted, reduced T2 accuracy was observed after HSF distractors in the autistic group as compared to the TD group. Although we did not hypothesized, we also found reduced T2 accuracy after LSF distractors in the autistic group. The accuracy between the two groups did not differ regarding unfiltered distractors. Limitations Our sample was adult, high functioning and mainly late diagnosed. Therefore, our findings may not generalize to the whole autistic population. Conclusion Results confirm that HSF plays a critical role in visual consciousness in both TD and autistic participants. More importantly, autistic participants demonstrated impaired target detections after filtered distractors, suggesting that they have enhanced sensitivity for low-level characteristics, such as high and low spatial frequencies filtering. These findings are discussed in the context of the Enhanced Perceptual Functioning theory and predictive coding frameworks.