1. Aitken K. {{Response to Book Review: Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Why They Work When They do, Why They Don’t When They Don’t : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Philadelphia, 2009, 272 pp, ISBN 9781843109396}}.{ J Autism Dev Disord};2009 (Jul 25)
2. Akechi H, Senju A, Kikuchi Y, Tojo Y, Osanai H, Hasegawa T. {{Does gaze direction modulate facial expression processing in children with autism spectrum disorder?}} {Child Dev};2009 (Jul-Aug);80(4):1134-1146.
Two experiments investigated whether children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) integrate relevant communicative signals, such as gaze direction, when decoding a facial expression. In Experiment 1, typically developing children (9-14 years old; n = 14) were faster at detecting a facial expression accompanying a gaze direction with a congruent motivational tendency (i.e., an avoidant facial expression with averted eye gaze) than those with an incongruent motivational tendency. Children with ASD (9-14 years old; n = 14) were not affected by the gaze direction of facial stimuli. This finding was replicated in Experiment 2, which presented only the eye region of the face to typically developing children (n = 10) and children with ASD (n = 10). These results demonstrated that children with ASD do not encode and/or integrate multiple communicative signals based on their affective or motivational tendency.
3. Amirault M, Etchegoyhen K, Delord S, Mendizabal S, Kraushaar C, Hesling I, Allard M, Bouvard M, Mayo W. {{Alteration of Attentional Blink in High Functioning Autism: A Pilot Study}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2009 (Jul 28)
Autism is characterized by deficits in attention. However, no study has investigated the dynamics of attentional processes in autistic patients yet. The attentional blink (AB) paradigm provides information about the temporal dynamics of attention in particular about the allocation and the duration of an attentional episode. We compared 11 high functioning autistic patients with 15 control participants on a classical AB task. Autistic patients exhibited a deficit in rapidly allocated attentional resources. Further investigations such as coupling AB evaluation with neuroimaging data and/or increasing the size of groups, would allow for investigating the neurobiological substrates of these AB alterations in autistic patients.
4. Bigham S. {{Impaired Competence for Pretense in Children with Autism: Exploring Potential Cognitive Predictors}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2009 (Jul 25)
Lack of pretense in children with autism has been explained by a number of theoretical explanations, including impaired mentalising, impaired response inhibition, and weak central coherence. This study aimed to empirically test each of these theories. Children with autism (n = 60) were significantly impaired relative to controls (n = 65) when interpreting pretense, thereby supporting a competence deficit hypothesis. They also showed impaired mentalising and response inhibition, but superior local processing indicating weak central coherence. Regression analyses revealed that mentalising significantly and independently predicted pretense. The results are interpreted as supporting the impaired mentalising theory and evidence against competing theories invoking impaired response inhibition or a local processing bias. The results of this study have important implications for treatment and intervention.
5. Brosnan M, Daggar R, Collomosse J. {{The Relationship Between Systemising and Mental Rotation and the Implications for the Extreme Male Brain Theory of Autism}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2009 (Jul 25)
Within the Extreme Male Brain theory, Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterised as a deficit in empathising in conjunction with preserved or enhanced systemising. A male advantage in systemising is argued to underpin the traditional male advantage in mental rotation tasks. Mental rotation tasks can be separated into rotational and non-rotational components, and circulating testosterone has been found to consistently relate to the latter component. Systemising was found to correlate with mental rotation, specifically the non-rotational component(s) of the mental rotation task but not the rotational component of the task. Systemising also correlated with a proxy for circulating testosterone but not a proxy for prenatal testosterone. A sex difference was identified in systemising and the non-rotational aspect of the mental rotation task.
