1. Dratsch T, Schwartz C, Yanev K, Schilbach L, Vogeley K, Bente G. {{Getting a Grip on Social Gaze: Control over Others’ Gaze Helps Gaze Detection in High-Functioning Autism}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2012 (Jun 14)
We investigated the influence of control over a social stimulus on the ability to detect direct gaze in high-functioning autism (HFA). In a pilot study, 19 participants with and 19 without HFA were compared on a gaze detection and a gaze setting task. Participants with HFA were less accurate in detecting direct gaze in the detection task, but did not differ in their ability to establish direct gaze in the setting task. In the main experiment, the results of the pilot study were replicated with 37 participants with and 39 without HFA, suggesting that individuals with HFA have a specific deficit in the passive perception of social cues as opposed to the active control, which seems to be intact.
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2. Jowett EL, Moore DW, Anderson A. {{Using an iPad-based video modelling package to teach numeracy skills to a child with an autism spectrum disorder}}. {Dev Neurorehabil};2012 (Jun 12)
Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a video modelling package to teach a 5 year-old boy diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) basic numeracy skills. The treatment package consisted of iPad-based video modelling, gradual fading of video prompts, reinforcement, in vivo prompting and forward chaining. Methods: A single subject multiple baseline across numerals design with generalization and maintenance observational measures. Results: Clear gains were evident in the participant’s ability to identify and write the Arabic numerals 1-7 and comprehend the quantity each numeral represents in association with the lagged intervention. Generalization and maintenance data demonstrated the robustness of the treatment effects. Conclusions: IPad-based video modelling, when used in a package, can be an effective technique for teaching numeracy skills to children with an ASD. Systematic replication of this study with different participants is warranted.
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3. Losh M, Klusek J, Martin GE, Sideris J, Parlier M, Piven J. {{Defining genetically meaningful language and personality traits in relatives of individuals with fragile X syndrome and relatives of individuals with autism}}. {Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet};2012 (Jun 12)
Substantial phenotypic overlap exists between fragile X syndrome (FXS) and autism, suggesting that FMR1 (the gene causing FXS) poses a significant risk for autism. Cross-population comparisons of FXS and autism therefore offer a potentially valuable method for refining the range of phenotypes associated with variation in FMR1. This study adopted a broader phenotype approach, focusing on parents who are at increased genetic liability for autism or FXS. Women who were carriers of FMR1 in its premutation state were compared with mothers of individuals with autism, and controls in an attempt to determine whether subtle features of the broad autism phenotype may express at elevated rates among FMR1 premutation carriers. The principal personality and language features comprising the broad autism phenotype (i.e., rigid and aloof personality, and particular patterns of pragmatic language use) were assessed among 49 premutation carriers who were mothers of individuals with FXS, 89 mothers of individuals with autism, and 23 mothers of typically developing individuals. Relative to controls, the autism and premutation parent groups showed elevated rates of certain personality and language characteristics of the broad autism phenotype. Findings suggest partially overlapping personality and language profiles among autism and premutation parent groups, with rigid personality style and patterns of pragmatic language use emerging as features most clearly shared between groups. These results provide further evidence for the overlap of autism and FXS, and may implicate FMR1 in some of the subtle features comprising the broad autism phenotype. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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4. Maes JH, Vissers CT, Egger JI, Eling PA. {{On the relationship between autistic traits and executive functioning in a non-clinical Dutch student population}}. {Autism};2012 (Jun 14)
We examined the association between autistic traits and different aspects of executive functioning (EF), using non-clinical Social Science and Science students as participants. Autistic traits, and associated personality traits, were measured using the Autism Quotient (AQ) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), respectively. EF was examined by means of a random number generation test and a phonemic fluency test. Using appropriate dependent measures, the following EF components were examined: 1) inhibition of prepotent responding, 2) simple output inhibition, 3) working memory monitoring and updating, and 4) switching. No significant relationship was found between the AQ and each of the four components of EF. However, two TCI subscales were reliably correlated with either the working memory or the shifting component. These results were discussed in view of the concept of an autism spectrum with respect to executive abilities.
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5. Mak-Fan KM, Morris D, Vidal J, Anagnostou E, Roberts W, Taylor MJ. {{White matter and development in children with an autism spectrum disorder}}. {Autism};2012 (Jun 14)
Recent research suggests that brain development follows an abnormal trajectory in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The current study examined changes in diffusivity with age within defined white matter tracts in a group of typically developing children and a group of children with an ASD, aged 6 to 14 years. Age by group interactions were observed for frontal, long distant, interhemispheric and posterior tracts, for longitudinal, radial and mean diffusivity, but not for fractional anisotropy. In all cases, these measures of diffusivity decreased with age in the typically developing group, but showed little or no change in the ASD group. This supports the hypothesis of an abnormal developmental trajectory of white matter in this population, which could have profound effects on the development of neural connectivity and contribute to atypical cognitive development in children with ASD.
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6. Solomon AH, Chung B. {{Understanding autism: how family therapists can support parents of children with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Fam Process};2012 (Jun);51(2):250-264.
The number of children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. Parents of children with autism experience a variety of chronic and acute stressors that can erode marital satisfaction and family functioning. Family therapists are well-suited to help parents stay connected to each other as they create a « new normal. » However, family therapists need updated information about autism, and they need to understand how family therapy can help parents of children with autism. Because having a child with autism affects multiple domains of family life, this paper explores how family therapists can utilize an integrative approach with parents, enabling them to flexibly work with the domains of action, meaning, and emotion.
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7. Taylor S, Workman L, Yeomans H. {{Abnormal patterns of cerebral lateralisation as revealed by the universal chimeric faces task in individuals with autistic disorder}}. {Laterality};2012 (Jul);17(4):428-437.
A previous study by Workman, Chilvers, Yeomans, and Taylor (2006), using the « Universal » Chimeric Faces Task (UCFT) for six emotional expressions, demonstrated that an overall left hemispatial/right hemisphere (RH) advantage has begun to develop by the age of 7-8. Moreover, the development of this left hemispatial advantage was observed to correlate positively with the ability to read emotions in the faces of others. Adopting the UCFT, the current study compared autistic children (11-15) with unimpaired children of two age groups (5-6 and 7-8) from this previous study. The autistic children showed a left hemispatial/RH advantage only for the two emotional expressions of « happiness » and « anger ». Results for the autistic children revealed a similar overall pattern of lateralisation to the 5-6-year-olds and one that is less lateralised than the pattern for the 7-8-year-olds. Autistic children appear to show a developmental deficit for left hemispatial/RH advantage for emotional expression with the exception of « happiness » and « anger. » The findings are discussed in terms of role hemisphericity and an approach-avoidance model.
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8. Williams K, Marraffa C. {{No evidence yet to support omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for autism}}. {J Paediatr Child Health};2012 (Jun);48(6):534-536.
