Motor imitation deficits and altered cortical activation in preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: A task-based fNIRS study / Yan-Ci LIU in Research in Autism, 132 (April 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inResearch in Autism > 132 (April 2026) . - 202841 Titre : Motor imitation deficits and altered cortical activation in preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: A task-based fNIRS study Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Yan-Ci LIU, Auteur ; Chia-Mei CHEN, Auteur ; Chia-Wei LIN, Auteur ; Jung-Chi CHANG, Auteur ; Pou-Leng CHEONG, Auteur ; Yen-Tzu WU, Auteur ; Chuen-Hung CHIN, Auteur Article en page(s) : 202841 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Autism Spectrum Disorder  Preschool  Motor Imitation  Interpersonal Synchrony  Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)  Cortical Activation Résumé : Background Motor imitation and interpersonal synchrony, essential for early social communication, are frequently impaired in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Few studies have examined task-related cortical activation underlying these skills in preschool-aged children with ASD. Methods Motor development, imitation performance, and cortical activation were compared between 15 preschoolers with ASD and 28 typically developing (TD) peers using a reach-and-clean-up imitation task under observation, self-paced execution, and interpersonal synchrony conditions. Motor assessments included the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–Second Edition for gross and fine motor abilities, and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition for coordination skills. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured oxygenated hemoglobin responses in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor area (SMA). Results Children with ASD scored significantly lower in fine motor, balance, and imitation performance (all p < .05). fNIRS data showed greater right SMA activation across conditions in the ASD group, whereas reduced right PMC activation appeared specifically during the synchrony condition, yielding a significant Group × Condition interaction (p = .003). In TD children, higher PMC and SMA activation correlated with better motor performance and fewer imitation errors, whereas in ASD, increased activation was linked to poorer motor scores, suggesting inefficient neural recruitment. Conclusions Preschoolers with ASD showed distinct behavioral and neural patterns during motor imitation, particularly during socially contingent synchrony. These findings underscore early differences in motor–social integration and support the use of task-based fNIRS as a research tool for examining neural–behavioral processes. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify developmental trajectories and neural plasticity. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2026.202841 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=583 [article] Motor imitation deficits and altered cortical activation in preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: A task-based fNIRS study [texte imprimé] / Yan-Ci LIU, Auteur ; Chia-Mei CHEN, Auteur ; Chia-Wei LIN, Auteur ; Jung-Chi CHANG, Auteur ; Pou-Leng CHEONG, Auteur ; Yen-Tzu WU, Auteur ; Chuen-Hung CHIN, Auteur . - 202841. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Research in Autism > 132 (April 2026) . - 202841 Mots-clés : Autism Spectrum Disorder  Preschool  Motor Imitation  Interpersonal Synchrony  Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)  Cortical Activation Résumé : Background Motor imitation and interpersonal synchrony, essential for early social communication, are frequently impaired in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Few studies have examined task-related cortical activation underlying these skills in preschool-aged children with ASD. Methods Motor development, imitation performance, and cortical activation were compared between 15 preschoolers with ASD and 28 typically developing (TD) peers using a reach-and-clean-up imitation task under observation, self-paced execution, and interpersonal synchrony conditions. Motor assessments included the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–Second Edition for gross and fine motor abilities, and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition for coordination skills. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured oxygenated hemoglobin responses in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor area (SMA). Results Children with ASD scored significantly lower in fine motor, balance, and imitation performance (all p < .05). fNIRS data showed greater right SMA activation across conditions in the ASD group, whereas reduced right PMC activation appeared specifically during the synchrony condition, yielding a significant Group × Condition interaction (p = .003). In TD children, higher PMC and SMA activation correlated with better motor performance and fewer imitation errors, whereas in ASD, increased activation was linked to poorer motor scores, suggesting inefficient neural recruitment. Conclusions Preschoolers with ASD showed distinct behavioral and neural patterns during motor imitation, particularly during socially contingent synchrony. These findings underscore early differences in motor–social integration and support the use of task-based fNIRS as a research tool for examining neural–behavioral processes. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify developmental trajectories and neural plasticity. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2026.202841 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=583

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