6. Burke LM, Kalpakjian CZ, Smith YR, Quint EH. {{Gynecologic Issues of Adolescents with Down Syndrome, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy}}. {J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol};2009 (Jul 28)
STUDY OBJECTIVE: The gynecologic issues of adolescents with disabilities are understudied. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the presenting complaints, treatments, and follow-up of adolescent girls with Down syndrome (DS), autism, and cerebral palsy (CP) presenting to a specialized gynecologic clinic for women with developmental disabilities. SETTING: Outpatient gynecology clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Forty four adolescents (<21 y); 13 with DS, 14 with autism, and 17 with CP who presented to the clinic from 1999 to 2006. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A retrospective review of the electronic medical records to collect data on age at presentation to clinic, ethnicity, menstrual history, chief complaint, treatment, and follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age at presentation to clinic was 15+/-3.5 years, and age of menarche was 12.5+/-2 years; age at menarche did not significantly differ between groups. The most frequent complaints were irregular bleeding (n=10) and mood/behavioral changes (n=6). Girls with autism were significantly (chi(2)=8.89, P=.012) more likely to present with behavioral issues than the other 2 groups. Initial management for the behavior issues in the autism group included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), oral contraceptives, and education. CONCLUSION: The most common gynecologic complaints of adolescent girls with DS, autism, and CP centered on menstruation and mood disorders. Patients with autism were more likely to present with behavioral issues related to the onset of periods.
7. Congiu S, Schlottmann A, Ray E. {{Unimpaired Perception of Social and Physical Causality, but Impaired Perception of Animacy in High Functioning Children with Autism}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2009 (Jul 28)
We investigated perception of social and physical causality and animacy in simple motion events, for high-functioning children with autism (CA = 13, VMA = 9.6). Children matched 14 different animations to pictures showing physical, social or non-causality. In contrast to previous work, children with autism performed at a high level similar to VMA-matched controls, recognizing physical causality in launch and social causality in reaction events. The launch deficit previously found in younger children with autism, possibly related to attentional/verbal difficulties, is apparently overcome with age. Some events involved squares moving non-rigidly, like animals. Children with autism had difficulties recognizing this, extending the biological motion literature. However, animacy prompts amplified their attributions of social causality. Thus children with autism may overcome their animacy perception deficit strategically.
8. Cook J, Saygin AP, Swain R, Blakemore SJ. {{Reduced sensitivity to minimum-jerk biological motion in autism spectrum conditions}}. {Neuropsychologia};2009 (Jul 24)
We compared psychophysical thresholds for biological and non-biological motion detection in adults with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) and controls. Participants watched animations of a biological stimulus (a moving hand) or a non-biological stimulus (a falling tennis ball). The velocity profile of the movement was varied between 100% natural motion (minimum-jerk (MJ) for the hand; gravitational (G) for the ball) and 100% constant velocity (CV). Participants were asked to judge which animation was ‘less natural’ in a two-interval forced-choice paradigm and thresholds were estimated adaptively. There was a significant interaction between group and condition. Thresholds in the MJ condition were lower than in the G condition for the NC group whereas there was no difference between the thresholds in the two conditions for the ASC group. Thus, unlike the controls, the ASC group did not show an increased sensitivity for perturbation to biological over non-biological velocity profiles.
9. Geschwind DH. {{Advances in autism}}. {Annu Rev Med};2009;60:367-380.
Autism is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder with strong genetic liability. It is not a unitary entity but a clinical syndrome, with variable deficits in social behavior and language, restrictive interests, and repetitive behaviors. Recent advances in the genetics of autism emphasize its etiological heterogeneity, with each genetic susceptibility locus accounting for only a small fraction of cases or having a small effect. Therefore, it is not surprising that no unifying structural or neuropathological features have been conclusively identified. Given the heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), approaches based on studying heritable components of the disorder, or endophenotypes, such as language or social cognition, provide promising avenues for genetic and neurobiological investigations. Early intensive behavioral and cognitive interventions are efficacious in many cases, but autism does not remit in the majority of children. Therefore, development of targeted therapies based on pathophysiologically and etiologically defined subtypes of ASD remains an important and achievable goal of current research.
10. Hoehl S, Reid VM, Parise E, Handl A, Palumbo L, Striano T. {{Looking at eye gaze processing and its neural correlates in infancy-implications for social development and autism spectrum disorder}}. {Child Dev};2009 (Jul-Aug);80(4):968-985.
