1. Agam Y, Joseph RM, Barton JJ, Manoach DS. {{Reduced cognitive control of response inhibition by the anterior cingulate cortex in autism spectrum disorders}}. {Neuroimage} (Apr 12)
Response inhibition, or the suppression of prepotent, but contextually inappropriate behaviors, is essential to adaptive, flexible responding. In autism spectrum disorders (ASD), difficulty inhibiting prepotent behaviors may contribute to restricted, repetitive behavior (RRB). Individuals with ASD consistently show deficient response inhibition while performing antisaccades, which require one to inhibit the prepotent response of looking towards a suddenly appearing stimulus (i.e., a prosaccade), and to substitute a gaze in the opposite direction. Here, we used fMRI to identify the neural correlates of this deficit. We focused on two regions that are critical for saccadic inhibition: the frontal eye field (FEF), the key cortical region for generating volitional saccades, and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), which is thought to exert top-down control on FEF. We also compared ASD and control groups on the functional connectivity of the dACC and FEF during saccadic performance. In the context of an increased antisaccade error rate, ASD participants showed decreased functional connectivity of the FEF and dACC and decreased inhibition-related activation (based on the contrast of antisaccades and prosaccades) in both regions. Decreased dACC activation correlated with a higher error rate in both groups, consistent with a role in top-down control. Within the ASD group, increased FEF activation and dACC/FEF functional connectivity were associated with more severe RRB. These findings demonstrate functional abnormalities in a circuit critical for volitional ocular motor control in ASD that may contribute to deficient response inhibition and to RRB. More generally, our findings suggest reduced cognitive control over behavior by the dACC in ASD.
2. Daisy S, Mohammad QD, Alam B, Hoque A, Haque B, Rahman KM, Khan SU. {{Epilepsy and abnormal electroencephalogram in children with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Mymensingh Med J} (Jul);19(2):264-266.
Epilepsy occurs in 30 to 40% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However the association of epilepsy or abnormal electroencephalogram is not known in our population. This study addresses the incidence of epilepsy and or abnormal electroencephalogram in Bangladeshi children with autism spectrum disorder. The clinical history and electroencephalogram of 18 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were retrospectively reviewed. Forty four percent were diagnosed with epilepsy or abnormal electroencephalogram. This abnormal electroencephalogram or epilepsy occurred at significantly higher rates in children with more impaired range of autism spectrum disorder. These finding suggest that the use of neurological investigative technique such as electroencephalogram (EEG) should be considered routinely in children with autism spectrum disorder especially in more impaired individuals.
3. Deer B. {{Wakefield’s « autistic enterocolitis » under the microscope}}. {Bmj};340:c1127.
4. Hedley D, Young R, Angelica M, Gallegos J, Marcin Salazar C. {{Cross-Cultural Evaluation of the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) in Mexico}}. {Autism} (Mar);14(2):93-112.
A Spanish translation of the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC-SP) was administered to 115 children aged 15-73 months in Mexico. In Phase 1, children with Autistic Disorder (AD), a non-Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) diagnosis or typical development were assessed with the ADEC-SP by a clinician blind to the child’s diagnostic status. In Phase 2, a referred sample of children was assessed with the ADEC-SP, Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV), and typically developing children were assessed with the ADEC-SP and CARS. Psychometric properties relating to validity and reliability were addressed. Sensitivity and specificity levels for the ADEC-SP ranged from .79-.94 and .88-1.00 respectively. In a subgroup of toddlers aged 19 to 36 months the ADEC-SP correctly identified 17 of the 18 children with a diagnosis of a PDD, and no child without a PDD diagnosis was misdiagnosed. The ADEC-SP shows promise as a Level 2 screening instrument for use in Mexico.
5. Mulligan J, Steel L, Macculloch R, Nicholas D. {{Evaluation of an information resource for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Autism} (Mar);14(2):113-126.
This study sought to evaluate a newly created information resource book for parents of children newly diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder entitled Autism Spectrum Disorder: Information for Parents. A purposive sample of 13 participants (comprised of mothers of children with ASD and ASD service providers) participated in 1 of 3 focus groups. Focus group participants provided their feedback regarding the accessibility, usefulness, content accuracy and tone of the resource book. Findings reveal that concise yet comprehensive and hopeful information targeted to parents at diagnosis, has been lacking in ASD practice. This supportive informational resource book addresses this gap in supporting family adaptation and mobilization at the key juncture of diagnosis. Suggestions for resource refinement and future development of similar diagnostic-related literature to support families of newly-diagnosed children are outlined.
6. Rashid F, Davies L, Iftikhar SY. {{Magnetised intragastric foreign body collection and autism: An advice for carers and literature review}}. {Autism} (Mar);14(2):139-145.
The pica phenomenon, where non-edible substances are repeatedly consumed, has been linked with developmental and behavioural disorders, particularly autism. The clinical presentation of foreign body ingestion in patients with autism is discussed, and recommendations for caregivers are provided based on the available literature. An 18-year-old man with severe autism and behavioural difficulties presented with a vague history of decreased appetite and melaena of eight months duration. Foreign body ingestion commonly occurs in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and should be suspected in patients who present with vague gastrointestinal symptoms. The adverse medical and surgical consequences of foreign body ingestion emphasize the need for early recognition. Surgical intervention for foreign body ingestion can prevent complications. Magnetic substances can cause considerable gastrointestinal morbidity and require urgent endoscopic or surgical removal. Primary prevention is also vital.
7. Wasserman S, Weisman de Mamani A, Mundy P. {{Parents’ criticisms and attributions about their adult children with high functioning autism or schizophrenia}}. {Autism} (Mar);14(2):127-137.
The current study examined the criticism component of expressed emotion (EE) and attributions in parents of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (S/SA) or high functioning autism/Asperger’s. Consistent with study hypotheses, parents of adults diagnosed with autism/Asperger’s disorder exhibited lower levels of high EE-criticism than parents of adults diagnosed with S/SA. Moderate trends suggested that parents of adults diagnosed with autism/Asperger’s disorder tended to make less blameworthy attributions towards patients than did parents of adults diagnosed with S/SA. A content analysis of parents’ causal attributions was also conducted.The most common cause cited by both groups of parents was biological factors, suggesting that parents may be becoming more aware of scientific findings implicating biological factors, in conjunction with psychosocial factors, as a major cause of mental illness.
8. Wright N. {{Does autistic enterocolitis exist?}}. {Bmj};340:c1807.