The importance of eye gaze as a means of communication is indisputable. However, there is debate about whether there is a dedicated neural module, which functions as an eye gaze detector and when infants are able to use eye gaze cues in a referential way. The application of neuroscience methodologies to developmental psychology has provided new insights into early social cognitive development. This review integrates findings on the development of eye gaze processing with research on the neural mechanisms underlying infant and adult social cognition. This research shows how a cognitive neuroscience approach can improve our understanding of social development and autism spectrum disorder.
11. Jones LA, Campbell JM. {{Clinical Characteristics Associated with Language Regression for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2009 (Jul 25)
We investigated correlates of language regression for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Using archival data, children diagnosed with ASD (N = 114, M age = 41.4 months) were divided into four groups based on language development (i.e., regression, plateau, general delay, no delay) and compared on developmental, adaptive behavior, symptom severity, and behavioral adjustment variables. Few overall differences emerged between groups, including similar non-language developmental history, equal risk for seizure disorder, and comparable behavioral adjustment. Groups did not differ with respect to autism symptomatology as measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. Language plateau was associated with better adaptive social skills as measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Implications and study limitations are discussed.
12. McAbee GN, Prieto DM, Kirby J, Santilli AM, Setty R. {{Permanent Visual Loss Due to Dietary Vitamin A Deficiency in an Autistic Adolescent}}. {J Child Neurol};2009 (Jul 28)
Children with autism often have restrictive diets. Here, we report an adolescent with autism who developed dietary vitamin A deficiency because of a restrictive diet. Despite supplementation with vitamin A, some of the visual loss was permanent with optic atrophy. Children with autism who have restrictive diets may need periodic serum vitamin levels assessed.
13. Odom SL, Boyd BA, Hall LJ, Hume K. {{Evaluation of Comprehensive Treatment Models for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}.{ J Autism Dev Disord};2009 (Jul 25)
Multiple dimensions of comprehensive treatment models (CTMs) for learners with autism were evaluated in this study. The purpose of the study was to provide evaluative information upon which service providers, family members, and researchers could make decisions about model adoption, selection for a family member, or future research. Thirty CTMs were identified, with the majority based on an applied behavior analysis framework, although a substantial minority followed a developmental or relationship-based model. As a group, CTMs were strongest in the operationalization of their models, although relatively weaker in measurement of implementation, and with notable exceptions, weak in evidence of efficacy.
14. Vaughan Van Hecke A, Lebow J, Bal E, Lamb D, Harden E, Kramer A, Denver J, Bazhenova O, Porges SW. {{Electroencephalogram and heart rate regulation to familiar and unfamiliar people in children with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Child Dev};2009 (Jul-Aug);80(4):1118-1133.
Few studies have examined whether familiarity of partner affects social responses in children with autism. This study investigated heart rate regulation (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]: The myelinated vagus nerve’s regulation of heart rate) and temporal-parietal electroencephalogram (EEG) activity while nineteen 8- to 12-year-old children with autism and 14 controls viewed videos of a familiar and an unfamiliar person reading a story. Children with autism had lower overall RSA levels and exhibited decreased RSA to the unfamiliar person, versus control children. Both groups decreased temporal-parietal EEG activity to the unfamiliar person. Higher RSA was related to higher social skill ratings and fewer problem behaviors. Thus, the social difficulties of children with autism may be characterized by specific mobilization to unfamiliar people.
15. White S, Hill E, Happe F, Frith U. {{Revisiting the strange stories: revealing mentalizing impairments in autism}}. {Child Dev};2009 (Jul-Aug);80(4):1097-1117.
A test of advanced theory of mind (ToM), first introduced by F. Happe (1994), was adapted for children (mental, human, animal, and nature stories plus unlinked sentences). These materials were closely matched for difficulty and were presented to forty-five 7- to 12-year-olds with autism and 27 control children. Children with autism who showed ToM impairment on independent tests performed significantly more poorly than controls solely on the mental, human, and animal stories with greatest impairment on the former and least on the latter. Thus, a mentalizing deficit may affect understanding of biologic agents even when this does not explicitly require understanding others’ mental states.
